About NCEF
The Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) is a nonprofit organization that provides financial and technical resources to Nevadans to accelerate clean energy growth in the state, reduce energy costs, create jobs, and meaningfully address climate change. NCEF works with communities, local businesses, schools, governments, Tribes, utilities, contractors, lenders, and others to increase access to clean energy opportunities such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and energy storage.
NCEF was created in 2017 by state legislation to serve as Nevada's green bank. Green Banks address clean energy market gaps and financial barriers, with a particular focus on historically underserved communities.
Learn more about Nevada's energy landscape here.
Board of Directors
Rob Benner
Secretary Treasurer of Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada
Sharath Chandra
Real Estate Administrator of the Department of Business and Industry
Leanndra Diossa
Director of Administration, Governor's Office of Economic Development
Robert Johnston
Nominee of the Carson City Board of Supervisors
Les Lazareck
Managing Member of Home Energy Connection
Dwayne McClinton
Director of the Governor's Office of Energy
Sandy O'Laughlin
Commissioner of the Nevada Financial Institutions Division
Guy Snow
President of SolarNV
TBD
Washoe County Board of Commissioners Nominee
Advisory Council
Mark Hayes
Senior Advisor, MAP Energy
Christine Hess
CFO, Nevada Housing Division
Rose McKinney-James
Managing Principal, Energy Works LLC
Daphne Emm Hooper
Director of Indigenous Relations, University of Nevada Reno
Paul Scharfenberger
CEO, Colorado Clean Energy Fund
Marie Steele
Vice President of Integrated Energy Services, NV Energy
Jane Woodward
Founder and Managing Partner, WovenEarth Ventures
Nic Steele
Executive Director, Access Community Capital
Our Team
Kirsten Stasio
CEO
Ela Heussen
COO / CFO
Greg Zegas
Director of Investments
Asheesh Bhalla
General Counsel
Will Pregman
Janette Zambrano
Senior Manager of Community Engagement
Stephanie Crano
Senior Operations Coordinator and Bookkeeper
Chris Moore
Federal Grants Manager
Patricia Valderrama
Consultant
Dawson Frost
Program Coordinator
Rhonda Tolbert
Business Development and Loan Officer
Pamella Eunice Ahairwe
Shultz Fellow, Community Engagement
Michele Ward
Accounting and Finance Manager
Sandor Rosta
Financial Analyst
Jacob Brinkerhoff
Manager, Investments
Ishan Banerjee
Manager, Investments
Solar for All Community Councils
Include the paragraph detailing the launch of five Solar for All Community Councils aimed at ensuring Nevada’s low-income and historically underserved communities benefit from solar energy. List all the councils and their members as provided.
The Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) proudly announces the launch of five Solar for All Community Councils, aimed at ensuring Nevada’s low-income and historically underserved communities benefit from solar energy.
These councils include:
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Persistent Poverty Community Council
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Local Governments and Schools Community Council
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Affordable Housing Community Council
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Tribal Advisory Board
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Labor Community Council
Each council is composed of members from their respective communities, supported by NCEF staff, and tasked with shaping solar energy initiatives that reflect their unique needs. Their insights, drawn from surveys, listening sessions, and other community engagement methods, will guide the Solar for All program to ensure equitable access to solar energy.
Persistent Poverty Community Council Members
Dr. Mary House
CEO, CHR Inc
Liz Becker
IRA Campaign Coordinator, and Ericka Castro, Organizing Director, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada
Tracy Byrd
Director Outreach Ministry
Mountaintop Faith Ministries
Joselyn Cousins
Assistant Vice President, Community Development and Regional Manager, Nevada, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Lizette Guillen
CEO, Nevada Partners
Jessica Mahon
Program Director - Weatherization and Workforce Development, Community Services Agency Reno
Audrey Peral
State Director, Chispa Nevada
Chasity Martinez
Community Organizer, Faith in Action Nevada
Janet Quintero
Vice President of External Affairs, United Way of Southern Nevada
Jackie Spicer
Climate Equity Policy Fellow, Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition
Assemblywoman Shondra
Summers-Armstrong
Kathi Thomas
Community Services Director Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
Assemblyman
Howard Watts
Affordable Housing Community Council Members
Natalie Prochaska
Director of Planning & Research, Nevada HAND
Beth Dunning
Director of Community Development, Nevada Rural Housing
Maurice Page
Executive Director and Juawana Grant, Director of Education and Outreach, Nevada Housing Coalition
Christine Hess
CFO, Nevada Housing Division
JD Klippenstein
Director of Development, Reno Housing Authority, Jess Molasky, COO, and Armen Hadjimanoukian, Director of Development, Ovation Development & Management
Eric Novak
President, Praxis Consulting Group
David Paull
Managing Director, CORE Advisory Partners
Michael Sciortino
Vice President of Development, Brinshore Development, Frank Stafford, Director of Modernization and Development, Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
Tribal Advisory Board Members
Andrea Martinez
Chairman, Walker River Paiute Tribe
Nicole Castillo
TERO Program Director, Walker River Paiute Tribe
Daphne Emm Hooper
Director of Indigenous Relations, University of Nevada, Reno
Benjamin Lee John
Tribal Business Officer, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
Thurman Roberts
Tribal Career Navigator, Nevadaworks
Labor Community Council Members
Steve Hamile
COO, Sol-Up
Rob Benner
Secretary Treasurer of Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada
Pesach Chananiah
State Policy Organizer, BlueGreen Alliance
Warren Hardy
Warren Hardy Strategies
Travis Miller
Owner, Great Basin Solar
Guy Snow
President of SolarNV
Local Governments & Schools Community Council Members
Brian Beffort
Sustainability Manager, Washoe County
Robert Burgy
Sustainability and Climate Manager, Clark County Department of Environment & Sustainability
Suzanne Groneman
Sustainability Manager, City of Reno
Tory Jackson
Sustainability and Climate Manager, City of Henderson
Phoebe Judge
Sustainability Manager, University of Nevada, Reno
Marco Velotta
Planner and Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Las Vegas
These councils represent diverse voices across Nevada, working together to ensure the Solar for All program reaches those who need it most. This partnership-driven approach is how NCEF, with the support of its community councils, will drive sustainable, long-lasting change across the state.
If you want to learn how you or your community can benefit from solar energy, reach out to us today. We’re here to help ensure Nevada’s clean energy future is equitable and accessible to all.