Contributed Commentary by Joe Amara, Joe Amara Executive Search
May 6, 2025 | The electricity generation sector has evolved significantly since Thomas Edison founded General Electric in New York in 1892. Edison and his contemporaries established a multi-national and multi-generational brand, which has provided power generation apparatus and employed generations of workers across a range of skills for more than 130 years.
During the majority of the 20th century, General Electric and other US manufacturers of equipment enjoyed almost total absence of global rivalry; monopolistic utility clients; and a growing middle class, resulting in heightened demand.
Fast forward to the present day, and the landscape is markedly altered. The 1980s introduced deregulation, leading to the emergence of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and subsequently instigating a renewable energy surge, with solar energy and battery storage growth surpassing the wildest expectations (or fears) of anyone in the Reagan administration. The rise of free-fuel power generation has spawned significant growth over the last decade, offering off-takers (wholesale energy consumers) competitive pricing, and remarkable job expansion for diverse skill sets.
While all skill sets can engage in today’s power and digital infrastructure expansion, STEM skill sets are particularly sought-after and in short supply, making it exceptionally challenging to attract and keep elite talent. IPPs and data center firms are keenly seeking executives and senior leaders with comprehensive knowledge of transmission, origination, analytics, development tactics, and structured finance.
Demand
“The demand for energy is palpable.” This was the claim from a potential candidate during a multi-national IPP’s recent search for a Chief Commercial Officer. Another applicant recounted an instance where a data center client requested 10GW of power, to which the Head of Power Origination answered: “We can provide you with 1GW of solar today, and the remainder not for several years.”
If anyone assumes that the US is not in the midst of an energy dilemma, then they are mistaken. Commonly referred to as ‘load growth’, the current surge in electricity demand is on a scale we have not encountered for quite some time—driven by the rise in computing capability needed for devices like our smartphones, and newly electrified commodities such as our vehicles.
Supply
The cries of ‘drill baby drill’ resonate globally from those convinced that fossil fuels, rather than renewable energy, are the path forward; they argue that renewables lack profitability, and that solar is ineffective. Yet they often find themselves surprised when they recognize that most renewable energy developers advocate for a comprehensive energy policy, and numerous renewable IPPs have been augmenting non-intermittent power to their portfolios for years.
The misunderstanding is understandable given the discourse from certain policymakers claiming that renewables should be utilized for everything, everywhere, at all times.
Perhaps the most striking aspect is renewables’ resilience, which is partially attributed (ironically) to tariffs. At present, natural gas prices hover around $4.50/BTU, a rise of more than 100% compared to a year prior. An uptick in fuel costs translates to higher electricity prices, making electricity derived from free-fuel technologies more appealing.
Another positive development within the energy sector is battery storage. Utility-scale batteries ensure reliability to the grid and offer the chance to dispatch power at optimal times. This recent technological evolution has been transformative for the entire sector, necessitating encouragement from local, state, and federal authorities.
Indeed, the staunch advocates of fossil fuels could undertake extreme measures, perhaps making sunlight illegal. However, a fundamental reality that might stabilize their approach is the economy. If sustained economic expansion is a priority, we require energy from all sources, including fossil fuels. As this administration has accurately pointed out, we are undergoing an energy crisis, which could spiral uncontrollably without a comprehensive energy policy in place.
Developing gas-fired generation and small modular reactors is crucial; however, it can take up to a decade to complete one natural gas power facility, owing to their intricacies. Ready-to-deploy renewables and battery storage are available today and are essential to our economic health. Therefore, let’s depart from an ‘us versus them’ mentality and concentrate on the broader reality: that demand is increasing, and we can satisfy that demand by employing all available options going forward.
Joe Amara is the proprietor of Joe Amara Executive Search, an executive search agency specializing in power and digital infrastructure, situated in Chicago. He can be contacted at jamara@joeamara.com.
