Energy Storage Association Gets First CEO, Strengthening a Key Ally to Solar Power
Solar power and energy storage will increasingly go hand-in-hand as the cost of both technologies continue to come down and energy storage is used to reduce energy costs even more. So it’s fitting that the Energy Storage Association (ESA) is getting its first CEO in Kelly Speakes-Backman, to help spur growth and policy in the industry and the technologies it represents.
“I am thrilled about the opportunity to lead ESA in service to its members and the energy storage industry overall in this era of exponential growth,” Speakes-Backman said. “For over 20 years, I have worked to help the energy efficiency, distributed energy and renewable energy sectors evolve. I’m going to do everything in my power—working closely with ESA’s members, government officials and the energy industry—to make sure energy storage becomes an integral linchpin of the modern power system.”
The announcement comes as ESA anticipates the US will install a total of 35 gigawatts of energy in less than a decade, which also would create tens of thousands of new jobs. As ESA’s first CEO Speakes-Backman will work to increase the use of energy storage to help lower consumers’ energy costs and make the electric grid more flexible while increasing reliability and resiliency.
Speakes-Backman most recently was the Senior Vice President of Policy and Research at the Alliance to Save Energy, an energy efficiency trade organization. There she directed policy efforts and worked with policy makers and industries to advance energy efficiency use and technologies. She also served as a Commissioner with the Maryland Public Service Commission and was Director of Clean Energy for the Maryland Energy Administration, where she worked with, among others Abigail Ross Hopper, who became President of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) earlier this year.
“As a former colleague of Kelly’s, I can attest that she’s an outstanding choice for this critically important position,” Ross Hopper said in a statement. “Her expertise will no doubt take ESA and the storage industry to a new level, and we look forward to building on our strong relationship. We see a future in which solar and storage will work hand-in-hand to deliver affordable, reliable, clean electricity to American families from coast to coast.”
Former first Executive Director Matt Roberts, will assume the role of Vice President of ESA. “Now that we are at this stage I can fully devote my energies to what I have been most passionate about: growing ESA’s impact by empowering our members and educating stakeholders throughout the power ecosystem,” Roberts said.
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