The Alliance to Save Energy’s Board of Directors has elected U.S. Sens. Chris Coons (D - Del.) and Rob Portman (R - Ohio) to serve as honorary congressional vice-chairs.

Joining them as newly elected Alliance Board members are:

• Helen Burt, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer;
• Iain Campbell, Johnson Controls Vice President and General Manager for Global Energy and WorkPlace Solutions;
• Kemel Dawkins, Rutgers University Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration; and
• Susan Stratton, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Executive Director

Upon the elections, Alliance Honorary Congressional Chair Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) commented, “I am delighted to see that Sens. Rob Portman and Chris Coons are going to join our bipartisan group of senators who believe energy efficiency is the smart way to reduce our reliance on foreign oil while putting money back in the wallets of consumers and businesses.”

Alliance President Kateri Callahan added, “This dynamic group of newly-elected directors evidence our commitment to securing diverse leadership that will ensure that our organization is ‘best in class’ for a nonprofit, and that we aggressively pursue our mission to advance energy efficiency world-wide.” 

Sen. Chris Coons

Sen. Chris Coons, a cosponsor of the Clean Energy Standard Act of 2012 (S. 2416), acknowledges the strong role the clean energy market plays in advancing America’s economy and national security. His election to the Senate capped a decade of successful service in Delaware’s largest county, New Castle – four years as council president and six years as county executive.

Elected to the Senate in 2010, he serves on the Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Energy & Natural Resources and Budget Committees, making him uniquely positioned to nurture American innovation and make the United States more competitive in the global market.

“The Alliance to Save Energy has an important mission and does important work in helping build a healthier, cleaner, stronger economy,” said Coons. “Energy efficiency has enormous potential that can change our future, our competitors, our environmental footprint, our technology and the country our children and grandchildren will inherit from us. I am deeply honored to join the Alliance’s board of directors and look forward to working with the organization’s leaders and members to rally the kind of support we’ll need to continue to make a difference.”

Sen. Rob Portman

Sen. Rob Portman, elected to the Senate in 2010, has stated his top priorities are job creation and economic growth – two aspects of the bipartisan Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S. 1000), a bill that will make the economy more productive and create jobs by incentivizing the use of energy efficiency technologies in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Portman and Alliance honorary congressional vice-chair Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D – N.H.) introduced the bill in May 2011.

Representing Ohio’s second district in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years, Portman left the Congress in 2005 to serve for one year as the U.S. trade representative, the Cabinet-level official responsible for implementing and enforcing U.S. trade policy and then as director of the Office of Management And Budget.

In announcing the election, National Grid US President Tom King, who serves as industry co-chair of the Alliance Board, said, “I’m delighted to welcome this new roster of distinguished energy efficiency advocates to the Alliance’s Board of Directors, because like those who have served before, they personify the broad support that energy efficiency enjoys throughout all sectors of our nation’s economy.”

Helen Burt

Helen Burt is a senior vice president and chief customer officer for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). An acknowledged expert in the utility industry, she is responsible for leading marketing, product development, sales and services, as well as all meter-to-cash operations, call center and field gas and electric service at PG&E. She also leads the $2 billion SMARTMETER™ advanced meter deployment and an extensive energy efficiency, solar and demand response portfolio. “At PG&E, we are continuously working with our customers and communities on creative and innovative solutions to save energy and money,” said Burt. “These actions will benefit the economy and environment for years to come. I am honored to serve on a board of like-minded leaders who share a similar commitment to empowering consumers and advancing policies, programs and initiatives that promote energy efficiency.”

Iain A. Campbell

Iain A. Campbell is responsible for the Global Energy & WorkPlace Solutions businesses within the Building Efficiency division of Johnson Controls Inc. –more than 20,000 employees and revenues in excess of $5.5 billion annually.  A chartered management accountant, Campbell joined Johnson Controls through its acquisition of York International Corporation in December 2005 after holding a number of executive and finance positions with the former corporation since January 1983. Campbell acted as the co-leader in developing the corporation’s environmental sustainability positions and policies and is a frequent speaker and panelist on energy efficiency in the built environment and associated funding mechanisms. 

“As a global leader in delivering solutions that increase efficiency in buildings, Johnson Controls works with leading organizations like the Alliance to Save Energy to promote energy efficiency, our fastest, cheapest and cleanest energy source,” said Campbell. “I am looking forward to serving on the board with others who share this strong commitment to advancing energy efficiency as a priority across the globe.”

Kemel Dawkins

Kemel Dawkins serves as the Rutgers Newark campus’s chief business officer overseeing a broad range of university functions including the campus budget and fiscal oversight, business services, student financial services, public safety, facilities and capital planning, grants and administration and purchasing. 

The primary function of the office is to ensure that the campus’s administrative structure provides the most efficient and effective support for its academic programs, students and those who avail themselves of the university’s services. Dawkins brings an academic perspective to the Alliance board, built upon his career in facility and energy management.

Susan Stratton

Susan Stratton’s role as executive director is to serve as the primary liaison among the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, its regional funders and other supporting organizations and governments to maximize energy efficiency in the Northwest. An energy efficiency leader with more than 30 years of experience leading both nongovernmental and government organizations, she was a key influencer in Midwest energy policy and more recently helped develop Indiana’s statewide efficiency program. She also served as a utility regulator in Wisconsin and Virginia and led the University of Wisconsin’s Public Utility Institute.

“On behalf of more than 12 million energy consumers, I’m honored to serve on the Alliance to Save Energy Board of Directors,” said Stratton. “This is a unique opportunity to engage with industry thought leaders and to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices across the nation.”

Alliance to Save Energy Media Contact

• Ronnie Kweller 202-530-2203; rkweller@ase.org