Andrew Hughes ’10 has found himself at the intersection of energy innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship as vice president of business development for Scale Microgrids, a rapidly growing company focused on resilient, distributed energy systems. Based in Pleasant Valley, New York, Andrew leads business development efforts across much of the Northeast and Midwest, helping commercial and industrial clients reduce energy costs and improve reliability through combinations of solar power, battery storage, and microgrid technology.

After graduating from Millbrook in 2010, Andrew attended George Washington University and initially explored work in finance and investment banking. Those early jobs touched on energy markets, and one year out of college, he joined a leadership development program at Exelon, one of the country’s largest utility companies. While spending three years in the program, moving between Baltimore and Chicago, he discovered a fascination with energy markets and infrastructure. What began as an interest in economics and commodity pricing evolved into a long-term career in renewable energy and battery storage. Andrew credits those early experiences analyzing electricity, gas, and power markets with shaping the direction of his career.

Eager for a faster-moving and more entrepreneurial environment that would allow him to grow, Andrew eventually left the corporate utility world to join a battery storage startup in New York City. There, he helped commercialize emerging battery technologies and build out the company’s sales efforts before transitioning into energy development work, where he found his true niche. Today at Scale Microgrids, Andrew helps oversee projects that allow businesses to generate and manage their own power more efficiently. Unlike traditional backup generators, many of the company’s systems operate continuously, using batteries, solar arrays, and intelligent controls to reduce strain on the electrical grid while providing reliable power during outages.