Sampson Hao
Loyola alum Sampson Hao builds a career in renewable energy
When Sampson Hao began his graduate studies at Loyola’s School of Environmental Sustainability, he did not anticipate that his thesis would soon become a resource for renewable energy developers across the country. Today, as a project developer at Recurrent Energy, he applies the knowledge and skills he developed at SES to manage solar energy projects across the country, and he regularly hears from colleagues who reference his published graduate research.
“I develop large-scale utility solar and battery storage projects from the ground up,” Hao explained. “That means everything from acquiring land and navigating permits to working on financial models to make sure a project can get built.” The work requires both technical expertise and a broad understanding of the renewable energy sector, a skillset Hao honed at SES.
Sampson Hao (MS '23) applies skills he developed at SES as a project developer at Recurrent Energy.
Research with real-world applications
As a student in the research track, Hao investigated how large-scale solar projects impact nearby property values in the Midwest. Analyzing 70 developments built between 2009 and 2022, he found that utility-scale solar actually increased property values by up to 2 percent. With support from his advisor, Gilbert Michaud, PhD, Hao published the study in Solar Compass. The paper has since become a widely cited resource for developers nationwide.
“Every week I hear about colleagues at other companies in the industry who are using the paper I published,” he said. “It definitely helped me get my name out there and contribute to the field early on.”
Hao’s thesis built on his work with Michaud on a U.S. Department of Energy–funded project examining the zoning process for solar development. As part of the research team, Hao and his colleagues interviewed more than 40 local officials and landowners. “That collaboration gave me deep industry knowledge,” he recalls. “When I interviewed for jobs, employers noticed I already understood the complexities of utility-scale solar.”
Hao said his graduate coursework also prepared him for his career. “The GIS course I took at Loyola is something I use every day,” he said. “Classes like the Circular Economy helped me communicate the broader importance of renewable energy to stakeholders.”
A career in clean energy
After earning his master’s degree in 2023, Hao began his career as an associate project developer at Pine Gate Renewables before moving to Recurrent Energy in the fall of 2024. In his current role, he values the variety and complexity of the work. One day, he might be evaluating the financial impacts of tariff changes, and the next, he could be working on permitting processes or evaluating local politics surrounding project approval.
“I think the fantastic thing is that you really get to understand this industry from many perspectives, and you get to fully understand the complexity of how a project gets built,” he said.
Hao says his undergraduate degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Rochester is also an asset in his work.
“Understanding ecosystems is tremendously helpful,” he noted. “When we’re assessing a site, you need to know how environmental conditions could affect a project. My science training is directly relevant.”
Advice to future students
In reflecting on what distinguishes the SES master’s degree program, Hao highlighted the program’s flexibility, the faculty’s commitment to student success, and the opportunity to do applied, publishable research. He encourages future graduate students to consider the research track, which he found inspiring and challenging. He also points out the value of Loyola’s accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program, which allows students to earn both degrees in just five years.
“The more you put into the work, the more you get out of it,” he says. “It shows employers—and yourself—that you can take on a big challenge and see it through.”
Hao also wants incoming students to know that it is not necessary to arrive with a set career plan in mind. “I came to SES with a very specific goal, but not everyone does,” he says. “The strength of the program is that it offers so many different courses and paths. No matter where you start, you’ll eventually find the focus that excites you.”
By Stephanie Folk
September 2025
Research with real-world applications
As a student in the research track, Hao investigated how large-scale solar projects impact nearby property values in the Midwest. Analyzing 70 developments built between 2009 and 2022, he found that utility-scale solar actually increased property values by up to 2 percent. With support from his advisor, Gilbert Michaud, PhD, Hao published the study in Solar Compass. The paper has since become a widely cited resource for developers nationwide.
“Every week I hear about colleagues at other companies in the industry who are using the paper I published,” he said. “It definitely helped me get my name out there and contribute to the field early on.”
Hao’s thesis built on his work with Michaud on a U.S. Department of Energy–funded project examining the zoning process for solar development. As part of the research team, Hao and his colleagues interviewed more than 40 local officials and landowners. “That collaboration gave me deep industry knowledge,” he recalls. “When I interviewed for jobs, employers noticed I already understood the complexities of utility-scale solar.”
Hao said his graduate coursework also prepared him for his career. “The GIS course I took at Loyola is something I use every day,” he said. “Classes like the Circular Economy helped me communicate the broader importance of renewable energy to stakeholders.”
A career in clean energy
After earning his master’s degree in 2023, Hao began his career as an associate project developer at Pine Gate Renewables before moving to Recurrent Energy in the fall of 2024. In his current role, he values the variety and complexity of the work. One day, he might be evaluating the financial impacts of tariff changes, and the next, he could be working on permitting processes or evaluating local politics surrounding project approval.
“I think the fantastic thing is that you really get to understand this industry from many perspectives, and you get to fully understand the complexity of how a project gets built,” he said.
Hao says his undergraduate degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Rochester is also an asset in his work.
“Understanding ecosystems is tremendously helpful,” he noted. “When we’re assessing a site, you need to know how environmental conditions could affect a project. My science training is directly relevant.”
Advice to future students
In reflecting on what distinguishes the SES master’s degree program, Hao highlighted the program’s flexibility, the faculty’s commitment to student success, and the opportunity to do applied, publishable research. He encourages future graduate students to consider the research track, which he found inspiring and challenging. He also points out the value of Loyola’s accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program, which allows students to earn both degrees in just five years.
“The more you put into the work, the more you get out of it,” he says. “It shows employers—and yourself—that you can take on a big challenge and see it through.”
Hao also wants incoming students to know that it is not necessary to arrive with a set career plan in mind. “I came to SES with a very specific goal, but not everyone does,” he says. “The strength of the program is that it offers so many different courses and paths. No matter where you start, you’ll eventually find the focus that excites you.”
By Stephanie Folk
September 2025