Rich Powell
—
Executive Director
Biography
Rich Powell is the Executive Director at ClearPath and ClearPath Action, the DC-based organizations developing and advancing conservative policies that accelerate clean energy innovation.
He educates policymakers on investing wisely in energy innovation, removing roadblocks to building and exporting American clean energy technology, and maintaining and promoting our flexible clean energy resources. Rich also leads ClearPath’s external advocacy and research partnerships with nonprofits, academia, and the private sector.
Rich frequently testifies before congress on climate change and energy innovation. His work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, FoxNews.com, Washington Examiner, The Hill, Morning Consult, RealClear Energy, and a number of regional publications. His views are regularly featured in national publications including the National Review, NPR, Politico, USA Today, Axios, E&E, New York Times, the Washington Post, Forbes, LA Times, Houston Chronicle, MIT Tech Review, Bloomberg, Green Tech Media, Utility Dive, the Guardian, and many others.
Rich serves as a member of the 2019 Advisory Committee to the Export Import Bank of the United States. He is also on the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center’s Advisory Group.
Previously, Rich was with McKinsey & Company in the Energy and Sustainability practices. He focused on corporate clean energy strategy, government low carbon growth strategy, and clean tech market entry.
Education
B.A. from Harvard College in Environmental Science and Public Policy, and a J.D. from New York University.
Area of Expertise
Policy and Strategy
Featured Content from Rich
Direct Air Capture (DAC) represents exciting opportunities and technologies that a number of great innovators — as well as some great conservatives — are adding to the toolkit to lower global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions or remove it from the atmosphere.
ClearPath Executive Director Rich Powell testified as the Republican witness at the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy hearing, “Reviving our Economy: COVID-19’s Impact on the Energy Sector” on June 16, 2020.
Our nuclear energy industry is at a crossroads. Nuclear, America’s clean energy workhorse, makes up the majority of our zero-carbon power. And it’s so reliable that some plants can operate non-stop for nearly two years before refueling. Right now, however, we are tragically seeing our existing fleet continue to shrink.
Decisive action to support the development of U.S.-based energy storage technologies and supply chains presents a crucial opportunity to enhance U.S. competitiveness in a critical component of our clean energy future.
Energy sector innovation and broader efforts to address climate change should resemble the best of the tech start-ups in the U.S.: fast, disruptive, exciting and good for consumers. The Energy Sector Innovation Credit, or ESIC, would update the energy portion of the tax code by allowing cutting-edge technologies to gain commercial viability and upend the status quo without distorting the free market.
Rich Powell testifies before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water on The Department of Energy’s Role in Addressing Climate Change.
