COLUMBUS, Ohio — A senior attending Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is set to earn the first Certificate in Sustainable Energy and the Economy offered by the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE).
Abigail Lewis is majoring in Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability with a specialization in Sustainability in Business and a minor in International Studies. On track to graduate in Spring 2026, Lewis is pursuing the Certificate to support her career plans in the energy industry.
“This certificate perfectly complements my academic focus on sustainability and economics,” explained Lewis. “I even had the opportunity to study abroad last semester in Copenhagen, Denmark, where I explored Scandinavian approaches to sustainable development and renewable energy. This extra focus gives me additional insight into sustainability through an economist’s perspective.”
“Energy has been at the center of Ohio’s economy since the late 1800s when John D. Rockefeller grew his Cleveland oil refinery into the world’s largest company. Now, fracking, utility scale wind and solar, and data centers dot the landscape, keeping energy at the heart of Ohio’s economy,” said Dr. Brent Sohngen, Professor in AEDE who helped create the program. “This certificate provides students with the skills necessary to help employers navigate the uncertainty that permeates the modern energy market. With skills gained in the certificate, you’ll be poised to address key issues such as “how long will this supply disruption affect oil prices” or “what will happen to commercial electricity prices as new data centers are built in the region?”
AEDE launched the certificate in 2024.
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