Damali Rhett Harding Named Acting U.S. Program Director

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) announces that Damali Rhett Harding has been named acting director of its U.S. program, effective March 17.

Harding, a highly regarded expert in renewable energy and electric utilities, joined RAP last year as the U.S. program’s managing principal. As acting director, she will succeed Mandy Mahoney, who is stepping down to pursue further opportunities in energy and environmental work.

”For 30 years, RAP has been the leader in creating data-driven policy and analysis in support of the clean energy transition for regulators, and I am honored to lead this transition,” Harding said.

She previously worked for Oracle as an account strategy and relationship director, advising utilities such as Duke Energy and National Grid on behavioral load shaping, customer engagement strategies, and demand response management.

Harding also served as executive director of the Energy Co-op, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides renewable energy to thousands of homes and businesses in Pennsylvania. She currently holds seats on the board of directors for the Co-op and the American Association of Blacks in Energy.

“Damali’s organizational expertise and deep understanding of the energy transition landscape have been assets to the U.S. program,” RAP President and CEO Richard Sedano said. “I am pleased to have her step into this role and lead the team as we continue to provide innovative thought leadership and crucial support for regulators and policymakers.”

Harding holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business, is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and in her spare time works passionately to eradicate energy poverty.

Damali Harding joins RAP’s U.S. program as managing principal

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) announces that Damali Harding, a veteran executive, renewable energy and utilities expert and community advocate, has joined RAP’s U.S. program as managing principal.

“Damali brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will enable us to grow and evolve to meet the emerging needs of the clean energy sector,” said Mandy Mahoney, RAP’s U.S. program director.

Harding comes to RAP after serving as account strategy and relationship director at Oracle, formerly Opower, where she advised utilities on behavioral load shaping, customer engagement strategies and demand response management.

Previously, she was executive director of the Energy Co-op, a nonprofit, member-owned energy cooperative which provides renewable energy to thousands of homes and businesses in the greater Philadelphia area. She remains a board member of the Co-op. She also served as commercial director for Enviva LP, the world’s largest producer of industrial biomass to create clean renewable energy, and earlier in her career worked in consulting for IBM Global Business Management Services and Deloitte.

“The energy customer is becoming an active and vital participant in the power system,” RAP President and CEO Richard Sedano said. “Damali’s experiences highlight what people bring to the table and urge us to think big about the small contributions each of us can make.”

Harding earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. She is on the board of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, a member of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy, and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She is in frequent demand for speaking engagements on energy topics as well as strategic management, leadership development, and community building. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, daughter and rescue animals.

“With the depth of expertise and significant pathways RAP has made for energy, I am honored to be joining this amazing team,” Harding said. “I look forward to continuing to advocate for a clean, equitable energy future.”

Mandy Mahoney joins RAP to direct U.S. program

The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) announced today that it has named Mandy Mahoney to lead the organization’s U.S. Program. Ms. Mahoney will provide strategic leadership and vision while managing RAP’s U.S. team as they provide thought leadership and technical advice to policymakers navigating the clean energy transition.

RAP President and CEO Richard Sedano expressed excitement about Ms. Mahoney’s appointment.

“I am ecstatic to bring Mandy into RAP to lead our work in the United States,” said Sedano. “She brings enthusiasm for how energy and climate policy affects people, and her extensive experience in collaborating to find effective paths for progress is essential to our mission.”

Mahoney replaces outgoing U.S. program director Ann McCabe, who will rejoin the Illinois Commerce Commission on February 1.

“I wish a huge congratulations to Ann McCabe. She has been a tremendous leader for RAP and it is an honor to take the reins from her,” said Mahoney. “I am joining RAP because my passion fully aligns with RAP’s mission of accelerating the transition to a clean, reliable, and efficient energy future. I look forward to working with our community to support the acceleration and change in an equitable and just manner.”

Based in Atlanta, Mahoney was previously president of the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) applying her regional leadership in climate change, clean energy, affordable housing, and environmental justice policy across the 11 state Southeast. During her decade-long tenure, she guided strategic policy initiatives, coordinated state, federal and local advocacy campaigns, and formed collaborative relationships with utilities, public officials, NGOs and industry. Prior to that, Mahoney served as the City of Atlanta’s inaugural Sustainability Director across two administrations.

Mahoney holds a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University and a law degree and bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies from Emory University.

RAP’s Ann McCabe to join Illinois Commerce Commission

U.S. Program Director Ann McCabe will join the Illinois Commerce Commission on February 1, following her appointment by Gov. JB Pritzker.

McCabe joined the Regulatory Assistance Project in 2020, successfully leading RAP’s flagship U.S. program through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. During her tenure, RAP advised dozens of states on policies that meet the urgency of the climate crisis and advance an equitable and efficient energy transition.

“I look forward to applying the insights I have learned at RAP and in the rest of my career in this new role. Illinois’ transformational Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is an opportunity to implement cutting edge solutions responsive to larger energy transition trends on a foundation of strong and just regulatory principles,” said McCabe.

RAP’s U.S. team will continue developing solutions to the challenges regulators and other decision-makers face as they decarbonize our economy with attention to efficiency and reliability. The team focuses on opportunities to electrify buildings and transportation, address the regulatory transition of the gas industry, remove barriers to clean distributed energy resources, and broadly decarbonize the electric grid.

McCabe previously served on the Illinois commission from 2012 to 2017.

“I had hoped our partnership in RAP would be longer, but I’m excited for Ann to help Illinois with its clean energy transition at this crucial time,” said CEO Richard Sedano. “I look forward to continuing colleagueship with Ann that began with her first stint as a commissioner, and I wish her a successful second tenure on the ICC.”

睿博能源智库携手英国能源监管局、国际能源署、世界银行等机构联合启动“能源监管转型加速项目”

能源行业在实现脱碳目标中起着至关重要的作用，制定雄心勃勃的脱碳目标是政府的职责，而国家、地区的能源监管机构将在政策落地方面发挥关键作用。英国格拉斯哥当地时间11月3日，睿博能源智库与英国能源监管局(Ofgem)，国际能源署，世界银行，国际可再生能源署等召集了全球能源监管机构和组织，启动了国际“能源监管转型加速项目”(Regulatory energy Transition Accelerator)，旨在提高能源监管机构的能力，以促进高效、迅速和公平的能源系统脱碳。

项目启动声明得到了世界各地政府机构和官员的正式认可，包括澳大利亚能源监管机构、美国加州公共事业委员会、法国能源监管委员会、印度尼西亚能源和矿产资源部、肯尼亚能源和石油管理局、新加坡能源市场管理局，以及美国联邦能源监管委员会委员Allison Clements女士。

全球供暖转型也需要能源政策和监管的转变。11月11日，由联合国环境规划署主持的全球建筑建设联盟与多家机构共同主办了 “清洁供暖论坛”（Clean Heat Forum）。该论坛通过将公共部门和私营企事业单位领导人聚集在一起，使参与者能够共同创造并分享最佳实践政策、标准和公众参与战略，以减少破坏气候、造成空气污染的来源。加速使用高效清洁的供暖技术、恰当的建筑设计以及配套的解决方案，也将有助于减轻健康和能源负担、促进繁荣和创造更多就业。

该边会参会代表来自德国联邦环境、自然保护和核安全部，德国能源署，丹麦能源署，苏格兰政府能源和气候变化理事会，约旦能源矿产部等政府部门和国际组织。睿博能源智库有幸成为其中的一员，贡献了我们的政策建议和专业知识，帮助“清洁供暖论坛”实现其原定目标。

本次气候大会取得了一些成就，但仍面临诸如落地实施等挑战。睿博能源智库长期致力于为欧洲、美国、中国、印度等国的电力行业改革所面临的挑战提供解决方案。我们在能源领域从事专业的技术和经济分析，特别是在电力行业规划和市场设计、能效和电力需求侧管理、可再生能源并网、排放交易等方面有着资深的国际经验。

未来，我们将继续与合作伙伴一道，共同促进可持续经济发展、增加电力系统可靠性，努力推动本次气候大会的相关成果得以实施，为全球减少温室气体排放尽绵薄之力。

RAP adds three policy experts to its European programme

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) announces that three energy and environmental policy experts have joined its European programme.

Jaap Burger, Sophie Yule-Bennett and Dominic Scott join RAP as senior advisors, adding to the organisation’s expertise with smart charging of electric vehicles, demand response and market reform, and energy markets and renewables.

“I am thrilled to have Jaap, Sophie and Dominic join our team,” says Dr. Jan Rosenow, director of RAP’s European programme. “As RAP continues to be a leader in the discussion surrounding Europe’s ambitious climate neutrality goals, I know that their experiences will add unique perspectives to the conversation.”

Mr. Burger’s focus includes policies around electric vehicle smart charging, which are a key component to decarbonising Europe’s power market and grid. Before RAP, Mr. Burger worked for the city of Amsterdam, helping roll out the municipal EV charging infrastructure. With that experience, he worked with various grid operators and public authorities on their smart charging road maps and strategies for grid integration and charging infrastructure rollouts.

Ms. Yule-Bennett’s experience stretches nearly 15 years in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, specialising in energy markets, renewables and demand-side response. She has leveraged her public sector legal knowledge and served as general counsel to an energy startup company, gaining firsthand experience of the market barriers facing clean-tech disruptors. Most recently, she has focused on advising nonprofit organisations and philanthropic foundations on energy and climate strategy, litigation and legislative proposals.

With more than a decade of experience in the public, private and academic sectors, Mr. Scott focuses on the power sector, including demand response, market reform and maximising the potential of the Clean Energy for All Europeans legislative package. In addition to serving 10 years in the British civil service, he worked for UK energy regulator Ofgem on imbalance price formation and broader electricity market reforms. Most recently, Mr. Scott has lectured in energy economics and policy at the University of Reykjavik.

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RAP is an independent, nonpartisan, nongovernmental organization dedicated to accelerating the transition to a clean, reliable and efficient energy future. RAP has deep expertise in energy policies that promote economic efficiency, protect the environment, ensure system reliability and produce other benefits for society. With support from foundation and governmental grants, RAP provides technical and policy assistance to government officials on a broad range of energy and environmental issues. It focuses on the world’s four largest power markets: China, Europe, India and the United States. raponline.org.

Former Colorado Utility Commission Chair Joins RAP

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) announces that Jeff Ackermann, former chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, has joined RAP’s U.S. program as a senior advisor.

Ackermann brings extensive expertise in utility regulatory reform, renewable energy policy and energy efficiency to RAP. During his four-year term leading the Colorado PUC, which concluded in January 2021, he worked to implement the state’s ambitious clean energy agenda. In 2019-20, he also served as chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment. He has more than 30 years of state government and energy-sector experience in Colorado, including serving as executive director of the state’s Energy Office before being appointed PUC chair by then-Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Ackermann, based in Denver, is also currently a senior policy advisor with Colorado State University’s Center for the New Energy Economy, working on the Western Interconnect Regional Electricity Dialogue (WIRED) initiative.

He has a bachelor’s degree in environmental economic studies from Albion College and a master’s degree in nonprofit management and leadership from Regis University.

Cities expert Dr. Xie to lead RAP’s China program

Beijing, China — The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) has hired Dr. Pengfei Xie to lead its China program in Beijing. Dr. Xie joins RAP after serving as the China chief representative of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. A certified urban planner with a focus on sustainable development, Dr. Xie will lead RAP’s efforts to help Chinese policymakers make meaningful power sector reform and meet their climate goals.

Prior to C40, Dr. Xie worked with Chinese cities, ministries, research institutes and international nongovernmental organizations as the director of the China Sustainable Cities Project for the Natural Resources Defense Council. He also played an important role in developing national guidelines and standards on urban sustainability in China as a research scientist with the China Society for Urban Studies at the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MoHURD). Earlier in his career, Dr. Xie gained international experience as a research fellow at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

“I am thrilled for Dr. Xie to lead our China team. Dr. Xie’s track record of building effective programs and delivering valuable technical advice will serve China’s decision-makers as they translate their climate commitments into action,” said Rich Sedano, RAP’s president and CEO.

Dr. Xie said he’s looking forward to supporting RAP’s work. “RAP is an organization with an excellent reputation in China for sound energy policy advice. I am very excited to apply my experience to this important organization and promote the use of clean energy,” said Dr. Xie.

Dr. Xie earned his doctorate from Peking University and a master’s degree from University College London and obtained the research scientist professional title evaluated and awarded by MoHURD.

Max Dupuy, a senior associate and longtime contributor to RAP’s China work, served as the interim director during the pandemic. “I want to thank Max for his creative service to RAP’s China work during this recruitment while maintaining some of his U.S. projects,” said Mr. Sedano. Mr. Dupuy will continue to support RAP’s China and U.S. programs.

Senior renewables expert Bram Claeys joins RAP Europe programme

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) has hired Bram Claeys, former director general of the Belgian renewable energy federation, ODE. A prominent leader in renewable energy in Belgium, Mr. Claeys brings deep insight from industry, research and government. A passionate proponent of the transition to clean energy, he will lead the RAP Europe programme’s efforts on community energy and renewables.

After serving as advisor to the Flemish Energy Minister, Mr. Claeys moved to the United States to gather international experience. From 2011 to 2015, he rose to the position of renewable energy deputy director at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. He helped maintain Massachusetts’ clean energy leadership through analysis and development of cutting‑edge renewable energy policies.

“We’re delighted to welcome Bram to RAP. He’s a seasoned analyst who truly understands regulation in Europe. His expertise from different sectors will serve the European policy world well at this critical time,” explained Dr. Jan Rosenow, director of European programmes.

“Joining RAP feels like the natural next step,” said Claeys. “The rapid pace of change in European legislation brings a challenge for policymakers and industry alike. This work allows me to help stakeholders adopt best practices to advance the energy transition and still meet the essential needs of the people who are affected by their decision.”

Mr. Claeys earned master’s degrees in chemistry and international cooperation from Ghent University in Belgium, as well as an additional master’s in environmental science and technology from the University of Brussels, Belgium.

RAP’s Response to Coronavirus

With the global situation changing daily, we feel it’s important to communicate how we plan to support our work during the coronavirus pandemic

• We are monitoring and following the guidance of global authorities, including the WHO, and appropriate health ministries in each of the countries in which we work.
• Our staff are equipped with the technology and systems to work from home and we are implementing a work-at-home approach where necessary.
• We will continue to perform vital work remotely, with sensitivities to local conditions.
• We are limiting travel and will follow the recommendations of applicable governments.

Please reach out to your RAP contact if you have any questions or concerns.

We hope our friends and colleagues around the world stay well during this challenging time.

Rich Sedano

President and CEO