Lodi residents, local officials share how Jimmy Carter inspired them as nation honors the former president

As a politician, Carter inspired Sen. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, to become an engineer when the former created the Department of Energy in 1977.

Carter encouraged energy conservation during his presidency and installed solar water heating panels on the White House as well.

Prior to his career in politics, McNerney held a senior engineering position with U.S. Windpower — later known as Kenetech — and served as an energy consultant for PG&E, FloWind and The Electric Power Research Institute, among other utility companies.

He also served as CEO of HAWT Power, a start-up company manufacturing wind turbines.

“I became aware of climate change in 1969, and to see him move forward on addressing that was inspiring,” McNerney said. “I went into renewable energy as a career because of those issues.”

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