Heralding from Appalachia where she grew up on a mountain in a solar powered house, Clary Franko, is happily settling into the solar industry in Vermont. Prior to coming to SunCommon, Clary spent time working to protect New York from hydraulic fracturing aka. fracking.
A passionate and high spirited lady, Clary infuses excitement and enthusiasm into every interaction she has here at SunCommon.
What do you like the most about your job as a Solar Community Organizer?
I’ve always loved the impact that community organizing has – I grew up in a tight nit community and the concept of people coming together to make something happen really excites me. For the past few years I’ve been doing community organizing and before that I worked on installing renewable energy projects at my university. So now, being a Solar Community Organizer is an amazing coming-together of my passions and my skills and I’m learning more about both each day here at SunCommon. The fact that I get to be involved in helping communities go solar is truly awesome!
As a self-proclaimed environmental activist, what excites you the most about solar?
I both love solar for what it is – and for what it isn’t. I think it’s a beautiful and exciting technology, and I love that it provides an alternative to other types of dirty energy. Having grown up near coal extraction and burning, and seeing the damage it had on the environment and the communities nearby, I am very motivated to work towards a clean energy economy. I think SunCommon has struck something quite revolutionary by making solar actually cost less than utility electricity, and I hope this is the tipping point for ending our reliance on fossil fuels.
What do you think of Vermont?!
I’ve been somewhat nomadic working for different environmental non-profits for the past couple of years, so I’m excited to be calling Vermont home…and it is quickly becoming home! As everyone here knows, Vermont is a pretty special place. I love our environment which is a natural playground; I’m impressed by how active people are in their communities; and I’m fascinated by the local environmental movement that’s stronger than anywhere I’ve been. I’ll admit that being from the South I had an impression that Northerners would be harsh but it doesn’t feel so up here. Honestly, it feels a lot like the mountain town that I come from!
