TheGrio’s 100: Jason Few, turning a profit by greening Texas
TheGrio's 100 - More than 1.5 million Texans depend on Jason Few to keep their homes cool during boiling Southwest summers, but the Reliant Energy president isn't sweating it...
More than 1.5 million Texans depend on Jason Few to keep their homes cool during boiling Southwest summers, but the Reliant Energy president isn’t sweating it. In addition to his work to keep Texas well-lit, cool and Wi-Fi connected, Few and his team push innovative green solutions and services, like surge protect and reliant filters, which keep electronics functioning and air clean. Reliant even provides “home energy checkups,” a home audit designed to save energy and money, and electric cars are on Few’s horizon.
Jason Few is making history … through environmentally-conscious initiatives, like the implementation of “smart meters” throughout Texan homes, offices and government workplaces. These smart readers control the amount of power being used at any given time, conserving energy overnight and during other off-peak hours. For the past two years, Few and Reliant Energy have rolled out charging stations for electric cars to accelerate the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Few’s also partnering with Reliant’s commercial and industrial customers to implement renewable energy solutions, including solar, wind and nuclear options.
What’s next for Jason?
Few has partnered with Nissan to make Reliant’s hometown Houston a launching site for Nissan’s electric car, The Leaf. Few aims to make Texas the electric vehicle capital of the United States, a mission that is particularly ambitious and potentially groundbreaking given the state’s fondness for SUVs.
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In his own words …
“People want to know what I think about solar versus wind versus nuclear versus natural gas,” Few told the Houston Business Journal. “It is refreshing to know the public is engaged on this very important issue. And yes, people do ask how they can lower their electric bills.”
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On black history …
“Dr. King said, ‘All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.’ Everyday I am grateful that I have the opportunity to show young people – including my own children – that success rests not on who you are, but on what you contribute and on the choices you make,” Few told theGrio. “I take seriously my responsibility to my parents and those who fought for civil rights that their hard work not be in vain. I also take an active voice in the discussion to help us move forward. Dr. King also said, ‘Not only will we have to repent for the sins of bad people; but we also will have to repent for the appalling silence of good people.’ I refuse to be silent.”
A favorite quote …
“Every right implies a responsibility; Every opportunity, an obligation, Every possession, a duty.” – John D. Rockefeller
A little-known fact …
Texas ranks 19th in the nation for alternative fuel vehicles per capita, with 1.987 such vehicles per every 1000 people.
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