8/9/2019 Ambassador - Profile Ken Glazier '67

1/1

the ambassador WINTER 2008-0912 WINTER 2008-09 the ambassador

eaturesECO PROFILE:

KEN GLAZIER

eaturesECO PROFILE:

KEN GLAZIER

Im Vice President o Suzlon Wind Energy Corporation. Its

the US subsidiary o a company rom India, which is the th

largest worldwide supplier o commercial turbines that generate

electricity rom wind. These are huge turbines which extend a

ootball eld high. Weve installed or planned over 1,000 turbines,

primarily in the US Midwest and Pacic Northwest. Each turbine

supplies enough renewable electricity or about 600 amilies. I

handle technical and commercial issues. I still climb turbines,

sometimes several times in one day, by means o a ladder inside

a tower extending 20 stories high. Its amazing to work on

equipment 250 eet in the air, particularly when the temperature

in the Minnesota winter is minus 30. Maybe those laps I ran or

Coach Lou Mannara 40 years ago are keeping me going.

How did you get started in this business?

A riend asked me to help him negotiate his employment

agreement with Suzlon. That was successul, so he suggested

that I consider joining Suzlon mysel.

What inuenced you to choose this feld?

Ive spent much o my career in energy businesses, starting with

oil and gas. Its becoming increasingly clear that the world cant

continue burning more and more hydrocarbons to genera te more

and more energy. But the world cant tell people in developingcountriespresently Brazil, Russia, India and China known as

BRICthat they cant aspire to the energy-rich liestyle that is

common in the US. I think people like me with a background

in energy have an obligation to consider how the world will

provide energy in developing areas while restructuring energy

use in developed areas.

What is the biggest challenge or you in working in this

area?

Inconsistent governmental policies. Most politicians are or

the environment but regulate, tax, and spend incoherently. The

result is starts and stops in many inconsistent directions.

Where do you see this business/area heading in the next 5

10 years?

Expansion. The world needs energy, much o it rom renewable

and alternative sources. Wind, solar, and other sources to be

invented by some smart student now at ASIJ need to be part o

the mixture. Japan is a good candidate or renewable energy,

having expanding energy needs, limited hydrocarbons, and

strong emotions about nuclear power.

How has the feld changed since you began working?

Expansion. Renewable energy has become mainstream.

Can you mention any teachers or courses at ASIJ th

inuenced you?

Like many alumni o my generation, I cite Margaret Noble ro

junior year English. She gave us priceless instruction in how

organize thoughts and write persuasively under time pressu

I was a budding engineer at ASIJ. But Bill Ricketson cast me

a lawyer with the ASIJ Players, and told me to prepare or t

part by thinking about what a lawyer does and how a lawy

behaves. A seed planted that germinated at Harvard L

School? Perhaps.

What inspires you?

A task well done by a talented person or group. The task c

be a business deal, an artistic perormance, an invention,

anything else worth doing.

How green are you at home?

Im conscious o my use o resources. I recycle, take pub

transportation, and try to live a liestyle that others can susta

into uture generations.

One piece o advice or current students:

Be broad and bold. You have no idea what youll be doing in

years. Seek out a variety o educational and lie experiences enable fexibility as things change.

Ken Glazier 67 on his work

on wind powerMind-blowing

Ken Glazier at his oce in Minnesota