Welcome Your New Expert Interview Series: Tom Rolfson, New Expert in the Generation Professionals Group - [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Expert Interview]
In this time of rapid expansion, diversification in skillsets, and attention for the public and the policymakers, the job of the utility professional is undoubtedly more complex and also critical than at any other time in the history of the industry. But just because the sector is changing so rapidly doesn’t mean we can’t learn essential lessons from the past, and that’s in fact why the expertise of industry veterans and leading voices is so important.
Energy Central’s Network of Experts always seeks to be the leading collaborative group of these utility sector voices, bringing a unique mix of expertise from experience and innovation from new ways of thinking. And the latest addition to that network, specifically positioned in our Generation Professionals group, is positioned in just such a manner. That expert joining today, and participating in this latest iteration of our New Expert Member Interview series is Tom Rolfson of POWER Engineers. Tom is a Project Manager at POWER Engineers, and members of our community may remember that in 2022 Tom was named one of the community’s Top Voices in the Generation Network.
Keep reading to learn about Tom’s experience and then in the comments below welcome him as our latest official Energy Central Expert.
Matt Chester: Thanks for agreeing to be one of our experts, Tom. Please start by sharing a bit about your background in the industry so our community better understands what went into you being established as an expert?
Tom Rolfson: My dad was an engineer in the nuclear power sector. From a young age, I’d listen to him talk about work and developed an appreciation of where electrons come from and how they get the lights to work. My natural curiosity about how things work led me to studies focused on physics and mechanical engineering. I take a deep-dive approach into all aspects of project development from this vantage point.
I’ve been working as an environmental consultant for 10 years, primarily focusing on air quality permitting and compliance. To accurately evaluate emissions of various pollutants, it’s essential to have a technical understanding of the physical processes creating emissions—everything from the combustion of fuel to chemical reactions in the add-on emission control equipment to the volatility of a certain compound applied during a manufacturing process. I want to know as much as I can about as much as I can!