Hi Howard didn’t start his career in solar—but his passion for building a better future led him there. While working in professional learning for education leaders, he has been slowly making the transition to a career in clean energy with one goal in mind: “I want to be able to look my future grandkids in the face and candidly say that I tried to reduce the magnitude of climate change.”

Now working with CHERP, Inc. in California, Hi is part of the growing movement to bring solar energy to communities across the U.S. His solar related work involves planning solar factories operated by nonprofit social enterprises—an innovative approach that puts both clean energy and community benefit at the center.

Hi is clear about why clean energy matters: it’s practical, it’s necessary, and it’s urgent. “I wish more people knew how logical, practical, and critical it is to deploy clean energy now if we want a livable world for future generations,” he says.

He also believes the federal government has a major role to play. His message to Congress? Invest in clean energy jobs—not just because they’re good for the planet, but because “they will have lots of positive impacts on local economies and the communities in which they are located.”

With people like Hi leading the way, the clean energy future looks a little brighter—and a lot more possible.