Name: Ted Lague
Title: Director of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
Employer: Merchants Fleet
City/Town of Residence:
Exeter, NH
Why did you decide to work in the clean energy industry?
There are big problems to solve, and that excites me. One of which being 29% of greenhouse gasses (GHG) in the United States come from the transportation sector, and roughly one in five vehicles on the road today belongs to a fleet. This presents a tremendous opportunity for our company to benefit the planet and society through the electrification of fleets, among other solutions in the transportation space.
What interested you in working at your current employer?
To combine my adulthood passions of strategy, innovation, and sustainability with my childhood passion of transportation. Above all else though, it's having the opportunity to do good at both the local and national level, while simultaneously growing our company’s profitability.
Describe the work you do in more detail.
I oversee Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) at Merchants Fleet. In addition to building the company’s ESG strategy and culture, our team works on initiatives that help the company do well as a business, by doing immense good for planet, people and communities.
What aspect of your job excites you most? Why?
Taking action! More specifically, innovating new solutions with my peers that benefit our company, planet, employees and communities.
What makes you hopeful about the clean energy transition in New Hampshire?
I have faith seeing local organizations & institutions like Clean Energy NH (CENH), the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility (NHBSR), inspire folks to help transition our little state to clean energy, and a future we can all be proud of. There are a lot of scary things in the news these days, but there are also incredible opportunities here in New Hampshire. Where there is opportunity, there is hope.
What do you believe is the most pressing challenge that lies ahead for the clean energy industry in the state?
Communication, leadership and vision that motivates a broader audience to take action. The first step though is listening; easy to say, but often difficult to practice. I think we would all benefit from leaning in and listening a bit more. Active listening fuels effective communication, leadership and visions that inspire enduring ACTION.
What interested you most about being part of YPiE?
I believe the sum of YPiE has the potential to be much greater than all the individual pieces. Together, we can do big things.
What advice would you give to someone that is new to the industry or fresh out of college?
Have fun, stay curious, fail fast, and always be kind.
What do you like to do when you aren't working?
I love playing with my son, skiing of any sort, biking, boating, and building.
Fun Facts:
Coffee or Tea? And how do you take it?
Coffee with cream. Stirred not shaken.
Fave NH Restaurant?
Los Olas Taqueria in Exeter.
Fave Musician/Band/Music genre?
If it’s live and in the great outdoors, I’m happy. I’ve also been on an R.E.M. kick, after adopting a box of old cassette tapes from my in-law’s waste basket. If you haven’t dipped your toes into the world of cassette tapes…I’ll spare you, you’re not missing much.
Fav Recreational activity?
Alpine touring, hands down.