Growing up in the ocean state, Clare Laroche has come to love the ocean and the environment. The senior ocean engineering major is originally from Bristol, Rhode Island, and her summers spent kayaking and sailing inspired her to help pursue Rhode Island’s blue future. 

At URI, Laroche quickly found a way to give back to the state she loves through the Cooperative Extension’s Energy Fellows Program, which aims to engage and train students who are passionate about clean energy. The program offers real-world experiential opportunities for students as well as mentorship from top energy companies and organizations. 

As an Energy Fellow, Laroche’s work focused on communications and outreach for a solar siting project. The position was not one typically filled by an engineering student, but Laroche saw the opportunity as a chance to grow in knowledge and broaden her skillset.

“It was very different from anything I’d ever done before,” she said, “but I really just wanted to learn more about the energy sector, and the Energy Fellows program was an amazing way to do that.” 

The program gave Laroche a chance to engage with emerging issues in the world of sustainable energy. For example, solar siting is a contentious subject in Rhode Island because it can result in cutting down trees to make room for solar farms. Rhode Island has some sizable forested areas, and residents are hesitant to trust that cutting down trees can be part of an environmental solution. 

Laroche worked with Corey Lang, a professor of environmental resource economics, to see if Rhode Island residents would be willing to have a tax incentive to encourage solar development away from forested regions and towards the cities. Developing solar plants in cities on top of buildings saves forests, but it is more expensive. “The people of Rhode Island were invested enough in preserving the forest to justify making that change in the tax structure,” Laroche said of the findings.  

In the summer of 2021, Laroche helped organize a series of round table events for non-governmental organizations, municipalities, state leaders, and people working in solar siting.  “I think it’s always important to understand the key stakeholders and the key players in any market,” she said.

The mentorship Laroche received also inspired her and made her experience memorable.  “My mentor Kate Venturini was amazing,” she said. “She was an awesome resource and definitely someone I look up to. She also gave me a lot of creative freedom to take the project in the direction that I wanted. She’s very empowering.”  

While Laroche has made her mark in the solar field, the Energy Fellows program also made its mark on Clare, equipping her with vital communication and engagement skills that have benefited her beyond the fellowship. Laroche encourages other students to participate in the Energy Fellows program because of the wealth of knowledge and experience she gained in communicating, networking, and exploring new avenues for pursuing her interests. 

“Having the attitude that you can learn anything if you set your mind to it is something that I first learned as an Energy Fellow,” she said. “It definitely highlighted how important renewable energy is for me, and it’s something I still really believe in.”  

As Laroche’s senior year wraps up, she has been thinking about her next steps. She hopes to work for a year and then attend graduate school for ocean engineering. She still has big hopes for Rhode Island’s renewable energy future. Laroche’s time as an Energy Fellow has given her hope for Rhode Island’s bright blue future while also equipping her with the skills and confidence to pursue her own bright future.   

Story by Sarah Heavren, CELS Communications Fellow