Hal is the Founder of Energy Innovation. Prior to Energy Innovation, he was the Founder and CEO of Energy Foundation; served as Environment Program Director at the Hewlett Foundation; and helped establish Energy Foundation China, the European Climate Foundation, and the Indian Sustainable Energy Foundation. He was appointed to panels by Presidents Bush (41) and Clinton, and serves on the board of directors for several financial, science, and philanthropic groups. He received the Heinz Award for the Environment in 2016, the UN Clean Air and Climate Change Award in 2018, and the State of California’s Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award in 2019. Hal has B.S. and M.S. degrees from Stanford University.

Sonia Aggarwal is the Chief Executive Officer of Energy Innovation, where she leads the organization and works closely with partners and policymakers on effective climate and clean energy policies across North America, Asia, and Europe. Prior to this role, Sonia served as Special Assistant to the President for Climate Policy, Innovation, and Deployment in the Biden administration, where she helped to develop the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and to set the nation’s high-level climate targets including the commitment to cut economy-wide greenhouse gases by 50-52 percent below 2005 levels in 2030. Sonia was a founding director of Energy Innovation, building Energy Innovation’s policy research, modeling, and analysis teams over eight years until she was appointed to serve in the Biden administration. She has a B.S. from Haverford College in astronomy and physics, and an M.S. from Stanford University in engineering focused on energy.

Greg Alvarez is the Deputy Director of Communications at Energy Innovation, where he executes campaigns that showcase the firm’s work in traditional and digital media. Greg has worked in climate and clean energy communications for nearly a decade, most recently at the American Wind Energy Association/American Clean Power Association (AWEA/ACP). In this role, Greg worked on campaigns to strengthen state renewable portfolio standards and to protect and expand federal clean energy tax credits. Greg holds an M.A. in global environmental policy from American University’s School of International Service, where his graduate research focused on communicating the impacts of climate change to conservative audiences. He also holds a B.A. in international relations and journalism from Lehigh University.

Olivia is a Senior Policy Analyst at Energy Innovation, focused on the Modeling and Analysis program. She provides research and analysis to support the firm’s climate policy modeling. Prior to joining Energy Innovation®, Olivia worked as a graduate student fellow at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Olivia holds a B.A. from Oberlin College in Environmental Studies and a M.A. in Public Policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.

Sara is Senior Director, Electrification Policy at Energy Innovation, where she leads the firm’s electrification policy practice area to advance economy-wide decarbonization through the strategic electrification of buildings, transportation, and industry. In partnership with colleagues and partner organizations, Sara has contributed to several landmark reports on the Inflation Reduction Act, hydrogen, electrified transportation, electric vehicle charging access, and clean energy deployment. Prior to joining Energy Innovation, Sara served as Vice President of Regulatory for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and Senior Policy Associate for Utah Clean Energy. In both capacities, she led and coordinated efforts to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency policy and regulations in Utah, the West, and throughout the United States. Sara is a member of GridLab’s advisory board, host of Energy Innovation’s Electrify This! podcast, and former host of the Grid Geeks podcast. She earned her Honors B.S. in environmental studies and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Utah, graduating Phi Beta Kappa.

Lydia Brown is a Communications Associate at Energy Innovation, where she supports the firm’s policy program teams through social media outreach, website content production and analytics, email marketing, and press relations. Before joining Energy Innovation, Lydia worked as a campaign manager and campaign consultant on several local, state, and federal races through the Blue Lab. After two election cycles, Lydia transitioned to working as a freelance geopolitical analyst, writing for The Geopolitical and the Geopolitical Monitor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from The College of the Holy Cross and a master’s degree in international relations from American University’s School of International Service.

Ondrea is Energy Innovation’s IT Support Manager, overseeing the firm’s operational activities and strategizing process improvements. She previously worked as a Regional Operations Manager at an organic restaurant chain and as an Assistant Buyer and Operations Manager at Costco Wholesale, among other roles. Ondrea studied at Contra Costa College and the University of California, Berkeley.

Chris Busch is Director, Transportation and Senior Economist at Energy Innovation, where he leads the firm’s Transportation Program and provides evidenced-based reasons for optimism in the battle against climate change. As Senior Economist, he leads the firm’s carbon market analysis for regions including California and China. Chris previously served as Energy Innovation’s California lead, analyzing causes of the state’s success in pioneering decarbonized prosperity and providing insights from its policy leadership to replicate this success in other states and around the globe. In this role, he led development of the California Energy Policy Simulator to strengthen policies in all major sectors, accelerating decarbonization while delivering social and economic benefits worth tens of billions. Chris is an expert in energy economics and carbon pricing policy, and his research accurately predicted the buildup in excess tradeable permits in California’s cap-and-trade program. Chris previously worked for the BlueGreen Alliance, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He holds a Ph.D. in environmental economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Jack Conness is a Policy Analyst at Energy Innovation focused on the Electrification Program. He conducts and supports policy research and analysis, interprets results, develops recommendations, and presents findings to decision-makers, with the goal of advancing strong electrification policies in the U.S. and internationally as a core pathway to decarbonize the economy.

Jack’s professional career started in the Major League Baseball industry, where he worked for four years as a research analyst at the Boras Corporation. With the impacts of climate change too important to ignore, Jack decided to leave the baseball world for the climate industry. His climate-related roles include research and analysis at Sustainable Capital Advisors (climate finance), the U.S. Climate Alliance (state climate policy), and the University of Washington (fleet electrification). Jack also created the IRA + CHIPS Dashboard, which tracks clean energy manufacturing announcements since the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act in August 2022.

Jack resides in Seattle, where he is finishing his Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Washington.

Minshu Deng is a Senior Policy Analyst at Energy Innovation, focused on the firm’s Modeling and Analysis program. She provides research and analysis to support EI’s climate policy modeling, especially in China. She previously worked as an analyst and environmental scientist at Eastern Research Group, Inc. consulting on projects for federal and state agencies including EPA, OSHA, NOAA, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minshu also conducted research at an energy policy nonprofit focused on the effects of early nuclear power plant shutdowns. She received her Master of Environmental Management with a specialization in energy systems from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy from Duke University.

Sonali Deshpande is a policy analyst at Energy Innovation, working within the Industry Program to advance policies that can reduce industrial emissions. Is there any chance we can change that sentence to say “…policies that can reduce industrial emissions. She translates rigorous analysis of technologies and markets into policies that can reduce emissions, protect the environment, and promote prosperity.  Prior to joining Energy Innovation, Sonali was an analyst on the Environmental Defense Fund’s U.S. Climate Policy Team, working to increase federal support for research, development, and commercialization of industrial decarbonization and carbon removal technologies. Sonali holds a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Vassar College. Sonali works remotely from Burlington, Vermont, where she spends her free time rock climbing, hiking, and reading.

Dan is a Senior Policy Analyst at Energy Innovation, primarily supporting the firm’s Electricity Program in developing policy solutions that unlock an accelerated transition to a clean, reliable, equitable, and affordable U.S. electricity system. Prior to joining Energy Innovation, Dan held various roles in clean energy policy at PA Consulting, the Indiana Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor, Energy Systems Network, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the Center for Resource Solutions. Dan holds master’s degrees in public affairs and environmental science from Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and bachelor’s degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of Dayton.

Dyshanae Evans is an Executive Assistant at Energy Innovation. Before joining Energy Innovation, she was a Legal Assistant at a law firm specializing in worker’s compensation defense. Dyshanae previously worked as an Administrative Assistant at a construction defect law firm. She is an AAS Paralegal Candidate at Diablo Valley College.

Christina is the Chief Operating Officer at Energy Innovation, where she manages the firm’s human resource operations, as well as its internal financial and accounting systems. She is also responsible for structuring the firm’s policies and procedures, and overseeing its fiscal and legal compliance. Prior to Energy Innovation, Christina oversaw business operations in a higher education setting. She earned a MBA degree from CSU East Bay with a concentration in global innovation. Christina also received a B.A. cum laude in Sociology with a focus on Race and Ethnicity from the University of San Francisco.

Todd Fincannon is the Senior Software Engineer at Energy Innovation, where he works with the firm’s policy programs to visualize smart energy policy through interactive web applications. Prior to joining Energy Innovation, Todd was technical co-founder of three startup companies focused on electronic mail, network management, and financial services. He pivoted to climate work after the 2007 IPCC report revealed the urgency of the climate crisis. His work brings climate and energy models to life for audiences worldwide, including policymakers and the public. Todd holds a B.S. degree in mathematics from the University of Houston. He lives in Berkeley, California. (He/Him/His)

Eric consults as a technical expert, research scholar, and policy adviser with Energy Innovation, where he works with the Electricity team to develop innovative thinking on policy solutions for clean, reliable, and affordable electric power in the U.S. Eric holds a B.S. and M.S. from Stanford University in mathematics and physics, and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has a 15-year active career researching quantum gravity and high energy physics. Eric’s work at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, and an AAAS fellowship with the Department of Energy inspired his transition to climate and energy policy.

Rachel is a Research and Modeling Manager at Energy Innovation, focused on the firm’s Modeling and Analysis Program, where she oversees energy policy research projects and collaborates with external partners and decision-makers to identify decarbonization opportunities. Rachel analyzes emissions trajectories using the firm’s Energy Policy Simulator and communicates key insights from those results. Before joining Energy Innovation, she was a solar research analyst at Wood Mackenzie Power and Renewables and a solar and storage analyst at the Solar Energy Industries Association. Rachel holds a B.A. in environmental biology and environmental engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.S. in energy policy and climate science from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Anand R. Gopal is Executive Director, Policy Research at Energy Innovation, where he leads the firm’s research and modeling teams, supporting policy design to reduce emissions equitably at the speed and scale required to meet the climate challenge. He has almost two decades of experience in advancing U.S. and international policy solutions in clean energy. He holds Board positions at the International Council on Clean Transportation, the Good Food Institute and Veloz. He holds a Ph.D. in energy and resources from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.S. in environmental systems engineering from Humboldt State University, and a B.S. in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

Taylor is a Senior Program Associate at Energy Innovation, where she supports the firm’s clients in achieving their climate and clean energy philanthropy goals. Before joining Energy Innovation, Taylor worked in Washington, D.C., as the Government Relations Associate for a solar and storage development company, advocating for clean energy legislation. Taylor has a long-term passion for impacting climate change and holds a B.A. in environmental studies and public policy from the University of North Carolina, where she was awarded the Andrews Environmental Policy Fellowship for her class.

Maddie is a Policy Program Associate at Energy Innovation, where she supports the firm’s work on electrification and electricity policy. Previously, Maddie worked with local environmental and policy-based coalitions as a community organizer, and in the nonprofit sector. Maddie holds a B.A. in environmental policy and a Master of Public Policy from Loyola University Chicago.

Virginia is Energy Innovation’s Senior Director of Philanthropic Advisory Services, where she leads work with the firm’s clients to create effective strategies to achieve their climate and energy philanthropy goals. She has almost 20 years of experience working in clean energy, the electricity sector, socially responsible investing, and environmental policy. Most recently, Virginia was a Principal at the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) where she helped lead RMI’s Electricity Program. Virginia has a B.A. in government from the University of Virginia and a Masters in Environmental Management from Yale University.

Hayley is a Modeling Analyst at Energy Innovation, focused on research and modeling for EI’s philanthropic partners. She provides policy research and data analysis to support EI’s climate policy modeling, specifically related to the Energy Policy Simulator. Previously, she worked as a Senior Research Analyst at Industrial Economics, Inc., supporting climate policy evaluation and projecting impacts of climate change. Hayley holds a B.S. in Environmental Geoscience from Boston College.

Clarissa is Energy Innovation’s Finance Manager, where she directly supports the Chief Operating Officer across all of the company’s overall business activities. Prior to joining Energy Innovation, Clarissa worked as an administrative assistant at a full-service immigration law firm based in San Francisco. Clarissa holds a B.S degree in Health Science from CSU East Bay.

Megan Mahajan is a Senior Modeling and Analysis Manager at Energy Innovation Policy & Technology LLC®, focused on the firm’s Modeling and Analysis program. She helps lead development of the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), Energy Innovation’s in-house model that evaluates how policies can most effectively meet climate and energy goals. Megan’s work focuses on building and maintaining versions of the EPS across various regions and using these tools for policy analysis. She has worked extensively on models for the United States, India, and various state-level adaptations, among others. Megan also works regularly with federal and state policymakers to deliver modeling insights. Prior to joining Energy Innovation®, Megan worked as a Research Analyst at Nathan Associates Inc., where she assisted in preparing expert witness reports for environmental litigation. Megan earned an M.S. in Geological and Environmental Sciences from Stanford University and a B.S. in Environmental Geosciences from the University of Notre Dame.

Silvio is Energy Innovation’s Senior Director of Communications, leading media relations and strategy. He has over 15 years’ experience, and has been a bylined columnist at top media outlets. Silvio previously founded independent public relations company Marcacci Communications, promoting clean energy and climate change policy. Additional experience includes serving as director of public relations for Bloomberg TV series energyNOW! and as vice president at public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard, where he managed campaigns for energy industry clients. Silvio started his career in New Jersey government and politics, and has a dual B.S. with honors in history and political science from Rutgers University.

Fei Meng is Energy Innovation’s Director of China, where she leads the firm’s China policy practice area to accelerate China’s pace of decarbonization and transition to renewable energy. Prior to joining Energy Innovation, Fei was a researcher at the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis, where she conducted policy research related to the promotion of zero-emissions vehicles, public transport, and Three Revolutions (electrification, automation, and shared mobility), among other topics. Before that, she ran climate change grant-making programs in China at the Energy Foundation China for more than 15 years. Fei holds an M.S. in environmental engineering from Tsinghua University and an undergraduate degree in physics from Fudan University.

Ashley is the Head of People at Energy Innovation, where she oversees HR strategy and organizational programs for the People team in collaboration with the COO. Ashley has over a decade of experience in HR and Operations, including working with several non-profit and for-profit clients at an HR consultancy, and serving on the Executive Team providing strategic advice and support for a mid-sized digital agency. She holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification as well as an MPA in Non-Profit Administration.  Ashley lives in Oakland, CA, with her husband and elderly cat, where she enjoys reading, singing, and making mosaics.

Elli Newman is the Project Manager to the Founder at Energy Innovation, where she supports Founder Hal Harvey in managing his workflows including researching and communicating project findings. Prior to joining Energy Innovation, Elli worked with several NGOs such as Greenpeace and the Institute for Environmental Global Strategies in Tokyo, Japan. Elli holds a M.S. in environmental chemistry from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan and a B.S. in environmental sciences from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

Mike is the Senior Director, Electricity at Energy Innovation. He directs the firm’s Electricity Program, which focuses on designing and quantifying the impacts of policies needed to affordably and reliably decarbonize the U.S. electricity grid. Mike’s expertise includes clean electricity standards, wholesale market design, monopoly utility regulation, and energy efficiency policies. Mike has a J.D. from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, focusing on energy and international law, and a B.A. from Vanderbilt University in Philosophy and Asian Studies, with a minor in Economics.

Dan O’Brien is a Modeling Analyst at Energy Innovation, where he conducts quantitative analysis using the firm’s in-house model, the Energy Policy Simulator, in addition to other tools. He works with the Modeling and Analysis team and Energy Innovation® partners to design and analyze modeling scenarios, interpret the results, and share findings with partners and the public. During graduate school, Dan wrote for the magazine Physics World detailing research advances in sustainable materials and renewable energy and became interested in policies to drive the implementation of clean technologies. Dan earned a B.A. in physics from the College of the Holy Cross and an M.S. and Ph.D. in physics from Georgetown University.

Fanuel Oduor is the Head of Finance at Energy Innovation, where he manages the Finance & Accounting functions and systems. He is responsible for Energy Innovation’s financial strategy, policies, and operating processes. Prior to joining Energy Innovation, Fanuel served as Finance Director at a large payment processing organization, worked as a consultant for a Big 4 consulting firm, and held various positions in Finance at technology companies including Hitachi and Intel. He earned an MBA degree from Indiana University with a concentration in Finance and Management. Fanuel also holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Texas, Arlington.

Laura is Energy Innovation’s Senior Accounting Specialist. In that role, she supports the firm’s financial and accounting systems and financial health. Previously, she held several positions in office management, bookkeeping, and accounting.

Robbie is Senior Director, Modeling and Analysis at Energy Innovation. Robbie directs the firm’s Modeling and Analysis program, which provides policy modeling, analysis, and design insights to decision-makers, think tanks, advocates, and philanthropic groups. Robbie routinely works with federal and state policymakers in the United States as well as international policymakers to analyze legislation and regulation and to provide insights on how to achieve climate goals. Robbie has a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University and a B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Brendan is the Director, Electricity Modeling at Energy Innovation, leading modeling, research, and analysis of U.S. electricity sector policies. With over 15 years of experience, he has extensively evaluated energy markets and policies, advising policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders on critical issues like utility finance, integrated resource planning, reliability, electricity market design, and air pollution regulations. Brendan holds an M.S. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, where he specialized in energy systems modeling and analysis, energy policy, and energy technology innovation and a B.A. in Economics from Macalester College. 

Emily is a Program Officer on the Philanthropic Advisory Services team at Energy Innovation, where she supports the firm’s clients in developing grantmaking strategies that advance the most effective and equitable clean energy policies. She has more than 15 years of experience working at the intersection of environmental philanthropy and public policy. Emily started her career engaged in the post-Katrina rebuilding process in her hometown of New Orleans.

Prior to joining Energy Innovation, Emily was a Director in the Philanthropic Services practice at CEA Consulting. During her ten-year tenure at CEA, she supported strategic planning and implementation for dozens of environmental funders and nonprofits, with a focus on the climate and marine conservation sectors.

Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Middlebury College and a master’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University. Outside of the office, she enjoys backpacking throughout the U.S. West and further afield, cycling along the California coast, and traveling to visit family and friends.

Hanah Reyes is an Executive Assistant, CEO & People and Culture at Energy Innovation, assisting the Chief Executive Officer and Director of People and Culture. Before joining Energy Innovation, she was a Legal Executive Assistant and Events Assistant at a top global law firm, providing comprehensive legal services to leading businesses and individuals around the world. Prior to that, she worked as a paralegal for various litigation firms in the San Francisco Bay Area, focusing on employment law, personal injury, and workers’ compensation law. Hanah holds a specialized A.A. degree in paralegal studies from Empire College.

Jeffrey is Energy Innovation’s Senior Director, Industry, leading the company’s work on technologies and policies to eliminate industrial greenhouse gas emissions. He is the author of Zero-Carbon Industry (2024), co-author of Designing Climate Solutions (2018), and the creator of the Energy Policy Simulator. He serves on DOE’s Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee. Jeff holds an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a B.A. in International Relations with honors from Stanford University.

Nik Sawe is a Policy Analyst in the Industry Program at Energy Innovation, aiming to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector through the propagation of new technologies and policies. Prior to Energy Innovation, Nik researched environmental neuroeconomics, using a combination of brain imaging and behavioral economics experiments to understand and predict how individuals make decisions with environmental impacts. He was a lecturer and research in environmental studies and environmental psychology at Stanford University, a senior fellow at the Effective Philanthropy Learning Initiative, and a project scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Nik holds a Ph.D. in Environment and Resources and B.S. in Biology, both from Stanford University.

Michelle is a Senior Policy Analyst in the Electricity Program at Energy Innovation, working to accelerate the transition to a clean and affordable electricity sector in the United States. Prior to joining Energy Innovation, she completed her PhD at Stanford University in Materials Science and Engineering, focusing on nanotechnology. Immediately after graduate school, she was a Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow in the office of Senator Ed Markey, where she worked on all things energy and environment. Michelle also received her bachelor of science degree in Physics from Boston College.

Giselle is Energy Innovation’s Senior Manager, Executive Support. Prior to joining Energy Innovation, she was an Executive Assistant to the CEO and Senior Vice President of a global food company. In addition to her administrative support, Giselle has previously served for many years in the non-profit world, mainly through leadership positions in fundraising and development. She holds a B.A. in English with an Art History minor from Hunter College (CUNY), and an MFA in Creative Writing from Naropa University, where she was a recipient of a Zora Neale Hurston Award.

Shannon Stirone is Managing Editor at Energy Innovation, where she leads editorial production of all research reports, modeling analysis, bylined editorials, and blogs. She also implements the firm’s organizational style guide and leads writing training for staff. Shannon has worked as a science writer and journalist as a contributor to the New York Times, The Atlantic, and other publications. In the last five years, she has held different roles as managing editor in the tech world.

Mary Francis Swint is a Policy Analyst at Energy Innovation, focused on the firm’s Modeling and Analysis Program. She provides research and analysis to support the firm’s climate policy modeling, which delivers quantitative policy insights and detailed policy guidelines to stakeholders. Before joining Energy Innovation, she was a senior knowledge analyst at the Center for Energy Impact within the Boston Consulting Group and a greenhouse gas mitigation and sustainability analyst at ICF. Mary Francis holds a B.S. in earth and atmospheric sciences and a B.S. in environmental engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Jennifer Taylor is Energy Innovation’s People Experience & Operations Manager, where she is responsible for the administration and coordination of a range of human resources functions. She supports recruitment, onboarding, DE&I initiatives, policy review and implementation, benefits administration, and more. Prior to joining Energy Innovation, she was Executive Legal Assistant and Office Manager in a California-based defense law firm specializing in workers’ compensation and employment law.

Claire is a Modeling Analyst at Energy Innovation, focused on the firm’s Modeling and Analysis Program. She provides research and data analysis to support EI’s climate policy modeling, specifically related to the Energy Policy Simulator. Previously she worked as a Climate Change and Sustainability Analyst at ICF, focused on greenhouse gas accounting and climate planning. Claire holds a B.S. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Virginia.

Alex is a Research and Modeling Manager at Energy Innovation. As part of the Modeling and Analysis Program, he designs and oversees policy research projects for internal and external partners, as well as analyzing and communicating the findings from those projects. Previously, he was a project manager at Biodiversity Research Institute, where he coordinated permitting for distributed and utility-scale solar and wind energy projects throughout New England and the U.S. East Coast. He has a B.A. in English and geology from Amherst College, an M.S. in geology from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MBA from Hult International Business School.

Xiuli supports China-related projects as the China Project Manager at Energy Innovation. She previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis, where she conducted research projects focused on environmental justice and transportation in both China and Southern California. She holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in transportation technology and policy from the University of California, Davis.