DES MOINES, Iowa – As a girl growing up in Iowa City, Kimberly Dickey dreamed of uncovering ancient secrets in Africa. Instead, she ended up uncovering cutting-edge energy techniques at home.
“I didn't contemplate in my formative years that I would be an energy developer,” Kimberly shared. She wanted to be an archaeologist and went on to major in anthropology and archaeology at the University of Arizona in Tucson with thoughts of exploring excavation sites in Africa.
While her life and career took her elsewhere, her fascination with studying antiquity is helping her tackle modern-day dilemmas as a developer.
“If you're a cliff dweller in Arizona,” she mused, “how did you use natural resources to keep your family comfortable and safe on the edge of a cliff?” It’s not so different, Kimberly points out, from the way she works to harness natural resources like the sun and wind to power homes and businesses.
After taking some time away from work to raise children, she re-entered the workforce with a fresh set of eyes and new aspirations for her career. Kimberly’s path to energy started in building consulting, where she conducted energy and water audits. But it was as the state energy manager for the Iowa National Guard where she gained expertise across various energy domains.
Joining NextEra Energy Resources eight years ago, Kimberly found herself supporting wind development and repowerings, as well as solar prospecting, in Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska, all while living in Iowa. In 2018, her dedication eventually led to her first project in her home state.
With a family cattle farm in Muscatine County, Kimberly navigates the dual demands of her work and family life, often reflecting on how intertwined they have become.
“During this year's Spring calving season, I was traveling,” she recounted. “Though I am no stranger to being away through the weekend, I had to get home to support my family in case one of the calves needed to be bottle fed.”
Monday through Friday, Kimberly focuses on her career, while weekends are spent on the farm with her family. Her commitment to both work and family reflects her belief in making a positive impact. “If I had a typical 8-5 job with no personal investment, it wouldn’t be the same,” she explained.
With a farming background, Kimberly's perspective when it comes to developing projects is to address community concerns and ensure positive outcomes for Iowa farms and farm families. One innovative program she piloted involves contracting local tenant farmers to plant cover crops around solar facilities during construction. This engagement adds nutrients to the soil and combats weed growth while providing additional income to local farmers, reflecting Kimberly’s commitment to balancing energy development with agricultural livelihoods.
Kimberly Dickey’s story is one of unwavering dedication to both her professional role at NextEra Energy Resources and her personal values. It’s far from Africa, but Kimberly’s work sustains the needs of her family, neighbors and communities, all while preserving valuable Iowa farmland.
“It's huge, the time we live in right now and the work we do at NextEra Energy Resources,” Kimberly said. “We are ensuring that the grid will meet future energy demands. This is what it’s all about for me – making sure we leave a lasting legacy for future generations.”
Kansas wind operations manager Annie Paskavitch brings decades of hands-on experience to the energy industry, driving safe, reliable operations across the Heartland.
Baton Rouge solar developer Allison Bernard loves LSU, Mardi Gras and the sun's ability to fuel the grid and the economy.
