MONTPELIER, Vermont — The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) has named Noelle MacKay as chief operating officer.

Ms. MacKay oversees all aspects of RAP’s operations including leading strategic planning; identifying opportunities for development; and recommending strategies to improve the organization’s impact.

“Noelle’s passion and organizational creativity make her a natural fit with RAP,” said Richard Sedano, president and CEO. “Her background and extensive experience with land use, climate change, and community resilience also brings added perspective to the RAP team.”

Ms. MacKay has 20 years of nonprofit and government leadership experience. Before joining RAP, she was the director of the Community and Economic Development Office for the city of Burlington, Vermont. She earlier served almost six years as commissioner of the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development, a role that included leading community and economic development recovery efforts after Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.

“I am excited to help to grow RAP’s dynamic programs improving the efficiency and reducing the environmental footprint of the power sector, while improving and protecting customer welfare, especially the most vulnerable,” said Ms. MacKay.

Previously Ms. MacKay served as the executive director of Smart Growth Vermont and as deputy director of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association in New Jersey. She earned a master’s degree in environmental studies from Dalhousie University and a bachelor’s degree in science from Mount Allison University.

Ms. MacKay succeeds Christine Salembier, who retired after seven years as COO.

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.