Women’s History Month: #AcceleratingAction on Clean Energy

The 2025 International Women’s Day theme, “Accelerating Action,” highlights the urgent need for gender equity in driving sustainability. As we near the end of Women’s History Month, we reflect on where we are as an industry, and where we are going. As the world transitions toward renewable energy sources, in many companies, women remain underrepresented in leadership and technical roles, limiting the sector’s potential for innovation and inclusive progress.

 

At GS Power Partners (GSPP), we aim to lead by example. By fostering diverse participation, investing in education and workforce development, and breaking down systemic barriers, our company, and the clean energy industry as a whole, benefit from a broader range of perspectives and skills.

 

#AcceleratingAction means not only advancing clean energy technologies, but also ensuring that women play a pivotal role in harnessing cheaper, renewable energy sources to meet surging demand.  To that end, we celebrate the remarkable contributions of the leaders, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and activists who are shaping the future of renewable energy and mentoring young women who are interested in joining our industry.

 

Breaking Barriers

The renewable energy sector, like much of the broader energy industry, has historically been male-dominated. Women, however, are making significant strides in breaking these barriers. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), women make up approximately 32 percent of the renewable energy workforce, compared to 22 percent in the traditional energy sector. While progress is evident, there is still a long way to go in achieving gender parity, particularly in leadership and technical roles.

 

We are proud to be exceeding these metrics at GSPP, and continue to focus on recruiting and mentoring the next generation of female leaders.

 

Celebrating Women’s Innovations in Solar Technology

Across our industry, women are at the forefront of solar energy innovation, contributing to advancements in solar panel efficiency, battery storage, and grid integration. Engineers like Dr. Olga Malinkiewicz, the founder of Saule Technologies, who pioneered a revolutionary method of printing solar panels using perovskite materials, are making solar technology more accessible and affordable.

 

On our team, women at all levels help to innovate in the ways we run our business, recruit and mentor other women, and approach our projects.

 

Here are some examples of our accomplished team:

• Chief Development Officer Amanda Zurla joined GSPP at the entry level and over the past 10 years has distinguished herself by contributing at every level of the company and driving results in all aspects of the business. Over the course of her time with us, she has helped to grow our portfolio to 350+ MW, and has operationalized best practices across the organization to ensure the team identifies and develops projects that deliver robust returns.
• Our Chief Strategy Officer, Lori Arndt, is the first person ever to serve in this role at our company. During the course of her career, Lori has spearheaded the recruitment and hiring of hundreds of women at companies such as Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank. She has focused on compensation equity and is proud that GSPP has achieved it in a short period of time. She has built a team culture that values transparency and open dialogue, and uses missteps as opportunities to change processes and improve approaches.
• Director of Acquisitions Sydney Kohut graduated with a degree in Environmental Science from New York University and has been with GSPP for four years. Sydney manages the commercial aspects of our business, which includes overseeing the team of analysts who evaluate potential deals.
• Anjalu Linggi is our newest project manager and is focused on an important emerging market for us – Pennsylvania. She has more than six years of experience as an EPC project manager and is a creative problem solver, dedicated to the success of our solar sites. We are thrilled to have her join the team!

 

For the remainder of the year, we will be highlighting the talented women of GS Power Partners regularly here on our blog. Look for profiles of these exemplary women and others who are critical to our success, including: Rachael Dziechciarz , Senior Counsel; Mia Behm, Head of Commercial Asset Management; Amy Vaughn, Head of Development Management; and Kristen Simmons, Senior Counsel.

 

Inspiring the Next Generation

Encouraging more women to join the solar industry is crucial for its continued growth. Mentorship programs, scholarships, and networking groups are helping young women enter STEM fields and build successful careers in the clean energy field. More directly, we support and participate in organizations like Women in Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE), which provide resources and support to women looking to make an impact in the field.

 

A Future Powered by Women

As we close out Women’s History Month, it is important to recognize the progress women have made in the clean energy industry while acknowledging the work that remains. By promoting gender diversity and inclusion, we can drive innovation, enhance decision-making, and accelerate the global transition to renewable energy.