Kevin Cianfarini joins RAP’s U.S. team as an associate with a focus in the southern region. Kevin also currently serves as Chair of the Richmond, Virginia Public Utilities and Services Commission, where he has led analysis of the city's gas distribution system and authored policy recommendations to eliminate gas line extension allowances, explore non-gas pipeline alternatives, and establish a local energy efficiency program. In that role, he has engaged directly with City Council members and collaborated with leading energy and utility policy experts, from across the country.
Kevin brings over nine years of software engineering experience, much of it at the intersection of technology and the energy sector. At Octopus Energy, he spearheaded the internationalization of a customer-facing mobile platform across eight countries, helping inform more than three million customers about energy consumption, rate structures, and time-of-use pricing. At Optiwatt, he developed home battery demand response systems and supported electric vehicle managed charging programs. He holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Virginia Tech.
Beyond his professional work, Kevin is a committed civic advocate. He helped build the grassroots coalition that successfully pushed for the creation of Richmond's Public Utilities and Services Commission, the body he now chairs, and has organized and trained hundreds of volunteers on civic engagement with local and state policymakers on energy and utility policy. He also advises on land use and transportation policy in the Greater Richmond region and has presented utility research to neighborhood associations, elected officials, and advocacy organizations across Virginia.
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How did you catch the “energy” bug?
I became deeply interested in working on energy policy issues while serving as the Chair of Richmond's Public Utilities and Services Company. Throughout that work, I found that going deep on my local gas distribution company was intellectually stimulating and rewarding.
What’s your passion outside of RAP/clean energy?
I love gardening and permaculture! As of writing this, I have over 25 fruit trees and bushes.
When I was 5, I couldn't decide between a farmer and a fireman, so let's say I was pretty sure I would be a farmer who would moonlight as a fireman.