The People Behind PowerMarket: Meet Ava Horn

Ava joined PowerMarket in May as an Operations Analyst. Just like PowerMarket, Ava was born and raised in Brooklyn—a fitting connection for someone so deeply rooted in the community she now helps serve.

We sat down with Ava to learn more about her background, her role at PowerMarket, and what inspires her work in clean energy.

Tell us a little about your background.
I was born and raised in Brooklyn and later moved upstate to attend Colgate University. When I was nine, I became a vegetarian—motivated more by my love for animals than by environmental concerns. But in hindsight, that was the beginning of my sustainability journey.

Over time, that early compassion for animals grew into a deeper awareness of the environments they depend on and the impact our actions have on those ecosystems. At Colgate I studied Environmental Studies and Philosophy, which allowed me to explore the ethical and systemic sides of environmental work.

After graduating I returned to Brooklyn, and I’m thrilled to be starting this journey here at PowerMarket.

What drew you to sustainability and clean energy?
Growing up I spent my summers at a sleepaway camp in the Catskills. Those two months each year became my reset button, a reminder that swimming in a pond, hiking through a forest, or camping by a fire was when I felt most myself and connected to the world around me.

While I have outgrown sleepaway camp, nature continues to ground me—whether I’m at Rockaway Beach, Prospect Park, or out on a weekend camping trip. I have always felt a responsibility to preserve these spaces—not just for myself, but for the species that call them home and for future generations to enjoy. After a day in the woods it’s easy to return to the comforts of everyday life and forget about the warming world around us, but for wildlife and for communities already facing the effects of climate change, there is no “off” switch. That disconnect has always stuck with me.

I love the outdoors, and I never want to take it for granted. That sense of connection and responsibility is what inspired me to focus my career on sustainability and clean energy. At PowerMarket I get to work on something that feels personal—helping protect the places that shaped me, and playing a small part in creating a more sustainable future.

What’s your role like at PowerMarket?
As part of the Operations team at PowerMarket I manage solar projects from initial setup and acquisition through ongoing monthly upkeep. Once a project is live, it’s my job to ensure that the project stays fully subscribed and that subscribers receive the correct allocation of solar credits. Credits are allocated based on a subscriber’s electricity consumption and the project’s total output. These credits are what drives PowerMarket’s goal of helping our customers save on utility bills and generating revenue for solar developers.

My role requires close attention to detail, but it also gives me a unique view into all the moving parts behind community solar. Assigning solar credits is like a puzzle I get to solve each month, combining technical problem-solving with the broader mission of community solar: delivering a clean energy experience that’s beneficial, reliable, and impactful.

What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since joining?
Since joining the team, I’ve realized that working within the clean energy space isn't just about generating power, but is a complex ecosystem of stakeholders including utilities, third-party energy suppliers, solar developers, individual solar installations, community solar programs, local municipalities, and of course, homes interested in clean energy. Each one has a different role and it takes coordination to get everyone aligned and moving towards the same goal together. My role sits in the middle of many of these moving parts, and I’ve learned how critical it is to maintain clear, accurate processes so that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

What are your future goals in this field?
Long term, I’d love to help larger organizations adopt environmentally responsible practices and transition to clean energy. There’s so much potential for impact when institutions—public or private—commit to sustainability from the inside out.

Whether it’s through managing clean energy procurement, improving operational systems, or developing programs that make sustainability more inclusive and accessible, I want to be part of that shift. Driving change from within feels like the next big challenge (and opportunity) in this work, and I’m excited to keep growing toward that path.

And outside of work? Do you bring that sustainability mindset into your daily life?
One small but meaningful change I’ve made in my daily life is using only metal straws and reusable utensils. It’s a simple habit, but adds up in our consumption-driven world. It’s also a reminder that everyday choices can contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle, and even a small change can save hundreds of plastic utensils a year and a few turtles in the process.