Board of Directors

Alecia Ward

Leader of Program and Business Development, LBNL

As Leader of Program and Business Development at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Alecia Ward is responsible for development of Energy Technologies Area (ETA) research portfolio. The work supported by sustained funding of nearly $110 million spans research and deployment in buildings and urban systems; batteries and sustainable transportation; energy analysis and environmental impacts; and interoperability, grid modernization and demand response.  

Ms. Ward is an expert on energy efficiency, sustainability and climate policy and adds valuable insight into the process of designing, deploying, managing, and evaluating energy efficiency, demand-side management, demand response, and renewable energy programs and policies. Working collaboratively, as a consultant and as a stakeholder advocate, Ms. Ward has advised investor-owned utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and municipal utilities and their associations for more than 17 years. She has tracked energy and climate policy at an international, national, regional and local level for more than 20 years.  

Over her career, Ms. Ward has served at the pleasure of two members of Congress and one President. Coordinating with federal agencies and maintaining active relationships with more than 70 state agencies, departments, bureaus, boards and commissions, Ms. Ward creates successful collaborative partnerships that bring solutions to scale.

Carlos Nouel

VP, New Energy Solutions, National Grid

Carlos Nouel is the Leader of National Grid’s New Energy Solutions (NES) team. NES is an agile team focused on developing and launching innovative solutions and technologies that unlock value for National Grid’s customers and communities and accelerate progress towards a sustainable future.

Before becoming its leader, Carlos was the Director of Partnerships for the NES team. In that role, he was responsible for identifying customer’s energy needs and determining the most comprehensive, cost effective and sustainable strategies to fulfill those needs through the creation of innovative partnerships and alliances with key industry players. In addition, he also leads the development and execution of strategies and tactics for our smart grid programs. Before coming to New Energy Solutions, Carlos developed sourcing strategies to support all the requirements for National Grid’s energy efficiency portfolio valued at $400m per year.

Prior to joining National Grid, Carlos worked for companies such as Pfizer, British American Tobacco, IBM and AES in the supply chain area.  Carlos holds an M.B.A. from Hult International Business School, and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Andres Bello Catholic University in Venezuela.  He is also a Certified Energy Manager.

Scott Johnstone

General Manager, Morrisville Water & Light

Scott brings a depth of experience in leading complex organizations in the private and public sectors. With a commitment to public service and good governance, Scott has made significant contributions to improving the quality and effectiveness of the organizations he has led. His past positions include Executive Director of the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and the Director of Public Works for the City of Burlington, VT. Scott joined VEIC in 2008, and since that time has led the organization through a period of strategic growth with a focus on results, measured in increased energy savings. Under his leadership, VEIC launched two new energy efficiency utilities in Washington D.C. and Ohio, expanded its scope of services to include transportation and biomass, and gained statewide recognition as an employer of choice. In addition to setting the strategic direction and leading business development at VEIC, Scott serves on several boards of directors, including the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership,  ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, and the Greater Burlington YMCA. He also served on the Vermont Governor’s Commission on Energy Siting until May 2013, and participated on the Commission on Climate Change. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Maine and also holds a Professional Engineer certification.

Pat Lo

Senior Manager of Partnerships in Innovation, Research, and Development, IESO

With over 15 years experience in the electricity sector, Patrick is an experienced people and thought leader in the areas of innovation, long term strategy, and partnerships. He is currently the Senior Manager of Partnerships in Innovation, Research, and Development at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) where he oversees the Grid Innovation Fund and its portfolio of projects which funds innovative projects with significant potential to enable ratepayer cost savings and improved reliability. Prior Patrick held various positions at Hydro One, including leading its 10 year distribution strategy and advising on grid modernization through SCADA technologies to improve system reliability. Patrick currently represents Canada as a National Expert in the areas of Transmission-Distribution Power Systems and Flexibility Markets at the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN) as a part of the Internal Energy Agency (IEA). He sits on the boards of both Mohawk College’s Energy, Power, Innovation Centre (EPIC) and the DesignLights Consortium (DLC).