Meet RIEEA board member Andrew Broccolo!
Andrew Broccolo (he/they) is the Sustainability Analyst and Renewable Energy System Designer at RISE Engineering, where they are responsible for implementing internal sustainability programs and designing renewable energy projects for commercial, non-profit, and municipal entities.
As a 2020 URI Energy Fellow, Andrew worked with the City of Providence’s Office of Sustainability in supporting their RePowerPVD energy challenge program and developing content for the URI Cooperative Extension’s Plugged into Energy lecture series.
A major focus of Andrew’s educational and working experiences has been sustainable development, seeking to bridge the perceived divide between the natural and built environments to create a more cohesive existence with ecosystems. This passion led Andrew to incorporate Queer Ecology into his graduate studies and realize his connection(s) to nature and society as a queer person. Read on to learn a bit more about Andrew!
What’s your favorite outdoor place in Rhode Island, and why?
Spray Rock overlook in Weekapaug. For me, it’s a place of relaxation, contemplation, and nostalgia.
How did you get involved with the environmental field?
As a child, I loved playing in the woods and brook behind my house. The play encouraged curiosity, and Scouting fostered an environment to learn from my curiosities. However, it was my high school AP Environmental Science course (and teacher) where I realized it was the field for me.
What’s your favorite environmental fact to share?
Nature is everywhere.
What are you most looking forward to in working with RIEEA?