Sustainable Energy Community Conversation Series Talks Projects and Clean Energy Options

Our Sustainable Energy Community Conversation series welcomed a member from our sponsor, Invenergy, Ryan Van Portfliet.

Ryan discussed the work Invenergy puts in to make sustainable energy projects possible. Sustainable energy has become a more desired commodity in Ohio as the price has dropped in recent years.

This has opened the door to creating new inroads towards sustainable options. Ryan outlined some of the steps that are required to make a build possible. First, getting buy in from the community where the build will be happening is paramount to the success of the project. Projects are best build on farmland due the large amount of space and how flat the land tends to be. Often, Invenergy will hire people who live near the projects that understand the local community and what they need.

One of the surprising facts the students learned is that often, the sustainable energy that is created on the property doesn’t go to the community. Instead, the community is enticed to be a part of the build from the price that a group like Invenergy will pay for using the land and the taxes that Invenergy will pay that will invest in the community. This means that a big part of these builds is creating trust in the profitability of the project and the value it can have for a community.

Another big part of the process that Ryan outlined for our group is the need for advocating for policy that encourages these kinds of projects and makes it easier to receive permits. Ryan noted that in Ohio specifically, the permitting process is useful and easy to navigate, but the current legislative atmosphere is a hindrance towards future builds.

Some students were interested in the way Invenergy is able to sustain themselves financially. Ryan explained that Invenergy doesn’t create their own technology. Instead, the source the technology and have a wide variety of projects around the world. This diversifies their experience and understanding of the needs of communities while also giving them the kind of flexibility to create sustainable projects all around the world.

Ryan provided a wide range of information for students on how sustainable energy builds work. Understanding the political and human aspect of this industry is paramount in being a leader in the industry. Students got a taste of the incentives to communities for these projects and the many steps that come up along the way in the often, five-year process Invenergy goes through in order to pave the way for a new project.