On August 30, 2023, we misplaced Kacie Peters, a radiant veteran of the photo voltaic trade, to her brave and public three- and half-year battle with colon most cancers. This text is a tribute to her enduring spirit, outstanding achievements and the influence she had. It is usually a name for readers to by no means hand over the nice struggle.
Kacie Peters was a lady of many aspects, described as vivacious, inspiring, resilient, hilarious, clever, considerate, inventive and a lot extra. But at her core, Kacie was a grasp networker and highly effective connector. She impressed numerous people to hitch the photo voltaic trade as workers, clients and trade companions. Her work amplified a trigger our world so desperately wants.
Within the realm of photo voltaic vitality, Kacie was a real luminary — a collaborator, a market-maker, a champion for range and a thought chief. Her skilled journey included firms similar to SunEdison, Alta Power, and most just lately, Pivot Power. She additionally served on the boards of organizations like Colorado Photo voltaic and Storage Affiliation and Illinois Photo voltaic Schooling Affiliation. Her dedication and influence prolonged far past her skilled commitments.
“Kacie Peters embodied the ability of unwavering dedication, connecting hearts and minds to the reason for clear vitality. Her legacy is a reminder that our actions at the moment can form a brighter, cleaner future for all. Let’s honor her by carrying ahead the torch of change she lit so brilliantly.” -Melanie Kelly, VP of selling at Pivot Power
Kacie excelled at driving conversations. Whether or not within the media, on a stage at an trade convention, or over a beer with colleagues, she discovered pleasure in collaborating with others to resolve massive issues. She demonstrated these qualities each formally and as a volunteer. Her management positions in regional SEIA advocacy chapters in Illinois and Colorado enabled her to arrange conferences with almost 1,000 attendees and create new funding streams by way of membership growth and extra occasions. This, in flip, allowed these organizations to form state markets.
She was a champion for range, serving to to create Girls in Photo voltaic Power, organizing NationWISE, the biggest ever multi-city dialogue aimed toward empowering ladies. Kacie served 5 phrases on the core workforce chargeable for organizing the Girls of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Power (WRISE) flagship Management Discussion board occasion, twice serving as chair – each occasions following her most cancers analysis. She did this all whereas releasing movies and displays about networking and mentoring up-and-coming professionals within the trade.
“Kacie was an outstanding chief in so some ways, however what actually drew folks along with her witty humor was her willingness to point out up truthfully with the entire layers of her identification. She usually used any platform she had entry to and talked brazenly about challenges whether or not going to job interviews pregnant, fairness within the photo voltaic vitality trade, or terminal sickness and entry to healthcare. She advised her personal story with a deep authenticity, a connection to advocacy, and a fierce love for her household, her neighborhood, and a imaginative and prescient of a greater future. I might be endlessly grateful for my time together with her and for the way in which she introduced folks collectively and altered the way in which we’re all in a position to present up for the work with a way of wholeness.” -Kristen Graf, former govt director of WRISE
In recognition of her large influence on ladies within the renewable vitality trade, Kacie posthumously obtained the WRISE Lifetime Achievement Award. To hold Kacie’s legacy into the long run, the annual Lifetime Influence Award was created to honor people who’ve made excellent contributions to the clear vitality sector. It embodies the values and dedication that Kacie exemplified all through her unimaginable profession.
Kacie was not only a thought chief. She was a trailblazer, publishing white papers, suppose items, and contributing as a visitor to main podcasts in publications together with Photo voltaic Energy World, PV Journal, and The Interchange Podcast. She created the biggest photo voltaic trade month-to-month networking occasion in Colorado, Solardarity, which unfold to Chicago in 2023.
“Kacie was brave, and as humorous as at all times, after she obtained her most cancers analysis and as she underwent surgical procedures, chemotherapy, radiation and medical trials. And after her husband was recognized with colon most cancers as effectively, Kacie turned the first caregiver and monetary assist for him and her son whereas nonetheless battling her personal sickness. Reasonably than holding all of this hidden, she spoke brazenly about her expertise and advocated for recognition and assist for chronically sick and disabled workers. In different phrases, she didn’t let her sickness cease her from doing what she did greatest– attempting to make the world a greater place.” -Meghan Nutting, EVP of presidency and regulatory affairs at Sunnova and expensive good friend to Kacie
Past her many accomplishments in renewable vitality, Kacie had an immeasurable influence that reached past the renewable trade. Regardless of the immense challenges she confronted and the ache she endured, Kacie shared her well being struggles brazenly on networking platforms like LinkedIn. She forged an important mild on the difficulty of long-term sickness within the office and advocated for firms to deal with their employees with dignity.
When Kacie wasn’t working or networking or educating, Kacie was a loving mom to 6-year-old Nate and spouse to her husband Erik. Erik himself is presently preventing stage 4 colon most cancers.
All of Kacie’s innumerable endeavors within the photo voltaic trade had been rooted within the pursuit of a greater future. In her closing publish on social media, Kacie made a request to her many connections:
“…the long run is in your arms. Here’s what I want you do with that energy:
- Make renewable vitality and sustainable infrastructure as catchy as “pure fuel.” Finish the tradition warfare in opposition to wind and photo voltaic. Let’s normalize reusing assets and innovating on what we have now.
- By the point my son is 50, the air must be cleaner than it was when my mother hit that milestone.
- Let’s work on bringing the price of dwelling in keeping with cheap advantages and wages – whether or not that be by way of the assistance of AI or different improvements – so that each particular person can take the non-public time they deserve when making massive life modifications. I would like everybody to really feel the job safety and assist that I’ve had by way of this time.
…I’m hoping my time right here has linked sufficient of you to make these doable.”
Kacie’s unwavering optimism and hope had been outstanding. Even within the face of a crippling illness that she and her husband battled whereas elevating their son, and whereas the urgency of local weather motion grew, Kacie pushed ahead with a smile on her face and a music in her coronary heart. Her spirit was contagious, and now, the tons of of individuals she linked are harmonizing collectively in a refrain of hope.
As we honor Kacie, we’re reflecting on the fervour she dropped at shepherding these round us to have a greener, cleaner future. We ask ourselves, and also you, what can we do to proceed Kacie’s legacy?
