About Us

Clean Energy Works was founded by Dr. Holmes Hummel to accelerate investments in the clean energy economy on inclusive terms that are fiscally sustainable and financially scalable. Since then, Clean Energy Works has won recognition as a winner or finalist in five international searches for high-impact innovation and breakthrough solutions for clean energy deployment. Previously, Dr. Hummel served as the Senior Policy Advisor in the Department of Energy’s Office of Policy & International Affairs from 2009-2013. Among the responsibilities in that role, Dr. Hummel convened the first agency-wide working group on finance with a focus on expanding participation in the clean energy economy. In addition to prior work with energy innovators in the Silicon Valley, Dr. Hummel earned a doctorate degree from Stanford University for interdisciplinary research on energy technology scenarios that achieve 100% clean energy for all and is the Managing Director for Energy Equity & Just Transitions at the Institute for Energy at Stanford University.

Tamara is the Co-Executive Director of Clean Energy Works. She brings more than fifteen years of managerial experience in the nonprofit and public sectors. She has served as Director of programs and policy for mayoral administrations in Atlanta and Houston, as Chief of Staff to a Houston City Councilmember, as the Executive Director of the Southeastern African American Farmers Organic Network (SAAFON), as the founder of the Social Justice Impact Project / Inquiring Systems Inc., and as a consultant guide to dozens of organizations over ten years of independent practice.

In the energy sector, Ms. Jones held positions of Director of Program Development & Government Relations at Southface Energy Institute and Director of Programs and Services for the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA). At SEEA, she administered regional energy efficiency building retrofit programs for which she was designated a White House Champion of Change in 2011. Ms. Jones holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Long Island University Brooklyn Campus and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Yale University.

Matt is the Deputy Executive Director at Clean Energy Works. His prior professional experience spans work as an attorney, a climate change policy and programs manager, an energy justice researcher, and a professional runner and running coach. He also serves as an at-large city council member in Bloomington, Indiana. In his work at the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute, Mr. Flaherty led policy and program implementation assisting local governments in advancing climate action and community resilience. His research experience includes energy federalism, energy insecurity, and utility disconnection issues. Mr. Flaherty holds a bachelor’s degree in civil & environmental engineering from the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, as well as a law degree and master’s degrees in public affairs and environmental science from Indiana University – Bloomington.

Max is the Deputy Director of Strategic Implementation at Clean Energy Works, where he has supported the organization in various roles since 2016. He brings a unique combination of depth in inclusive utility investments, clean energy finance, equitable decarbonization alongside decades of experience with nonprofit management, operations, technology and frontline organizing. Max holds a master’s of city & regional planning from Rutgers University, where he concentrated in community development, housing and environmental planning. Max is passionate about realizing the equitable widespread clean energy transition necessary for our collective future.

Stephanie brings over a decade of experience leading finance and operations for mission-driven and academic organizations, with a focus on building strong financial systems and collaborative teams that help organizations grow sustainably and advance their missions.

At Clean Energy Works, Stephanie oversees financial strategy, budgeting, and operational systems to ensure resources are managed effectively in support of a just and sustainable clean energy future. She has managed budgets of up to $8 million annually and developed systems to streamline grant management, HR processes, and cross-functional collaboration.

Before joining Clean Energy Works, Stephanie served as Manager of Finance and Operations at Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute, where she strengthened financial reporting practices and supported a portfolio of multi-million-dollar, grant-funded environmental research initiatives. Over her career at Indiana University, she built transparent processes and scalable systems that improved efficiency and strengthened organizational impact. She is passionate about leveraging her expertise in finance and operations to advance clean energy and environmental solutions.

Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Culture from Indiana University.

Michael is the Deputy Director of Building Decarbonization at Clean Energy Works. He brings extensive experience in energy justice and building energy technologies, drawing on his prior work at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). At DOE, Michael served in the Building Technologies Office, where he worked on building energy codes, the valuation of energy resilience, and advanced building construction. He later joined the Office of Energy Justice Policy & Analysis, contributing to the agency’s energy justice strategy. In his role, Michael supported implementation of the Justice40 Initiative and led the development of a national energy poverty framework. Michael holds master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Sustainable Energy Systems from the University of Michigan.

Daphne Yuan is the Communications Manager at Clean Energy Works, bringing over eleven years of marketing communications experience within the mass media and nonprofit sectors. A dedicated advocate for using storytelling, design, and digital products to create meaningful dialogue and connection, Daphne is passionate about facilitating conversations that drive sustainable change. In her current role, Daphne leverages strategic communications to advance the mission of promoting inclusive energy investments. Her commitment to fostering inclusive experiences is further reflected in her alumni status with the Emma Bowen Foundation and the Cox Media Group Digital Talent Program. Additionally, Daphne’s community engagement includes her previous service as a member of the Junior League of Atlanta. Her dedication to inclusivity continues to shape her work at Clean Energy Works and beyond.

Kai Palmer-Dunning is Senior Associate of Building Decarbonization at Clean Energy Works.
He has experience working on topics related to building energy codes, building decarbonization
policy, and environmental justice. Prior to Clean Energy Works, he was the Director of Equitable
Building Transition at the Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), where he helped guide
programs related to improving access to weatherization and building retrofits in environmental
justice communities. He also helped expand awareness of networked geothermal as a gas
transition pathway. In addition to his work at HEET, Kai served as a review board member for
Boston’s building performance standard, BERDO. He is completing his B.S. in Environmental
Science and Data Analytics at Southern New Hampshire University and plans to pursue a
Masters of Architecture in Sustainable Design.

Camille Minns is the Senior Associate for Building Decarbonization at Clean Energy Works, and a dedicated advocate for clean energy, climate justice, and just innovation. Originally from The Bahamas, Camille brings a global perspective to her work and research. Her commitment to climate justice and clean energy is evident through her prior roles across the sector, from sustainability consulting and academia, to solar development and energy economics research. Camille also serves as the Deputy Director of Earth Hacks, and co-lead of the Rooted Futures Lab, an initiative committed . Camille has been recognized as a WRISE Solar Power Fellow and an Aspen Institute Future Climate Leader, among others, for her commitment to co-creating a just and sustainable future for all. Camille holds a B.A. in Globalization, and a M.S. in Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University, with a concentration on renewable energy, climate justice and just transition strategy.

Lidiya Kassahun is a Senior Associate at Clean Energy Works. She has worked on diverse projects, including transport decarbonization, medium—and heavy-duty vehicle electrification, and coordinated international transport coalitions in Africa, Europe, and the United States.  Lidiya was a Technical Advisor for the Green People’s Energy project at a German development agency(GIZ), where she collaborated with the Ministry of Energy and Transport to improve electricity distribution in rural communities. While at the World Resources Institute(WRI), Lidiya helped identify strategies to increase electric bus adoption in major East African and Latin American cities. Lidiya holds a Master’s in Development Practice from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and a B.S. in Geology from Adama Science and Technology University. She is a recipient of the prestigious Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship.

Zuha Maryam Shaikh is a Senior Specialist for Market Innovation at Clean Energy Works, where she advances inclusive utility investment models and market strategies to expand access to clean energy. She brings a strong background in product management, grid services, and distributed energy resources (DERs) from her work at Swell Energy, a clean energy technology startup.

At Swell, Zuha led product development for Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), driving initiatives to automate customer enrollment with utilities, streamline IT processes, and enhance customer experience. She collaborated across technical, utility, and community partners to design scalable, equitable solutions for clean energy adoption. As a Grid Services Analyst, she supported residential solar and storage deployments, led market research on regulatory changes like NEM3, and co-authored Swell’s industry presentations. Her work also contributed to securing U.S. Department of Energy funding for innovative energy projects.

With experience spanning a Master’s in International Policy in Energy and Environment from Stanford University to hands-on industry leadership, Zuha is passionate about building systems that connect communities to affordable, resilient clean energy. She is especially committed to ensuring low- and moderate-income households benefit equitably from the transition to a sustainable energy future.

Brooke Bethel is the Communications Associate at Clean Energy Works. Brooke is an emerging  communications professional with a passion for storytelling and a commitment to making a positive impact. Before joining Clean Energy Works, she worked as a Communications Specialist in the Software sector with a focus on crafting editorial and social media strategies that increased engagement and lead generation. She is driven by her belief in the power of words and uses storytelling to address critical challenges and motivate action. Brooke holds a B.F.A from Lipscomb University and an M.F.A in Dramatic Writing from New York University.