Energy Leadership Accelerator launched

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Photo by Amanda Byrd/ACEP
Guests visit ACEP鈥檚 Power Systems Integration Laboratory at the 黑料黑历史 Energy Technology Facility.

February 3, 2025

The inaugural Energy Leadership Accelerator launched with 20 fellows in January. Fellows are local leaders working on energy projects in their communities. The program is an innovative cross-regional leadership network designed to connect and elevate energy leaders from remote, islanded communities.

Over the course of six months, the fellows will explore the key drivers that produce culturally and geographically appropriate energy resiliency solutions for their communities by participating in leadership coaching, sessions on emerging technologies and energy workforce and renewable energy site visits.

The program is dedicated to advancing energy solutions tailored to the unique workforce and technological challenges in remote, islanded communities within U.S. states and territories including Alaska, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, 贬补飞补颈鈥檌 and mainland tribal communities.

A collaborative initiative led by ACEP and the , the program blends virtual engagement with an immersive 10-day Alaska Leadership Lab, featuring in-person workshops, microgrid site visits and dialogues with Alaska energy innovators. The trip will include stops in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Kotzebue and Cordova. Fellows will also benefit from expert guidance on emerging technologies, coaching to produce actionable capstone projects and the opportunity to build a strong peer network.

By investing in and elevating individual community leaders, ELA aims to accelerate the implementation of sustainable energy projects that will positively impact communities across the globe.

The first ELA fellows include:

Alaska

  • Shae Bowman, energy development specialist, RurAL CAP
  • Chrisdene Cloud, environmental program coordinator, Pedro Bay Village Council
  • Bri Gabel, sustainability coordinator, City and Borough of Sitka
  • TJ Gittins, owner and ranch manager, Anchor River Ranch
  • Tim Kalke, general manager, Sustainable Energy for Galena Alaska
  • Wayne Morgan, project specialist, Aniak Traditional Council
  • Griffin Plush, sustainable energy coordinator, Alaska Municipal League
  • Bertha Prince, executive director, Nuvista Light & Electric Cooperative
  • Laresa Syverson, technical lands manager, Ounalashka Corporation
  • Amanda Toerdal, Community Planning and Regional Development program director, Kawerak, Inc.

Caribbean

  • Sheila Bengochea, Energy Efficiency program supervisor, LUMA Energy
  • Alexandra Garcia, project manager, Agroenerg茅tica LLC and Phased Approach
  • Jose Joel Garcia Alicea, CEO, Cronos Energy, Inc.
  • Shiquoi Isaac, Energy Solutions program manager, Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority
  • Denisha Ramos Santos, customer platforms supervisor of renewables, LUMA Energy
  • Lauren Rosenblatt, founder and acting CEO, Barrio El茅ctrico
  • Edgar Ruiz, executive director, Community Through Colors; operations director, Empowered by Light

贬补飞补颈鈥檌

  • Robert Nerveza-Shizuma, Molokai Clean Energy Hui coordinator, Sustainable Molokai

Mainland

  • Jonathan Barcenas, project specialist, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
  • Mayane Barudin, executive director, Sovereign Energy

Visit the or contact Annalise Klein for more information.

ELA is supported by the National Science Foundation鈥檚 program.