
As Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of Government Affairs at GE Vernova, Roger Martella plays a pivotal role in driving the company’s sustainability efforts and navigating emerging trends in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues. GE Vernova was the second company to be spun off from General Electric – after GE HealthCare and before GE Aerospace – and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in April 2024.
Prior to joining GE in 2017, Martella served as General Counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He’s co-authored several books on ESG and climate change, teaches international environmental law and justice at Howard University Law School, and serves on the Advisory Board of Harvard University’s Environmental and Energy Law Program. He has also been recognized as a racial justice champion by the Racial Justice Institute.
TOPICS Senior Editor Julia Bergström sat down with Martella at the Ghost Island recording studio in October to discuss leadership, climate change, and GE Vernova’s mission to accelerate the path to more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy. An abridged version of their conversation follows. Listen to the full interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
How has GE Vernova’s journey unfolded since the spinoff from General Electric?
Just six months ago, we rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, launching as an independent company dedicated to electrifying and decarbonizing the planet. But our origins trace back 130 years to Thomas Edison, the pioneer of the electrification revolution.
In the brief time since April, the stakes have risen considerably. Global demand for electrification, innovation, and technology is surging to meet diverse energy needs and drive decarbonization efforts. Simultaneously, the effects of climate change are becoming more evident. This urgency is matched by markets like Taiwan, which aim to address energy demands, combat climate change, and boost economic growth through job creation and supply chain development, solidifying their roles in the energy transition.
Amid these rising stakes, our stakeholders have responded enthusiastically to our unique position. Since we generate approximately 25% of the world’s energy, they look to us for solutions that advance electrification, decarbonization, competitiveness, and economic growth.
You hold a JD from Vanderbilt University Law School, and you teach a first-of-its kind course on international environmental law and justice at Howard University Law School. How has this experience aided you in the fight against climate change?
It’s perhaps less about legal expertise and more about the practice of being a lawyer. A good lawyer doesn’t just fight to the end for their client – they aim for the best possible outcome. This involves understanding what the client needs, providing a realistic and pragmatic approach, and assessing whether a win-win solution is possible.
The skills I’ve honed as a lawyer have been invaluable in addressing complex challenges. At this stage, achieving win-win solutions is crucial. We recognize that there’s enough demand for everyone, and we often bring competitors into the conversation to pursue shared opportunities.
You previously served as General Counsel of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. How has that experience influenced your approach to engaging with governments today?
When I reflect back on my experience as the EPA General Counsel, it really comes down to service. The key is to remove yourself from the equation – it’s not about personal agendas but about maximizing public good. It requires finding compromises, seeking win-win solutions, and being willing to listen to all sides to identify common ground.
One of the proudest aspects of my previous role was that it required a presidential nomination and Senate confirmation. I achieved a unanimous confirmation, securing 100 votes from both Republicans and Democrats. I approached the role without political bias or predetermined outcomes, focusing instead on finding the best solutions after hearing all perspectives. This approach resonates globally, as governments generally seek honest brokers rather than advocates with rigid agendas.
When engaging with governments, empathy is essential. We strive to understand their perspectives, needs, and goals before aligning our support. While our interests and those of the government may not always be identical, understanding the other side’s objectives is crucial.
How is GE Vernova leveraging new technological innovations to promote sustainability and accelerate the energy transition?
Ahead of our six-month anniversary, we released our first sustainability report, which focuses on four key pillars – electrification, decarbonization, conservation, and helping our people, employees, and communities thrive.
We’re the first company in the electric power industry to integrate electrification into its sustainability framework. Our primary goal is to enable access to more affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity for everyone. We’re also enhancing grid resilience by expanding capacity and focusing on emerging economies – prioritizing countries struggling with reliable energy access.
The second pillar is decarbonization, where we leverage innovation to lower the carbon intensity of the grid. We aim to meet growing energy demands while reducing emissions by expanding renewable energy, nuclear power, and more efficient gas and grid technologies. We’re also investing in breakthrough innovations for the next decade, such as small modular nuclear reactors, hydrogen as a fuel, and carbon-capture technology.
Do you see any specific opportunities to improve sustainability and efficiency in Taiwan?
We see Taiwan as a true leader on the global stage, taking a pragmatic approach that aligns closely with our own framework. Taiwan recognizes the need to strengthen its electrical grid and has committed to phasing out coal, which creates additional demands and pressures. We’re proud to support Taiwan in meeting these challenges, currently supplying about a third of its grid’s energy through gas power, which reduces the grid’s carbon intensity compared to coal. Simultaneously, we’re laying the groundwork for long-term success in achieving renewable energy goals.
How do you work to avoid greenwashing?
That’s a serious concern, and we take it to heart. To ensure our credibility, we’ve implemented several measures, starting with a robust foundation for our sustainability efforts. While the urge to jump straight into ideas is strong, we recognized that building a modern sustainability company required creating a modern system first.
This led to the development of our “control room,” a concept inspired by the control rooms of power plants, which manage some of the most complex systems on the planet. The control room functions as our operational hub, guiding sustainability inputs, framework, and outputs, ensuring our approach remains aligned and transparent. Stakeholder engagement is at the core here. We see it as a two-way street, actively seeking feedback and refining ideas to ensure that our sustainability report reflects both our internal perspectives and the insights of our external partners. This collaborative approach helps maintain focus and accountability.
Our guiding principles emphasize impact, pragmatism, and credibility. Our commitment to transparency involves rigorous quality checks, thorough verification, and internal debate. If a statement doesn’t meet our high standards, we simply don’t make it.
What advice would you like to give to young professionals looking to enter sustainability roles?
It’s really encouraging to see enthusiasm among young people for being part of a sustainable future. My main advice is to find what you’re passionate about and connect that passion to sustainability. I often hear from people who want to work full-time in sustainability, but the reality is that there aren’t many full-time sustainability roles. What we truly need is talented communicators, finance experts, data managers, lawyers, HR professionals, and factory managers who approach their work with a sustainability mindset. I always encourage people to become the best at what they love, while also contributing to sustainability in their own way.
The next generation interested in careers in this field truly holds the future in their hands. Those of us in the field now are creating the tools, technologies, policies, and mechanisms, but it will be up to them to implement these innovations.
I’m genuinely envious of those who get to embark on this journey now – they’ll likely spend the next 30 years making history. They have a unique opportunity to shape not only their careers but also the planet’s future. It’s a chance to build rewarding careers while making a meaningful impact on the world, improving quality of life, and creating a lasting legacy. It’s a challenging road, but knowing that the work has real, global impact makes every effort worthwhile.
How do you balance the amount of traveling you do for work with family life?
You’re assuming that I have it all figured out, but to be honest, I don’t. Balancing everything is a challenge I still struggle with, and I suspect most of us do to some extent.
My approach is that if I’m going to work hard, travel often, and push my limits, it has to be for something meaningful. I take pride in contributing to my company’s success in my own small way, but I’m fortunate that our CEO and board have empowered me and others to align our work with greater public good, making it all the more motivating.
I’m also lucky to have a supportive family. My wife even joined me on this trip to Taiwan, so we could spend some time together. We all find ways to make it work, even if it’s not perfect. But when I meet someone who has figured it out perfectly, I’ll be sure to let you know!
How are you two enjoying your Taiwan trip so far?
I’ve been here before, but this is my wife’s first time in Asia, so she’s excited. While I’ve been in meetings all day, she’s been out exploring and getting oriented with the vibrant culture. She’s much more adventurous with food than I am – she loves sampling a wide variety of things rather than settling for one big meal. She’s been enjoying the breakfast buffet and trying all sorts of local foods she hasn’t experienced before. Taiwan is definitely the place to do it, especially at the night markets, where you can really immerse yourself in the culture and sample a wide range of foods.