2025 New Futures Fellowship

Common Grounds

For the third year, the Common Grounds initiative worked with New Futures Fellows to accelerate clean energy deployment through co-locating renewables on land already leased for oil and gas production. The 2025 fellows worked in two areas: 1) developing a workforce development strategy to advance renewables in the US and 2) exploring international possibilities of co-location, with specific research in Brazil and Qatar.

Workforce Development: Clean Energy Jobs in the Intermountain West

Fellow Cameron Salo examined workforce development strategies in Utah and New Mexico, tied to decarbonization, energy equity, and environmental justice. He identified opportunities for job training and professional advancement in the clean energy sector, while developing public-facing content to build support for renewable energy workforce initiatives.

Global Common Grounds: Clean Energy on Fossil Fuel Lands

Fellows Manling Hu and Daniela Laforce investigated the potential to repurpose previously disturbed or contaminated fossil fuel sites in Qatar and Brazil for clean energy production. Research focused on policy, land use, and stakeholder engagement, with the goal of accelerating renewable energy adoption in these historically extractive regions.

Meet the Fellows

  • Daniela Laforce


    Dani is a Brazilian Islands and Sustainability Master's Student at the Universities of Groningen and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where she is learning advanced spatial analysis tools and sustainable land use planning on islands. Her purpose as a researcher is to protect tropical forests. She believes effective land use planning, especially regarding energy transition, is one of the best ways to get there.

    She is fierce in her understanding that the energy transition in the Global South is a pathway to these countries' energy sovereignty.

  • Manling Hu


    Manling studies Environmental Studies and is pursuing a graduate certificate in Energy Management and Policy, focusing on advancing energy justice for communities disproportionately burdened by climate change and energy insecurity.

    Her work looks at how losing electricity affects low-income families in the US, and how fossil fuel sites can transition to renewable energy sources globally.

    Inspired by Planet Reimagined’s mission to bridge research and advocacy, she's excited to join collaborative projects that help build a fairer energy future for everyone!

  • Cameron Salo


    Cameron spent his career working across policy and advocacy spaces to support community led solutions. He’s passionate about connecting research with real world change.

    In his free time, he loves hiking, playing chess, and making music, whether on guitar, piano, or just singing for fun!

    He’s excited to join the fellowship, inspired by its creative and community-first approach to combating climate change. It's a chance to learn, collaborate, and be part of something meaningful.

Fellowship Advisors

Katie Kavanaugh

Clean Energy Coordinator,
Planet Reimagined

Solomon McBride

Clean Energy Environmental Justice Advisor, Planet Reimagined

Interested in our Fellowships?

We're not currently recruiting for any fellowships, but we'd love to keep you informed!