Press release: Two energy luminaries bring their expertise to the Clean Coalition Board of Advisors

August 20, 2012

For Immediate Release:

News Release: Two energy luminaries bring their expertise to the Clean Coalition Board of Advisors

Former Founding Director of the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative and former CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute join the Clean Coalition Board of Advisors

PALO ALTO, CA – The Clean Coalition proudly welcomes to its distinguished Board of Advisors Dr. Ramamoorthy Ramesh, the former Founding Director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative and current Professor in Materials Science and Physics at the University of California, Berkeley, and Kurt Yeager, former CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and current Vice Chairman of the Galvin Electricity Initiative.

“I am honored and delighted to have Ramamoorthy Ramesh and Kurt Yeager join our Board of Advisors,” said Craig Lewis, Executive Director of the Clean Coalition. “Dr. Ramesh brings the world’s most current and aggressive thinking on driving down the cost of solar energy, and few individuals can come close to matching Mr. Yeager’s vast experience in the electric power industry. Strategic guidance from these two luminaries will further the Clean Coalition’s effort to build a thriving clean energy economy in the United States.”

Dr. Ramesh, the current Plato Malozemoff Chair Professor in Materials Science and Physics at the University of California, Berkeley, is a leading clean energy researcher. His research findings have been published extensively, and he has received numerous accolades for his groundbreaking scientific contributions. During his two-year stint with the DOE, Dr. Ramesh managed all research and development activities for the agency’s Solar Program. Notably, the Clean Coalition is part of the Efficient Solar Market Partners of Northern California team, which received a grant through the DOE SunShot Initiative. Through this grant, the Clean Coalition is leading an effort to streamline interconnection policies and procedures.

“Through my scientific research and work directing the DOE SunShot Initiative, I have focused on driving down the cost of solar energy,” said Dr. Ramesh. “The Clean Coalition has demonstrated national leadership in designing and implementing innovative energy policies that result in solar deployments, and scaling the solar market through deployments is the single biggest driver to reducing the cost of solar; as evidenced in the leading solar markets in the world like Germany. The Clean Coalition’s policy work is essential to accelerating the widespread adoption of clean energy across the country.”

Mr. Yeager brings more than three decades of experience within the electric power industry to the Clean Coalition Board. As Vice Chairman of the Galvin Electricity Initiative, Yeager works with electricity experts, innovators, and entrepreneurs to create a model electric system that will prove substantially more efficient and reliable than the country’s current system. Yeager also advances electricity policy changes necessary for system transformation at the state and federal levels. Prior to joining the Galvin Electricity Initiative, Yeager served as President and CEO of EPRI, where under his leadership, EPRI evolved from a nonprofit industry think tank to a national coalition of utilities conducting leading research and development efforts for the electric power industry in the United States and 40 other countries.

“The Clean Coalition plays a vital role helping utilities and policymakers adopt forward-thinking policies and programs,” said Yeager. “The Clean Coalition is a leading advocate for a modernized electrical system characterized by high levels of clean distributed generation integrated with intelligent grid solutions, which will empower consumers and drive innovation in power generation, delivery, and use. The result will be fundamentally improved electricity efficiency, reliability, and environmental protection.”

Dr. Ramesh and Mr. Yeager join an impressive Board of Advisors, featuring luminaries from the business, government, academic, and non-profit sectors. These advisors help guide the Clean Coalition and strengthen its efforts to advance clean local energy across the nation.

To see a complete list of the Clean Coalition Board of Advisors, please visit www.Clean-Coalition.org/board-of-advisors/.

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Contact:
John Bernhardt
john@clean-coalition.org
(703) 963-8750

About Clean Coalition

The Clean Coalition is a nonprofit organization that makes clean local energy accessible now. Its mission is to implement policies and programs that accelerate the transition to a decentralized energy system that delivers cost-effective renewable energy, strengthens local economies, minimizes environmental impacts, and enhances energy security. For more information, please visit www.Clean-Coalition.org.