The People Behind PowerMarket: Meet Mergen Tamir

Mergen's journey into the clean energy space is a testament to the power of purpose, community, and systems change. As a new member of the PowerMarket team, she brings a perspective rooted in justice, resilience, and hope to the energy transition.
Mergen’s path here winds through years of fighting for justice and building communities, experiences that now shape how she thinks about transforming our energy system. Many people enter the energy sector through engineering or economics. Mergen got here through organizing and advocacy—and that difference shows in everything she does.

A Foundation in Community and Advocacy
Growing up in Ulaanbaatar, one of the most air-polluted capital cities in the world, Mergen witnessed the harsh realities of energy insecurity. Many families, especially those living in traditional gers on the outskirts of the city, burn raw coal to survive the frigid winters.

“From a young age, I understood that energy wasn’t just a technical issue—it was about survival, independence, and justice,” she says. “Mongolia’s dependence on foreign powers for electricity and fuel has made communities vulnerable. I want to be part of changing that by supporting local, sustainable, and equitable systems.”

Before she began working in clean energy, Mergen was already deeply engaged in community-driven change. In high school, she ran marathons alongside members of the disabled community and advocated for HIV/AIDS awareness through a nonprofit in Mongolia. These early experiences cemented a belief that systems change starts at a community level.

Mergen moved to the U.S. to attend Barnard College at Columbia University, where she majored in Economics and minored in Psychology.

Why She Chose PowerMarket
After working in asset management at a solar company, Mergen felt a growing need to get closer to the people and communities that clean energy should be serving. That search led her to PowerMarket.

“What drew me here was the mission to democratize access to clean energy,” she says. “So many communities have been excluded from the energy transition, and I wanted to be part of changing that.”

Her role centers on billing and financial reporting for community solar clients—translating solar output into monthly savings for families across the country. But beyond the numbers, it’s the culture that keeps her inspired. “It’s not just the work, it’s the people. It’s so important to like who you work with just as much as what you do.”

Sustainability in Everyday Life
Mergen prefers walking or biking around the city, brings reusable totes on grocery runs, and is mindful about conserving energy at home. These small habits, she believes, are powerful catalysts for cultural change.

“We influence each other more than we realize,” she says. “When you live your values, you inspire others to do the same. That’s how behavior becomes culture.”

When it’s time to recharge, Mergen journals, practices gratitude, and stays intentional about what she consumes, from media to food to relationships.

“I live by the phrase, ‘You are what you consume.’ Whether it’s what you eat, who you surround yourself with, or what you read and watch—everything shapes who you are. So I try to be really intentional about the energy I allow into my life.”

As Mergen continues her work at PowerMarket, she remains grounded in the belief that clean energy should be for everyone and that real, lasting change begins with people and community.