Trish Williams, Communications Specialist, EERE Communications Office
Editor Williams’ Note: This is an excerpt of a story that was originally published in Amped Up! Magazine, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s publication that highlights breaking technologies and achievements in renewable power, energy efficiency and sustainable transportation that influence global change toward a clean energy economy. For the full story: Amped Up! Magazine’s new website.
David Friedman
David Friedman has recently assumed the top leadership position at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), less than one year after joining as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. In his new role, he is eager to continue the Energy Department’s extraordinary progress in accelerating the nation’s transition to a clean energy economy.
Friedman shifts from overseeing EERE’s day-to-day operations to a broader portfolio spanning five major areas: Energy Efficiency, Renewable Power, Sustainable Transportation, Strategic Programs, and Operations. The new mantle also gives him the opportunity to expand the ongoing clean energy revolution at a truly historic time. At last year’s Paris climate change conference, President Obama joined 19 other world leaders in launching Mission Innovation, an effort to double investments in clean energy research and development over the next five years.
In June, Friedman was on hand when Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz hosted energy leaders from 23 countries and the European Union at the seventh Clean Energy Ministerial in San Francisco. The Clean Energy Ministerial followed the pivotal U.N. Convention of Parties (COP21) climate change talks last year in Paris. The meeting also marked the inaugural Mission Innovation Ministerial.
Besides playing key roles in accelerating the clean energy revolution and tackling the global challenge of climate change, Friedman will steer EERE investments toward innovative technologies to help secure the president’s goal of doubling American energy productivity by 2030. He will direct growing EERE efforts to promote successful partnerships among the nation’s world-class laboratories and industry to spawn new and innovative collaborations to drive America’s clean energy economy forward. In this role, he will also support the president’s vision of bolstering U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. Advanced manufacturing gains can pave the way for superior energy savings and new job opportunities for millions of Americans across the country.
“It’s a unique time that calls for a mix of finishing strong to cap off an unprecedented eight years of clean energy progress, and accelerating progress so the next administration can hit the ground running,” Friedman said in an interview with the Amped Up! team.
Filed Under: News, Policy
