2022 NYED Roadtrip
advanced-degree
changed-major

I wouldn't necessarily recommend pursuing a graduate degree for this career. Graduate degrees are expensive and, although they give you an edge in the hiring process, they're generally unnecessary in this line of work. Instead, I recommend networking at conferences and taking every meeting you can. You never know who might be there.

I'm responsible for the planning and implementation of community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030. In practice, that means meetings and collaboration with the utility, energy research authority, financiers, and tech partners. 

Acting Director of Sustainability

You said you took time off, what were you doing in that time off? And what was your kind of your mindset? &gt;&gt; Yeah, I mean, I was doing exactly what you guys are doing. I tried to figure it out, where do I belong? I was part of the inaugural environmental science class at my university. So it was like, it's almost like a guinea pig and it was really not clear to me what was even possible with that degree. I mean there was, the EPA and EDF and I didn't wanna necessarily work for government, go figure. And my skill set didn't seem to necessarily fit in with what organizations were hiring for. So, I just did what I liked and landed a job at an emergency animal clinic. I was working like 18 hour overnight shifts and eventually it just took a toll and I was like I can't do this anymore, and started applying to grad schools. So I started at Virginia Commonwealth University probably about five years after I graduated from undergrad. They have a terminal environmental studies degree and my focus was on environmental policy, and I learned about policy ethics and that has been what I've loved ever since. 

Exploration

Passion

Trying What I Like In Order To Find My Passion

What lessons have you learned throughout your career that are just like really important to you now? &gt;&gt; Well, I've learned what I'm good at, that's for sure. And that's designing energy projects. I've learned that I am very good at engagement. And I do understand how all of these pieces fit together to make this larger sort of picture. And I've learned, it doesn't help to burn yourself out. And this whole narrative around the busy person, always carrying a coffee and I just don't have time to myself, and I worked 17 hours yesterday. That's not cool. And we shouldn't be normalizing that. I was like that where I was working all of the time, especially when I first started working for the city and I felt like, I was never doing enough. So learning how to balance that. I haven't completely learned it, but I'm trying. 

Support & Encouragement

Lessons I’ve Learned Through My Career

I'm Rebecca Evans, I am the sustainability planner for the city of Ithaca in Central New York. So my job is to implement this massive program called the Green New Deal which is the largest program or project, however you want to define it, that the city has ever undertaken because it touches every single sector of our society and every single person. &gt;&gt; Can you tell us a little bit more about where you grew up and how you came upon the realization that you wanted to work in sustainability and environmental science and things like that. &gt;&gt; This is actually a really terrible and embarrassing story. So, I grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia, so, just outside DC Metro area, very, suburban lifestyle. Sure, like we recycled and composted and all those sort of bare minimum type things. I went to college at what is now called the University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Virginia. And I started as a graphic design major, and then halfway through my first semester of my freshman year, I had a point seven GPA and had to go to academic counseling and then I decided I don't wanna do graphic design anymore, I wanna do English. And so I did that for probably a year. And I had a friend that was living in what they called the ego house, so it was a bunch of environmental majors that were living together and trying to figure out what can we do with this college house to make it a more sustainable lifestyle. And I really wanted to live with my friend and she was, well, you have to be an environmental science major to live in the house. I was, okay, I'll switch, [LAUGH] so I did and yeah, the rest is history. I figured out that I really really liked it, and my journey to get where I am now has been winding and convoluted. I took a bunch of time off between my undergrad and graduate degree. I managed in emergency animal hospital for like four or five years, I worked in retail, I've done it all. &gt;&gt; You said you took time off, what were you doing in that time off and what was kind of your mindset? &gt;&gt; Yeah, i mean, i was doing exactly what you guys are doing. Trying to figure it out, where do I belong? I was part of the inaugural environmental science class at my university, so it was almost like a guinea pig and it was really not clear to me what was even possible with that degree. I mean there was the EPA and EDF, and I didn't wanna necessarily work for government, go figure, and my skill set didn't seem to necessarily fit in with what organizations were hiring for. So I just did what I liked and landed a job at an emergency animal clinic. I was working like 18 hour overnight shifts and eventually it just took a toll and I was, I can't do this anymore, and started applying to grad schools. So I started at Virginia Commonwealth University probably about five years after I graduated from undergrad. They have a terminal environmental studies degree and my focus was on environmental policy, and I learned about policy ethics and that has been what I've loved ever since. &gt;&gt; What advice would you give to people like us who are just trying to find their way in this field of sustainability? &gt;&gt; One thing that I learned way too late after college was job descriptions have all of these requirements, literally ignore them. The worst thing that happens is you don't get an email back, so if something is interesting to you, apply. I think that is the best real professional advice that I could give. No is not a scary word, it feels scary but it rolls off and you're done and then you're gonna get a yes. So apply to anything that's interesting and don't doubt yourself. I think the worst version of yourself is what's in your head, nobody else sees that. You are most likely a lot smarter than you think you are and you doubt yourself a lot more than anyone else does, so apply to everything. 

Interview

I was wondering like how this idea of environmental justice shows up in your work today. &gt;&gt; Yeah, and that's exactly what I do every day, so I write policy. In May that has my first ever piece of legislation, &gt;&gt; [APPLAUSE] &gt;&gt; Yes, thank you, very proud moment. &gt;&gt; That define climate justice communities, or as the state is calling them disadvantaged communities based on the vulnerabilities that are specific to the city of Ithaca. So, here we're a college town and we have a lot of renters and it is heavily gentrified. So, how do we incorporate those elements into policy to make sure that we are diverting resources to the people that need them? That's kinda step one on the pathway towards writing what we're calling our Justice 50 policy. So, the federal government has Justice 40, which says that at least 40% of the benefits of the clean energy sector should be going to disadvantaged communities. We think that that's not high enough. So, of all of the funding that comes in to the green New Deal, which is what we call this larger program. 65% of that funding needs to go to climate justice community, so that could be infrastructure, it could be direct investment in community centers, whatever it is. It also says that 50% of the capital budget has to go to serving climate justice communities. So, typically that's fixing water main breaks or filling potholes, really boring stuff. But, as I'm sure you know, it's usually the wealthier neighborhoods that are served first, so there's that. And then, of that 50%, 10% of that should be participatory budgeting, which means that, the people decide how they want the city to spend that money. So that means that undocumented immigrants are able to vote, youth are able to vote people that are otherwise not registered, it's not a hurdle. So, basically trying to remove all of the hurdles that prevent city government from engaging with certain populations so that we can, actually make progress here. So, there are a lot of ways that could play out, I've had a lot of pushback on this policy from every direction, even from the more progressive sorta allies in the city. And, it's gonna be an uphill battle to get it passed, but I think it's gonna happen. 

Focus

Writing Policy To Advance Environmental Justice

I'm Rebecca Evans, I am the Sustainability Planner for the City of Ithaca in Central New York. So my job is to implement this massive program called The Green New Deal, which is the largest program or project, however you wanna define it, that the city has ever undertaken. Because it touches every single sector of our society and every single person. My journey to get where I am now has been winding and convoluted. I took a bunch of time off between my undergrad and graduate degree, I managed an emergency animal hospital, I worked in retail, I've done it all. Job descriptions have all of these requirements, literally ignore them. The worst thing that happens is you don't get an email back, so if something is interesting to you, apply and don't doubt yourself. You are most likely a lot smarter than you think you are and you doubt yourself a lot more than anyone else does, so apply to everything. 

Rebecca Evans Highlight

I'm Rebecca Evans. I am the sustainability planner for the City of Ithaca in Central New York. So my job is to implement this massive program called The Green New Deal, which is the largest program or project, however you wanna define it, that the city has ever undertaken because it touches every single sector of our society and every single person. Day to day looks like a lot of Zoom meetings. I mean from 8:30AM to probably 5:30PM I'm almost always in back-to-back meetings or trying to catch up on to-do lists from those meetings. But I do get to do the fun things like write policy, try and get people on board with that policy. As far as the programs that we currently have, I think the last that I counted, there were 17 or 18 different programs that fall under the green new deal. So green jobs is part of that. Solar projects, hydrogen projects, the electrification program, which is what kind of got this whole thing moving, all of the equity and justice work and how do we make that happen here locally and how do we apply it to all of the other 18 programs. So it's a lot and trying to manage the relationships that exist for each of those programs, that is the hardest work. I will say it's overwhelming and I constantly feel like I need to catch up on things. But one of the hardest things to learn, I think is to be patient with yourself and realize that burning yourself out isn't gonna help anybody. So trying to manage time as best as I can, and make sure that I have time not thinking about climate change and getting enough sleep and all of the really boring stuff. But yeah, it's a lot of time management and partnership management. 

Day The Life Of A Director Of Sustainability

I'm Rebecca Avens, I am the sustainability planner for the city of Ithaca in central New York. So my job is to implement this massive program called the Green New Deal which is the largest program or project, however you wanna define it. That the city has ever undertaken because it touches every single sector of our society and every single person. &gt;&gt; Can you tell us a little bit more about where you grew up, and how you came upon the realization that you wanted to work in sustainability and environmental science and things like that. &gt;&gt; This is actually a really terrible and embarrassing story. So I grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia. So just outside DC metro area. Very suburban lifestyle. Sure, like we recycled and composted and all those sort of bare minimum type things. I went to college at what is now called the University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Virginia. And I started as a graphic design major, and then halfway through my first semester of my freshman year, I had a 0.7 GPA. And had to go to academic counseling, and then I decided I don't wanna do graphic design anymore, I wanna do English. And so I did that for probably a year and I had a friend that was living in what they called the Eco House. So, it was a bunch of environmental majors that were living together and trying to figure out what can we do with this college house to make it a more sustainable lifestyle. And I really wanted to live with my friend. And she was like, well, you have to be an environmental science major to live in the house. I was like, okay, I'll switch. So I did and yeah, the rest is history. I figured out that I really liked it. And my journey to get where I am now has been like winding and convoluted. I took a bunch of time off between my undergrad and graduate degree. I managed in emergency Animal Hospital for like four or five years, I worked in retail like I've done it all. 

Education

How I Got Into Environmental Science

How do you get people to see your point of view in a way that everybody is calm and like makes it feel like we're all working together? &gt;&gt; The most successful way that I've been able to do that is by not necessarily forcing my perspective on anybody but, I mean, sustainability at its core is the interconnection of all of these things. So, understanding what somebody is concerned about whether it's housing or jobs or childcare, whatever it is and connecting that to the mission of the Green New Deal. That is the way that I have been most successful and that's the way that my brain works is like how do we fit all of these puzzle pieces together? And At the end of the day, climate change is a human problem. If it wasn't affecting human life, nobody would care. Like there might be a few die hard like polar bear fans, that would make a lot of noise. But for the most part, this is a human issue because it's going to affect human life and it already is affecting human life. And I think that is a driving force for a lot of people. And so, just being able to connect the mission to individual concerns, it's a lot of listening and trying to level with people. It's like, okay, you're concerned about x, y, z, and here's how the Green New Deal is going to help with that. Or if I can't find that connection, how can I build this into the Green New Deal and what are your ideas? 

How To Get People to See Your Point of View

What advice would you give to people like us who are just trying to find their way in this field of sustainability? &gt;&gt; One thing that I learned way too late after college was job descriptions have all of these requirements, literally ignore them. The worst thing that happens is you don't get an email back. So if something is interesting to you, apply. I think that is the best real professional advice that I could give. No is not a scary word, it feels scary but it rolls off and you're done and then you're gonna get a yes. So, apply to anything that's interesting and don't doubt yourself. I think the worst version of yourself is what's in your head nobody else sees that. You are most likely a lot smarter than you think you are and you doubt yourself a lot more than anyone else does, so apply to everything. 

Doubt

Advice For People Interested In Sustainability

Environmental science and sustainability can be kinda like a depressing field, because I go to my classes and they're like the planet's dying, and like we're not gonna be able to stop it. How did you deal with just the depression of like, and the existential crises of being in environmental science and policy. &gt;&gt; I'll let you know when I figure it out. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; No, there's this great video with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. One of the things that she said in that video was, you need to find a way to turn your fear into fuel. And that has really stuck with me and that's I think, what I do every day. I don't have a lot of fear about the future and I don't feel sad and I don't feel depressed. What I feel is a deep sense of rage, and that is really what I've had to learn how to channel. And there are a lot of reasons that I'm angry. People aren't acting, they're not acting fast enough. They're prioritizing the wrong things. We're forgetting about huge swaths of the country in the world and no individual is gonna fix the problem. I cannot fix the city of Ithaca and make it carbon neutral. It's going to take collective power and harnessing that anger which has so much power. When the Green New Deal started as a concept in Ithaca, it was because we were angry. We were angry about what was happening and we could not make progress on a college campus. So we thought, how do we force their hand? And it was going to the municipality. And legally forcing their hand to decrease carbon emissions. So, it's working inside the system, and around the system, and outside of the system. You just have to be creative and that's what sustainability work is. It's just figuring out where do you fit in this puzzle, and how do you channel that power into something that's good, or at the very least that makes you feel good. 

Conflict

Turning Collective Anger Into Collective Power

Empowered State

The state of New York leads a clean energy revolution

Electric planes. Towns powered by waterfalls. Offshore wind farms. This isn't the far-off future of clean energy—it's what's happening right now in New York State. Join three New Yorkers as they explore the clean energy revolution taking place in their backyard.

Logo of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Movie poster with the text "Empowered State" written within an outline of the state of New York laid over a tree-lined city street.

Roadtrippers Leila and Julia add a "Roadtrip Nation" sticker to the side of their low-emissions rental car. 

Leila, David, and Julia show off their matching ponchos as they cruise through Niagara Falls on the "Maid of the Mist" boat tour.

As the chief transformation officer and regional manager of Western New York at the New York Power Authority, Daniella Piper helps lead operations at the Niagara Power Project.

As acting director of sustainability for the City of Ithaca, Rebecca Evans hopes to create a new blueprint for how cities everywhere can go green.

The "Empowered State" roadtrippers take a break to relax, reflect, and cook s'mores over a campfire.

Emma Davis is a test pilot at Beta Technologies, which has developed an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

The roadtrippers hang out with Michael Phinney, an architect who was the team leader on the first certified green building in New York State.

The roadtrippers sit down with Cheryl Whilby, who runs communications and development at Soul Fire Farm near Albany, NY.

The roadtrippers check out the views of New York City from the glass observation box at The Edge New York.

Elizabeth Yeampierre is the executive director of UPROSE, a community-based organization that fights for environmental and climate justice.

Jennifer Garvey is the head of New York market strategy at Ørsted, an energy company that is currently building two wind farms off the coast of New York.

Kereem Berry is the executive director of M.A.P.P., Inc., a nonprofit working to help historically underserved populations find careers in the building and construction trades.

The roadtrippers spend a night off laughing over a family dinner.

Kathy Hannun is the co-founder and president of Dandelion Geothermal, which helps homes and businesses across New York convert to geothermal energy.

The roadtrippers wrapped up their journey in New York City, where they met Tony Lee, the chief technical officer at Revel—a ride-sharing company with a fleet of electric cars and mopeds.

Leila smiles next to a plaque reading "Elmira College, founded 1855."

David takes a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Julia uses technology to help her with her work as an energy engineer.

New York Clean Energy

[MUSIC] New York is close to my heart. Most of my family lives here. My parents grew up here. &gt;&gt; It's kind of like its own microcosm. This feeling of there's always something happening, no matter where you are or what time it is. &gt;&gt; It's gorgeous, is so beautiful and full of life and full of different types of cultures and things like that. But the Earth has finite resources, and we're using the resources at such a fast rate that if we keep going, it'll all be gone and we won't be able to enjoy it anymore. &gt;&gt; It seems like there are those straightforward solutions right in front of us. And I guess that's what this road trip is for. Hopefully, we'll be able to figure out what's stopping us from jumping onto clean energy. [MUSIC] So for the next three weeks. &gt;&gt; I'll be traveling with Julia and David around New York interviewing a bunch of leaders in sustainability and clean energy. &gt;&gt; Normally, Roadtrip Nation takes these road trips in these big green RVs. But, we're actually gonna be in energy-efficient vehicles for our trip. We're gonna be interviewing leaders in variety of spaces including high efficiency buildings, heat pump technology, wind energy, solar energy, clean transportation. &gt;&gt; I'm mostly excited to just to gain a new perspective on clean energy. &gt;&gt; How do we make buildings create more energy than then they even use and net positive? How do we have zero carbon buildings? How do we make buildings more alive? &gt;&gt; I'm excited to ask about their journey. &gt;&gt; I'm really glad that you're on this road trip trying to explore or to take some time to think about who you are and how you fit into something and how you can create something new. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; I'm looking forward to taking some of the stuff I've learned from this trip back to my life. &gt;&gt; Seems like all three of us are super passionate about the field. &gt;&gt; It'll be an adventure. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; Aah! &gt;&gt; We'll all get to know each other and I'm sure we'll be like super close. It kind of reminds me of camp [LAUGH]. [MUSIC] 

A new series exploring the most exciting innovations in clean and renewable energy through the eyes of three young adults.

Empowered State Trailer

Meet the roadtrippers, then follow along as they explore hydroelectric power’s potential at Niagara Falls and visit one of New York's greenest cities.

Episode 1: Power for Good

The roadtrippers climb inside the next generation of electric planes and learn how to harness the Earth's power through geothermal energy.

Episode 2: Under the Ground and Through the Air

How can we make sure the clean energy revolution creates a better future for all? The roadtrippers talk to policymakers and activists about the human side of the switch.

Episode 3: A More Equitable Revolution

As the trip comes to an end, interviews with clean energy executives and entrepreneurs help the roadtrippers tap into their own power to drive the industry forward.

Rebecca Evans

Acting Director of Sustainability

Videos

Rebecca Evans

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Environment & Nature

Politics

Accomplishing Goals

Day to Day

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

Interviewed By

Empowered State

Rebecca Evans

Acting Director of Sustainability

Videos

Rebecca Evans

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Environment & Nature

Politics

Accomplishing Goals

Day to Day

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:

Interviewed By

Empowered State

Related Leaders