As a teenager, Kassy Hart had a rather narrow view of engineering — shaped more by cartoons than real-world experience. She imagined engineers as isolated figures stuck behind desks, dealing with demanding bosses. That perception changed completely once she had the chance to design something herself.

In 2006, while studying languages and international economics, Hart took on an internship in the finance department at GE Appliances. With a strong background in math and science — and a willingness to take initiative — she applied for an engineering internship as well, ultimately juggling both roles simultaneously.

Her first engineering assignment was practical and hands-on: redesigning a foam component to prevent dishwasher doors from warping under pressure. Without formal experience in CAD software, she created the solution manually — sketching, cutting, and testing the design herself. The result was both effective and scalable, with projected annual savings of around $45,000.

That early success pushed Hart toward a new direction. She went on to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, along with a certification in power and energy, at the University of Kentucky. Over time, her focus shifted toward energy policy and the broader question of how technologies are shaped and implemented.

Today, Hart plays a key role at GE Vernova, working on hydrogen commercialization and data center technologies. She has contributed to the development of heavy-duty gas turbines capable of operating on hydrogen-rich fuel blends and has become a recognized voice in the hydrogen energy space.

Her contributions earned her a place on the Women in Hydrogen 50 list, alongside Lisa Berry. Both were honored at the Women’s Global Leadership Conference in Energy.

Hart at the April 2024 launch of GE Vernova as an independent company at the New York Stock Exchange. Image credit: GE Vernova

Unlocking Hydrogen’s Potential

Hart emphasizes that hydrogen presents a viable pathway for reducing emissions in power generation without compromising output. Even small percentages of hydrogen blended into natural gas can deliver measurable environmental benefits. For instance, incorporating just 5% hydrogen by volume into turbine fuel can reduce emissions equivalent to removing thousands of vehicles from the road.

More advanced configurations show even greater impact. A hydrogen blend of 50% in an H-Class turbine operating in combined cycle can cut carbon emissions by over 40% compared to natural gas — and significantly more when compared to coal.

Hart actively encourages both policymakers and energy producers to take advantage of hydrogen’s potential, particularly when it can be generated on-site using renewable or nuclear energy sources. She also challenges the perception that hydrogen combustion is impractical, pointing instead to the current imbalance in infrastructure — millions of miles of natural gas pipelines versus a relatively small hydrogen network — as a temporary, not fundamental, limitation.

She believes long-term investment will naturally drive down costs and expand adoption, much like what has happened in the automotive industry, where efficiency improvements were driven by economic and environmental pressures.

Hart (second row, third from right) at the 2025 Summit for GE Vernova’s Women’s Network. Image credit: GE Vernova

Driving Industry Momentum

Beyond engineering, Hart is deeply involved in industry engagement and advocacy. As a global committee member of GE Vernova’s Women’s Network — which includes over 10,000 participants — she contributes to knowledge sharing and professional development initiatives.

She has supported policy responses related to hydrogen incentives and created internal resources to track global hydrogen developments. Her focus has shifted from individual technical contributions to enabling broader industry progress.

While adoption may be gradual, Hart remains confident in the trajectory. More operational projects and real-world applications will continue to validate hydrogen’s role in energy systems.

For her, the direction is clear: hydrogen will become an increasingly normalized component of power generation — contributing to lower emissions and a more sustainable global energy landscape.

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