In rural contexts, energy access is not just a technical challenge but a question of sovereignty and resilience. Projects like the solar crop dryer in Haiti or the wireless community grid prototype revealed how low-cost, decentralized technologies can transform daily life, creating stability and opportunity where traditional infrastructure is absent. In designing a renewable energy course for Navajo Technical University, I built on those lessons, emphasizing not just photovoltaics and batteries but the cultural and ethical dimensions of energy systems. These experiences reinforce my belief that sustainable energy is as much about strengthening communities as it is about generating power.