Meet Ken Stewart: Bringing Solar to the South, One Ground-Level Opportunity at a Time

Kenneth Stewart isn't waiting for the clean energy boom to arrive in the South. He's training to build it!

A native of Atlanta, Georgia,  Mr. Stewart has had a career that took him north for awhile before returning to Georgia with his family. After attending a few Black Sustainability programs and events, he learned of this solar opportunity and he applied. He joined our GRID Alternatives training with a resume built on sales, marketing, and customer service, not solar panels. But talk to him for five minutes and it's clear he sees something the rest of the industry is just catching up to; solar in Georgia is still in its infancy, and that's exactly the opportunity he's after.

"I believe solar energy and other forms of clean energy are in an infant stage of our economy, and the demand for these products will grow exponentially," Kenneth says.

It's not a hunch. Georgia and the broader South have lagged behind the solar adoption seen in Western states for years , but the math is changing fast. Data centers are multiplying across the region, and with them, an appetite for power that existing supply can't keep pace with. Mr. Stewart sees that gap as his opening.

Why Solar, Why Now

Kenneth Stewart didn't come to GRID looking for just a job. He came looking for a foothold,  a way into an industry on the ground floor, early enough to build something that outlasts him.

"I'm interested in business opportunities that I can get in at the ground level to establish a successful business for my heirs," he explains.

That long view runs through everything he says about the industry: this isn't a detour, it's a foundation. What makes Kenneth a compelling hire isn't just enthusiasm,  it's fit. He's spent his career in sales, marketing, team leadership, and customer service, the exact skill set an expanding solar industry needs on the business development and outreach side, not just the installation side. Pair that with the technical grounding GRID's training provides, and you get someone who can speak fluently to both a homeowner's electric bill and a crew's wiring diagram.

"A solar company should hire me because I believe in the product and I possess the necessary sales and marketing skills to help grow the industry," Ken says.

The GRID program has been building the other half of that equation, industry knowledge, product knowledge, and hands-on installation experience, skills he plans to keep stacking as he establishes himself as an industry professional.

Solar, Explained Like You're Five

Ask Ken to explain solar energy, and he skips the jargon entirely.

"The sun is like a giant orange full of energy juice. Then you have solar panels that are like plates that catch the juice. The plate pours the juice into a special cup, a battery or the home electrical system. Now your house can drink the juice to turn on lights, watch TV, or operate the heat and air."

It's a small moment, but it says a lot about what Ken brings to this industry: the ability to make a technical product make sense to everyday people. That's the translation work solar needs more of, especially in markets where adoption is still catching on.

His bottom line for anyone on the fence: solar is clean, it does no harm to the environment, and over time, it saves money. Simple as that.

What's Next

Training is just the on-ramp. Once Ken completes the program, he plans to plug into Atlanta's clean energy and green economy in a real way,  joining clean energy organizations and becoming an advocate for renewable energy at the local government level. It's the natural next step for someone who sees this industry not as a job, but as a movement he wants to help build in the South.

Ken holds a Master's degree in Business Administration, giving him a strategic edge as he moves from training into the business side of solar  whether that's employment with a growing company or launching ventures of his own.

Connect With Ken

Employers, clean energy organizations, and fellow advocates looking to connect with

Ken can reach him via email.

Email: kenneth.b.stewart@gmail.com

Ken Stewart is a proud graduate of BSI/C.A.S.T.'s Atlanta GRID Alternatives solar training program. This profile is part of an ongoing series spotlighting the graduates building Atlanta's clean energy future.