Sarah Wright, MSPH
- Executive Director
As founder of Utah Clean Energy, Sarah has a proven record of accomplishment in the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency within the state of Utah. As Executive Director, she has effectively fostered diverse partnerships with state agencies, municipal governments, industry, agricultural groups and community groups to advance clean energy solutions. She is an intervener in regulatory proceedings and a witness in legislative hearings testifying in support of energy efficiency and renewable energy. Sarah brings over fifteen years experience with the Utah industry where she served as an environmental consultant providing occupational health and ambient air quality permitting services. Sarah holds a B.S. in Geology from Bradley University, and an M.S. in Public Health from the University of Utah.  Email Sarah Wright



Rebecca Nelson, MPA
- Assistant Director
Since 2004, Rebecca has overseen the contract negotiation, grant management, program reporting, and financial tracking for Utah Clean Energy's government, foundation, and corporate grants and contracts. She also manages the financial, fundraising, human resource, and administrative functions of the organization. Rebecca brings over ten years of nonprofit management experience to the organization, previously serving as Associate Director for the Utah Health & Human Rights Project and Manager of Ten Thousand Villages, Utah. She holds a Masters in Public Administration and a B.A. from the University of Utah. Email Rebecca Nelson

Sara Baldwin
- Senior Policy & Regulatory Associate  
Sara manages the Solar Salt Lake Partnership Project as part of the US Department of Energy Solar America Cities Initiative, where she coordinates with Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, and other partners to remove barriers to solar energy. Under Sara’s lead, the Solar Salt Lake Project has earned a “Barrier Buster Award” and “Mountain Mover Award” from the Department of Energy. Sara is also actively involved in the various clean energy policy initiatives and utility regulatory proceedings, including the current Utility Solar Incentive Work Group. She served on the Energy Development and Environment Subcommittee of Governor Herbert’s 10-Year Energy Initiative, participated in the Utah Renewable Energy Zone Phase II Task Force and was a member of the Utah Dept. of Environmental Quality Climate Change Stakeholder Working Group and the Utah Renewable Energy Initiative Group. Sara was named the 2008 Outstanding Young Wind Advocate by the Wind Powering America Program; she has also contributed to several reports, including Powering Our Future: Solar Salt Lake Implementation Plan, the Utah Energy Efficiency Strategy Report and, Building the Clean Energy Economy: A Study on Jobs and Economic Development of Clean Energy in Utah. In 2011, Sara was a co-instructor for the Alternative Energy Technologies Course at the Salt Lake Community College. In her spare time, Sara enjoys rock climbing, playing the guitar, gardening, and globe-trotting. She holds an Honors B.S. in Environmental Studies and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Utah.
Email Sara Baldwin
 

Kevin Emerson, MSc
- Senior Policy & Regulatory Associate
Kevin is the lead for energy efficiency programs, partnerships, and energy efficiency policy and regulatory activities.  In 2002, Kevin worked with students, staff and faculty at the University of Utah to coordinate a project that led to the University’s purchase of renewable energy. Soon after re-joining Utah Clean Energy in 2006, Kevin conducted research for and co-authored the Utah Energy Efficiency Strategy. He works with diverse partners to remove institutional barriers to increased energy efficiency, including increasing utility energy efficiency and demand-side management, and building Utah’s clean energy workforce. Kevin serves on the Energy Management Advisory Committee for Salt Lake Community College, and is a regular participant in Demand-side Management Advisory Groups for both Rocky Mountain Power and Questar Gas.   Kevin graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Utah and an M.Sc. in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Edinburgh. Kevin is a native Utahn and enjoys genealogical research, rowing on the Great Salt Lake, and community gardening. He lives with his wife and son in Salt Lake City. Email Kevin Emerson
 

Bonnie Christiansen
- Outreach Coordinator
Bonnie has worked to promote renewable energy in the state of Utah over the past seven years. She coordinates with diverse stakeholders representing local governments, businesses, non-profits, and community groups to educate groups and citizens about energy efficiency and renewable energy. She has successfully worked to increase business and residential participation in the Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program, which won the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Program of the year award in 2007. Her efforts helped the Town of Alta, Utah become the 12th community in the Nation to be recognized as an EPA Green Power Community. Bonnie helps coordinate the Utah Wind Power Campaign efforts. Email Bonnie Christiansen
 

Brandy Smith
- Communications and Program Coordinator
Brandy oversees Utah Clean Energy's Sustainers Circle and Corporate Sponsor membership along with coordinating various fundraising activities.  In addition, Brandy manages the organization's public relations efforts, outreach and events. A graduate from the University of Utah, Brandy brings with her a background in public relations, marketing and event management. Before joining Utah Clean Energy, she served as the Marketing Assistant for a nationally recognized graphics company followed by a position as the Logistics Manager for the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.  Outside of the clean energy arena, Brandy spends most of her time walking her 3 dogs, hanging with family, and searching for the world's best chocolate.
Email Brandy Smith
 

Sophie Hayes
 - Staff Attorney
Sophie represents Utah Clean Energy in both its regulatory and legislative activities. She is involved in UCE’s work before the Public Service Commission on open regulatory dockets dealing with the expansion of energy efficiency and renewable energy in Utah. In addition, Sophie works on legislative policy matters, including planning, drafting, and reviewing proposed legislation. Sophie has an honors B.A. in anthropology and a Juris Doctorate from Brigham Young University. Sophie was a lead editor for the BYU Law Review and on the board of the Natural Resources Law Society. During law school, she clerked for the Department of the Interior’s Office of the Solicitor as well as Utah’s Property Rights Ombudsman. This is all in addition to baking a lot of “healthy” cookies and enforcing a rigorous schedule of walks with her dog. After law school, Sophie fellowed with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (and continued to spend her free time baking and walking her dog). Sophie’s favorite activities include hiking, canoeing, reading cookbooks, and spending time with her dog, Hobo. Email Sophie Hayes

Arik Parker
 - Project Coordinator, AmeriCorps
Arik is one of Utah Clean Energy’s Utah Conservation Corps/AmeriCorps members. He is the Project Coordinator for Salt Lake Community Solar, a community bulk-purchase program which intends to break down the barriers that have historically prevented investment in solar power. Arik holds a BS in Environmental Studies and a BS in Geography, both obtained from the University of Utah. He also holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Utah, in which his emphasis was on Environmental and Energy Policy. He is a huge sports fan, and is a passionate supporter of Utah’s professional soccer team, Real Salt Lake. Arik also plays several musical instruments, including bass guitar, guitar, drums, banjo, harmonica, keyboard, and sings, and writes, records, and performs music locally and nationally in his band. Arik also holds the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound, and when he’s not in the office, he can usually be found fighting crime in the mean streets of Salt Lake City. Email Arik Parker
 

Billy Smallen
 -  Project Coordinator, AmeriCorps
Billy serves as an AmeriCorps member with Utah Clean Energy coordinating the Wasatch Solar Challenge, part of the Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative. He is working with six local jurisdictions, as well as the local solar industry, to streamline solar PV permitting, enable financing options, and to improve zoning for solar in the Wasatch Front. As part of this effort, he is also assisting with the Salt Lake Community Solar bulk purchase program. Billy received his Bachelor of Science in Earth Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz and his Master’s in Environmental Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. He comes to UCE with experience working on climate, energy, and environmental issues for organizations such as the US EPA, the Sierra Nevada Alliance, and the National Conference of State Legislatures. He has also worked as ski instructor, whitewater raft guide, and climbing guide in Utah. Outside of work, he can be found in the mountains and canyons, rock climbing, kayaking, skiing, and mountain biking. Email Billy Smallen