WASHINGTON – The Alliance to Save Energy’s Board of Directors elected five new members Thursday, further strengthening the organization’s leadership with deep experience in energy efficiency in the private, public, and non-profit sectors.

The newly-elected members are:

• Greg Bergtold, Business Advocacy Director, The Dow Chemical Company
• Ashok Gupta, Senior Energy Economist, Climate & Clean Energy Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
• John Haarlow, Chief Executive Officer & General Manager, Snohomish County Public Utility District
• Melanie Kenderdine, Principal, Energy Futures Initiative
• Christopher Womack, Executive Vice President & President of External Affairs, Southern Company

“Our biggest strength is the people we bring to the energy efficiency policy table together, and these new leaders make us even stronger,” said Jason Hartke, President of the Alliance. “These are folks who’ve led different parts of the energy efficiency economy for years or even decades, and we’re grateful to have their expertise and vision for the future.”

Greg Bergtold, with The Dow Chemical Company, specializes in advocacy and policy strategies, building code development, trade organization leadership, new business development, construction engineering, energy efficiency, sustainability in design, and portfolio management. He has worked at Dow since 1990, in positions including senior development leader, project leader for technical services & development, operations supervisor, and environmental projects manager.

“I am honored to be appointed to the Alliance to Save Energy’s Board of Directors. The Alliance has always played a pivotal role in making significant positive impacts toward addressing one of the world’s most critical challenges: energy use. I hope to contribute to this effort that is so critical to the world’s economies and to people’s well-being,” said Greg Bergtold. “Increasing the energy efficiency, sustainability and the overall livability of environments where people live, work, and play is central to our business’s purpose. When you consider that buildings account for 40 percent of our nation’s energy use, it is clear that our mission aligns to, and can directly impact, the Alliance’s efforts. I look forward to the partnership and all the great work ahead.”

Ashok Gupta, with NRDC, focuses on policies relating to global warming, energy efficiency, renewables, sustainable building design, smart growth, and transportation. He has worked at the organization since 1991 and served as NRDC's representative to then-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Sustainability Advisory Board and Energy Policy Task Force. Prior to his work at NRDC, Gupta was a senior economist for the City of New York.

“I am so very pleased to join the Board of the Alliance. Energy efficiency is the cornerstone for achieving global environmental and public health goals while boosting economic growth and jobs,” said Ashok Gupta. “I look forward to building on the long-standing partnership that NRDC and the Alliance have long enjoyed and working with fellow Board members and Alliance staff to advance our shared mission.”

John Haarlow, with SnoPUD, joined the organization in 2017 as assistant general manager of distribution & engineering, and was tapped to lead the organization in October 2018. He brings nearly 30 years of experience in the electric utility industry, including serving as both director of safety and transmission and distribution engineering and operations at the Public Service Company of New Mexico, and as vice president of power delivery for the Indianapolis Power and Light Company.

“We're pleased to help advance the mission of the Alliance since it supports our efforts to become the utility of the future and supports utilities across the country," said Snohomish County Public Utility District CEO/GM John Haarlow. "At Snohomish, we're finding new ways to save energy through technology, partnering with customers, and leveraging our relationships. We share the Alliance's focus on economic growth, a cleaner environment, and continued reliability for our customers.”

Melanie Kenderdine, with the Energy Futures Initiative, is also a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. She served at the Department of Energy from 2013 to 2017 as the energy counselor to the secretary and concurrently as the director of the Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis. Her 100-person office was responsible for analysis and policy development in areas including energy innovation, climate change, energy security, energy systems and infrastructure, and North American energy integration. She previously helped establish the MIT Energy Initiative and served as its executive director.

“It is an honor to join the Board of the Alliance to Save Energy, an organization that I have admired and whose mission I have strongly supported for decades, both as a government official and as a private citizen,” said Melanie Kenderdine. “I look forward to working with the Alliance team, stakeholders and Board to help ensure that energy efficiency continues to play a central role in mitigating climate change and other environmental concerns, enhancing economic development, and creating jobs. A special thanks to Jason Hartke for his outstanding leadership of the Alliance.”

Chris Womack, with Southern Company, directs the company’s public policy strategies and oversees federal and state governmental and regulatory affairs, corporate communication initiatives, and other external engagements. He has held numerous leadership positions within Southern Company and its subsidiaries, including executive vice president of external affairs at Georgia Power and senior vice president and senior production officer of Southern Company Generation, where he was responsible for coal, gas, and hydro generation for Georgia Power and Savannah Electric.

“I am delighted to be joining the Board of the Alliance to Save Energy and look forward to working on its important mission, including transportation electrification,” said Chris Womack.

Three of the new Board members will be succeeding departing members from their organization: Gupta succeeds Elizabeth Noll; Haarlow succeeds Jim West; and Womack succeeds Bruce Edelston.

About the Alliance to Save Energy

Founded in 1977, the Alliance to Save Energy is a nonprofit, bipartisan alliance of business, government, environmental and consumer leaders working to expand the economy while using less energy. Our mission is to promote energy productivity worldwide – including through energy efficiency – to achieve a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy security, affordability and reliability.

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