Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), will step down from his post late this year, the organization announced today. The group’s board of directors is launching a search for a successor.
Under Nadel’s leadership since 2001, ACEEE has become a cornerstone in advancing energy efficiency nationwide in buildings, transportation, and industry. The organization has shaped energy-saving policies in a series of federal laws that established or authorized appliance and equipment standards and enhanced tax incentives that have driven investment in building efficient new homes and improving buildings. ACEEE has championed efficiency in transportation, advancing vehicle standards and strategies for electrification.
ACEEE has expanded its influence with state and local governments, encouraging a series of energy-saving policies and best practices through scorecards that evaluate progress, with an emphasis on equitable efficiency programs and decision-making.
During Nadel’s tenure at ACEEE, U.S. energy use remained steady for two decades (after previous growth), even as the population and economy grew. Nadel’s work helped firmly establish efficiency as a key strategy for enabling growth and increasing energy security while reducing pollution.
Nadel personally led negotiations with manufacturers on more than two dozen consensus product efficiency standards and worked with utilities, regulators, and legislators on designing and implementing energy efficiency programs and policies. He has been a leader in focusing these programs on a market transformation approach that identifies and targets barriers to the widespread adoption of efficient technologies. He conceived a $6 billion program included in the Inflation Reduction Act to spur low-carbon production technologies and methods that position U.S. industries to be leaders in the production processes of the future.
“Steve’s work at ACEEE is saving money for families and businesses every single day while reducing climate-warming emissions,” said Penni McLean-Conner, chair of ACEEE’s board and executive vice president of customer experience and energy strategy at Eversource Energy. “Thanks to Steve’s leadership, ACEEE is known for its rock-solid, comprehensive research and as a trusted convener of diverse stakeholders advancing energy efficiency nationwide. He will leave us in a very strong place, ready to grow the organization and its impact even further.”
Steven Nadel said: “We have made incredible progress reducing energy waste in this country, but the continuing challenges of energy costs and the climate, along with new load growth demands, make the work ahead critical. It’s time for me to pass the baton and watch new leadership take on the next opportunities.”
Nadel joined ACEEE in 1989 as its fourth staff member. The organization now employs about 80, a testament to its growth and the rising importance of energy efficiency. While Nadel will step down from the executive director position, he plans to remain engaged, conducting research and mentoring future leaders in the field.
