Ketchikan’s young climate activist was among the two Alaskans who were named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list. Kiera O’Brien explains that her Alaskan roots inspired her to take up a career in combating climate change.
Kiera O’Brien offers some tips for young Alaskans who want to make a difference within their communities.
“Find something that you are passionate about and do it!”
O’Brien, a Harvard graduate aged 24, is a climate advocate. O’Brien, a Harvard graduate and climate advocate of 24 years old, was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 energy list.
O’Brien stated that she received the news Tuesday morning.
She said that climate and clean energy were very dear to her heart and she was excited to see Forbes’ energy list move towards clean energy.
She stated that her childhood in Ketchikan was what led her to her current position: she works as a representative of public policy for TotalEnergies, a green energy developer.
O’Brien stated that his childhood in Ketchikan shaped the direction of what he does today. “And Alaska is ground zero in climate change. Clean energy is the future of Alaska.
She works in Washington, D.C., and keeps an eye on federal off-shore wind and solar policy.
She stated, “I monitor federal policy — so anything on the Hill, happening at the White House, that’s interesting to us, then I bring those findings back to company and try to deduce the implications for our business, and our investment decisions.”
She has also worked on federal auctions to secure her company two large offshore wind farm leases. These were worth almost a billion dollars. This includes the $795m New York Bight project as well as the $160m Carolina Long Bay lease.
O’Brien stated, “My field, offshore wind, is very niche, especially in America,”
O’Brien is not the first to make one of these lists. In 2020, she created a new “30 Under 30” list.
O’Brien stated that he was on one “GreenBiz” a few years back. It’s very similar. This is only applicable to climate change and clean energy.
O’Brien attended Ketchikan High School before Forbes and Harvard.
She recalled, “I was captain for the varsity swim team when I was there.” “I was a Class Act mentor. There were a few other things in the band program.
In 2016, she was also a summer intern at Sen. Dan Sullivan. This was the same year that her graduation from Ketchikan High. In 2021, she was a correspondence manager and returned to work for him.
O’Brien, a Harvard student, was president emerita for the Young Republicans club. O’Brien also co-founded the Young Conservatives for Carbon Dividends.
The Forbes “30 Under 30” energy list is available .
Forbes highlighted Quannah Chasinghorse Fairbanks as the only other Alaskan this year.
