Powering the future
Alum Scott Weiss’s academic journey took an unexpected turn when he studied abroad at the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. Looking out the airplane window as he descended into Kastrup Airport, he saw massive wind turbines spinning over the sea. Over the next six months, living in a city where biking was the norm, recycling was second nature, and sustainability was a communal effort, he began to see the world differently.
“I had little awareness of environmental sustainability before that time,” Weiss said. “It is woven into the society in Denmark, and I wanted to bring that mindset back to the U.S. It wasn’t just an abstract issue but a way of life.”
When he came back to campus for his senior year, Weiss took an environmental chemistry class to fulfill a science requirement. “It was serendipitous timing. I really started to understand the science of climate change and it was hard to look away. I was working toward a business degree and now have this issue I think is important—how do I combine the two?”
After graduation, Weiss took a finance role at CarMax, but shortly after refocused his interest on environmental issues, going back to school for an MBA with a focus on renewable energy finance at George Washington University. While there, he gained relevant experience at area organizations and joined Apex Clean Energy, a renewable energy organization that develops, constructs, and operates utility-scale wind and solar power facilities across North America.
“I joined at a time when it was more of a startup than I realized,” he said. “I supported a bit of everything. As the company and industry were coming of age it was a great time to be a part of it,” he said. “There were no set rules. We invented industry trends, and the parameters used for projects to come together.”
Now with the organization for 12 years, Weiss has overseen billions of dollars in projects for renewable energy in the U.S. For Weiss, these projects represent professional milestones but also deeply meaningful achievements. Two projects are of great pride. “Aviator Wind was the largest single-phase, single-site wind project in the country at the time of construction,” Weiss said. “And we just started work on Rocky Forge Wind, the commonwealth’s first onshore wind project.” The project holds special significance, as it’s an opportunity to contribute directly to his home state.
Weiss’s journey has come full circle, having just returned from a trip to Denmark where he met with the King of Denmark. With international suppliers and stakeholders, Weiss has the opportunity to travel often. “It’s a global industry,” he said. “The U.S. happens to be a beneficiary of excellent wind and solar resources, which helps make it a leader globally.”
For Weiss, the success he has found in his career and with the organization aligns perfectly with his passion. “The better we do for the environment, the better we do as a company,” Weiss said. “There is absolutely no separation. We are creating value, and we are also doing good for society. It is business with a purpose, and that feels very worthwhile to me.”