Efficiency Vermont welcomes Peter Walke as managing director
Winooski, VT
As Vermont strives to find innovative solutions to reduce carbon emissions and looks to energy efficiency as the most cost-effective tool in the fight against climate change, a well-known leader in Vermont environmental policy will soon take the helm of the statewide energy efficiency utility, Efficiency Vermont.
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Peter Walke will join Efficiency Vermont as its new Managing Director starting May 9.
“We’re excited to welcome Peter as the next leader of Efficiency Vermont,” said Rebecca Foster, CEO of VEIC, the nonprofit clean energy organization that operates Efficiency Vermont under an order of appointment from the Vermont Public Utility Commission. “Peter’s wealth of experience partnering with diverse stakeholders to find solutions that work for all Vermonters is the perfect match for this role. Peter’s career reflects his strong ethic of listening to all voices to make thoughtful and consistent progress toward solving complex challenges.”
Walke comes to Efficiency Vermont with decades of leadership and public service experience, both in state government and in the United States Navy.
Prior to being named by Gov. Phil Scott to his current position as DEC Commissioner, Walke served as Deputy Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. In that capacity he served as Vermont’s lead negotiator for the Transportation Climate Initiative, co-chaired the Vermont Climate Action Commission, and represented the state in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Born and raised in Vermont, Walke returned to his home state after several years working for the State of New York, including as Chief of Staff of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, as well as Assistant Secretary of the Environment.
Walke began his career serving in the United States Navy from 2004-2013 as an Intelligence Officer supporting missions in Iraq, Europe, Africa, and for NORAD/U.S. Northern Command.
“I have watched Efficiency Vermont work diligently to deliver on energy efficiency’s promise of cost-effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering the energy burdens shouldered by Vermonters,” said Walke. “I am honored and excited to step into this role and continue Efficiency Vermont’s efforts to work collaboratively with our customers, our state’s energy providers, and the many stakeholders invested in supporting a just transition to a clean, affordable, and carbon-free energy future.”
About Efficiency Vermont
As the nation’s first Energy Efficiency Utility, Efficiency Vermont has helped Vermont avoid over 13.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award for the last eight consecutive years. Efficiency Vermont works with partners to help our state transition to more affordable, low carbon energy use through education, incentives, and support for our clean energy workforce. Learn more at www.efficiencyvermont.com.
Efficiency Vermont Press Contact
Matthew Smith
Phone: (802) 540-7662
[email protected]