Clean Energy Works welcomes Stephen Bickel as the organization’s new Chief Insight Officer and Director of Utility Policy & Programs. Stephen brings two decades of experience building residential energy efficiency and product rating and certification programs, with particular attention to crafting solutions informed by behavioral science.
Prior to joining Clean Energy Works, Stephen was President and co-founder of LibertyHomes a non-profit that worked closely with Clean Energy Works to advance adoption of the Pay As You Save® (PAYS®) system of inclusive utility investment so that all families, regardless of income, will live in homes and communities that are resilient, safe, healthy, affordable, and energy independent. While at LibertyHomes Stephen and co-founder Jill Ferguson, facilitated completion of the first two peer reviewed independent evaluations of PAYS programs, and created numerous resources, including the PAYS® Pals Newsletter, to coalesce, inform, and empower champions of PAYS and inclusive utility investment.
In his new role at Clean Energy Works, Stephen will lead engagement with utilities, regulators, and policymakers at the federal, regional, state, and local levels to scale adoption and implementation of inclusive utility investments. He will develop and support partnerships with industry associations, manufacturers, program operators, community champions, public advocates, and others to catalyze action on inclusive utility investments with strong and sound consumer protections. Stephen will also cultivate the development of a national 3rd party certification and verification protocols as necessary.
Before founding LibertyHomes in 2019, Stephen was co-owner and Executive Vice President at D+R International where he supported EPA, DOE, HUD, regional energy efficiency organizations, and individual utilities’ development, management, and implementation of voluntary and mandatory appliance and building energy efficiency programs. Mr. Bickel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Oberlin College and a Master’s degree in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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Do you want to join the Clean Energy Works team? Check out our current posting for the Director of Just Transition Strategies and stay tuned for future openings in the coming months.
