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Jennifer Yoshimura

Kānaka Maoli | Equity & Justice Leader | Community Amplifier & Collaborator | Founder

Jennifer Yoshimura

Jennifer Yoshimura is an Energy Justice and Equity Leader and Electrical Infrastructure Advisor at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).24 She leads energy equity and justice work that includes grid and regulatory projects incorporating decarbonization, equity, and resilience objectives into grid planning, and the Energy Storage for Social Equity (ES4SE) Initiative, a community technical assistance program.135

Yoshimura has over 20 years of energy and engineering expertise in building engineering design, renewable energy planning at Hawaiian Electric Company, and energy efficiency management at Puget Sound Energy (PSE).16 She managed PSE's transmission engineering team and HDR's Washington State Power Delivery team that comprised of transmission, distribution, and substation engineering teams.1

As a Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), Yoshimura provides a unique perspective of underrepresented and unrecognized communities in the energy transition work DOE and Labs are supporting and leading.13 She is passionate about developing and planning for inclusive, sustainable, and integrated energy systems and technologies in underserved communities, centering on equity, social development and human empowerment.1

Yoshimura holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an MSc in Renewable Energy Systems Technology from Loughborough University (UK).1 She enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and bouldering.13

Highlights

Apr 30 · linkedin

So much gratitude and aloha to Paulina López, Patrick Freeland, and Jonathan Lewis for sharing your leadership, wisdom, and expertise at the ResiliEX Summit last week. Honored to moderate a community leader panel at events like this and excited to connect with community leaders who are making positive impacts in their community and in this world. Your technical and community knowledge is helping bridge scientists, researchers, utilities, and government leaders to improve engagement with communities in co-developing research, policies, and solutions. Mahalo for all you are doing in your organizations to improve the recognition of communities and amplifying community voices in planning, investments, decision making, and relationship building for many generations.

Thanks to Seattle City Light and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for hosting, the speakers and attendees for an engaging 2.5 days, planning teams, and support staff!

Mar 16 · linkedin

Honored to moderate a panel of community leaders for a second year at SxSW! It’s been a week since our panel and wanted to give my gratitude to Kali Auckly, M.S. Communications Director at the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, VeenaPrasad H Program Director at Spark Northwest, and Dana Clare Redden Founder of Solar Stewards who shared work and leadership they and their organizations are doing in and with communities, and called the audience to action and accountability as we strive for a just and clean energy transition. These women are demonstrating how we need to approach community relationships and build trust in energy and community work.

Shout out to our Pacific Northwest National Laboratory team who led a number of panels at this year’s energy conference too!! Proud of your leadership and work you’re doing! Danielle Preziuso Bethel Tarekegne, PhD Katie Morrice TJ Heibel Rebecca O’Neil. Sorry if I missed folks!

Mahalo to SXSW, Monica, and Hugh Forrest for creating space for these leaders and conversations.

Related Questions

What are some of the key projects Jennifer Yoshimura has led at PNNL?
How does Jennifer Yoshimura's Native Hawaiian heritage influence her work in energy equity?
Can you provide more details about the Energy Storage for Social Equity (ES4SE) Initiative?
What challenges does Jennifer Yoshimura face in promoting energy equity and justice?
How has Jennifer Yoshimura's experience at Hawaiian Electric Company shaped her career?
Jennifer Yoshimura
Jennifer Yoshimura, photo 1
Jennifer Yoshimura, photo 2
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Location

Seattle, Washington, United States