Our Experts

Sylvie Ashford

Schneider Sustainable Energy Fellow, Western Region, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Sylvie Ashford works on building decarbonization, electricity planning, and other clean energy issues in California. Prior to joining NRDC, she worked as a research assistant at policy think tanks in the Bay Area and Washington, D.C., and completed her capstone…

Ralph Cavanagh

Energy Co-Director, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Since joining NRDC in 1979, Ralph Cavanagh has focused on removing barriers to cost-effective energy efficiency and on the role that electric and natural gas utilities can play in leading a clean energy transition. From 1993 to 2003, he served…

Julia de Lamare

Western Equitable Building Decarbonization Advocate, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Julia de Lamare champions policies that advance the equitable decarbonization of buildings, including building codes, utility regulation, performance standards, and air quality regulations with an emphasis on equity needs and affordability. Prior to joining NRDC, de Lamare was a senior…

Hilary Firestone

Senior Policy Advisor, City Energy Project, Resilient Communities, People & Communities Program

As a senior city policy expert for the City Energy Project, a collaboration between NRDC and the Institute for Market Transformation, Hilary Firestone works to advance policies and programs that cut energy waste in large buildings and make American cities…

Ericka Flores

Advocate, Clean Energy & Equity, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Ericka Flores provides technical and advocacy expertise for local and state-level equitable building decarbonization, building energy efficiency, and energy equity policies, programs, and initiatives. She works to develop and strengthen partnerships with diverse groups to collectively build a strong, inclusive…

Dr. David B. Goldstein

Energy Co-Director, Climate & Clean Energy Program

David B. Goldstein has worked on energy efficiency and energy policy since the early 1970s. He currently codirects NRDC’s Energy program. Goldstein has been instrumental in the development of energy efficiency standards for new buildings and appliances that are currently…

Sabrina Johnson

Senior Advocate, Housing Policy, People & Communities Program

Sabrina Johnson champions more equitable federal housing policy and programs, in partnership with national advocates that represent disenfranchised communities and low-income residents. Johnson serves on both NRDC’s national policy and building decarbonization teams. Her current focus includes building resilient communities…

Caroline Keicher

Director, City Energy Project and Policy Advisor, Buildings and Energy, People & Communities Program

Caroline Keicher directs the City Energy Project, a national initiative to create healthier and more prosperous American cities by improving the energy efficiency of buildings. She also works across cities in the American Cities Climate Challenge to advance energy efficiency…

Kit Kennedy

Managing Director, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Kit Kennedy leads NRDC's state and regional climate and clean energy advocacy across the United States with more than thirty years of experience as an environmental and clean energy attorney and advocate. She directed the Environmental Protection Bureau at the…

J.C. Kibbey

Advocate, Illinois Clean Energy, Climate & Clean Energy Program

J.C. Kibbey analyzes and advocates for policies that advance renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, sustainable development, and grid modernization at the legislature, Illinois Commerce Commission, state agencies, and with other partners and decision-makers. He also works to develop policy…

Michele Knab Hasson

California Policy Manager, Energy Efficiency for All, People & Communities Program

Michele Knab Hasson leads EEFA’s healthy building materials work, as well as California policy for Energy Efficiency for All—dedicated to linking the energy and housing sectors together to tap the benefits of energy efficiency for millions of low-income families. Before…

Claire Lang-Ree

Schneider Sustainable Energy Fellow, Western Region, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Claire Lang-Ree works on buildings, power sector, and transportation issues in Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada. She is passionate about accelerating clean energy affordability, building decarbonization and efficiency, and equitable climate solutions. Prior to this role, she worked for a…

Deron Lovaas

Senior Policy Advisor, EEFA, Resilient Communities, People & Communities Program

For 20 years, Deron Lovaas has closely monitored public policies pertaining to the built environment. He oversees advocacy for efforts related to energy efficiency, housing, smart growth, and transportation. He previously served as NRDC’s director of federal transportation policy, as…

Prima Madan

Senior Advocate, Cooling and Efficiency, India, International Program

Prima Madan leads the work on cooling and energy efficiency for the India program. Her work is focused on advocating for climate policies that reduce emissions from air-conditioning and refrigeration and fluorinated chemicals (HFCs, CFCs). She works on promoting building…

Luis Martinez

Director, Southeast Energy, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Luis Martinez’s advocacy for NRDC focuses on implementing state and regional climate policies, utility regulations, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation programs. After joining NRDC in 2004, Martinez helped to design, implement, and defend the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative…

Alejandra Mejia Cunningham

Advocate, Building Decarbonization, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Alejandra Mejia Cunningham focuses on the decarbonization of buildings across the United States, working closely with stakeholders and policy makers to design and promote innovative policies to transition buildings from fossil fuel use to electricity powered by clean, renewable energy…

Joe O'Brien-Applegate

Advocate, Equitable Building Decarbonization, Climate & Clean Energy Program

Joe O'Brien-Applegate provides technical expertise and policy solutions for building decarbonization throughout the East Coast and in the Midwest. He works closely with advocacy groups, policymakers, and other stakeholders to develop and implement strategies for building electrification and energy efficiency…

Jay Orfield

Director, Buildings and Energy, People & Communities Program

Jay Orfield directs strategy and policy and program development to advance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and building decarbonization across all twenty-five cities in the American Cities Climate Challenge. He is a licensed civil engineer and has experience in infrastructure and…

Zhiming Pan

Director, China Sustainable Cities Project, China Program

Zhiming Pan has more than 10 years of professional experience in the energy and environment fields. His expertise includes energy efficiency in buildings, green buildings and sustainable cities development. Prior to joining NRDC, he worked at China’s Ministry of Housing…

JingJing Qian

Senior Strategic Advisor, China Program

JingJing Qian works to promote energy efficiency, clean energy use, and stronger environmental policies in China. Since joining NRDC in 2002, she has focused on strengthening the country’s energy and environmental policy, particularly as it relates to urbanization and smart…