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Carl Zichella

Director of Western Transmission/Senior Advocate
Natural Resources Defense Council

Twitter:
@carlzichella

Areas of Expertise:

Climate Change, Energy Storage, Environment, Environmental Policy, Infrastructure, Renewables, Solar, Transmission, Wind

Biographical Information: Carl Zichella, Director of Western Transmission, Natural Resources Defense Council

Carl Zichella is the director for western transmission for NRDC. He is the organization’s lead staff for western U.S. renewable energy transmission siting and serves on a nationwide team working on renewable energy development issues. In this role he works with stakeholders from environmental organizations, renewable energy development and transmission industries, local, state and national governments, regulatory agencies and the public to find renewable energy transmission solutions that accelerate renewable energy development while respecting wildlife and land conservation efforts.

Before joining NRDC he was the director for western U.S. renewable projects for the Sierra Club. He served in leadership capacities on the Sierra Club staff for 23 years.

Mr. Zichella is a former director of the Climate Action Reserve, a director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technology (CEERT), environmental representative to the Western Governor’ Association Renewable Energy Zone identification process, environmental representative for the Western Electricity Coordinating Council’s Transmission Expansion Planning Policy Committee, and was a founding director of the American Wilderness Coalition. He was appointed to the Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee in November 2013 by Energy Secretary Moniz.

Recent Comments by Carl Zichella

  • "Excellent post; thank you.  Nuclear is an enormous and expensive distraction. We have an embarrassment of renewable power sources, energy efficiency a"
    Replacing California Nuclear with Renewables
  • "This article from last year says it all from my perspective. Nuclear power is an unnecessary and costly distraction that saps resources away from real"
    Coordinating State and Federal Policy in Support of Nuclear Energy
  • "Thanks Bruce.  I strongly agree with these points.  At WECC I have been a strong advocate for studying the benefits of strategically locating storage "
    The Nuclear Investment Vacuum
  • "Variability is not the intractable problem you imply.  It is an eminently manageable challenge.  All generation is somewhat variable when you consider"
    The Nuclear Investment Vacuum
  • "Jack:  I never said the transition would be easy, just that it is, as almost all studies and operating experience show (MISO, PJM, CAISO, NWPP), that "
    The Nuclear Investment Vacuum
  • "Actually there is a great deal of evidence that we can run the electrical system with very high penetrations of renewables without having to rely on s"
    The Nuclear Investment Vacuum
  • "I wanted to add that the last points in your response are truly salient and I agree wholeheartedly. "We have to recognize the dramatic innovative a"
    The Nuclear Investment Vacuum
  • "Jack:  Thanks for your comment and the chance to respond.  I think you are missing the point.  There is a vacuum for a reason.  It is a good thing.  W"
    The Nuclear Investment Vacuum
  • "Below is a column I wrote about why there should be a nuclear investment vacuum.  There is no nuclear power future.  We have far better options that a"
    The Nuclear Investment Vacuum