As a former Department of Energy Assistant Secretary overseeing energy efficiency renewable energy for the U.S. government, Andy Karsner will address the groundbreaking global developments in these technologies, including wind, solar, and hydro.
Mr. Karsner is Chairman and CEO of Manifest Energy, a firm committed to energy infrastructure development and financing. He is considered a global energy policy expert and thought leader on deploying clean energy technology at scale. From 2006 to 2008, Mr. Karsner served as America’s ninth Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (“EERE”) during a period of unprecedented growth in clean energy technologies, investments and policy formulations. He managed the approximately $2 billion annual federal U.S. applied science, research, development, and deployment portfolio, promoting marketplace integration of renewable and environmentally sound energy technologies for transportation, generation, and efficiency. As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Karsner also served as America’s top regulator for energy efficiency. During his tenure, his leadership was vital in building legislative coalitions to pass the landmark Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and implementing the comprehensive Energy Policy Act of 2005. He distinguished himself in international climate deliberations as an architect of the Major Economies Process and negotiator of the Bali Roadmap.
Prior to public service Mr. Karsner held several global leadership positions, including CEO of Enercorp LLC, a power development firm involved in international project development, management and financing of renewable energy infrastructure; Director and Senior Development Manager for Wartsila Power Development; and other multinational energy and development firms. In these roles, Mr. Karsner led a variety of multinational consortia in the successful financing and construction of infrastructure involving a wide range of technologies including natural gas, utility grade wind energy, distributed solar power, wood waste/biomass, distillates, heavy fuel oil and coal. Mr. Karsner’s extensive experience spans equity investing, asset development, operations, commodities, project management, and project financing large-scale power projects in North America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He personally led and participated in financial closings in excess of half-billion dollars and contributed to technology diffusion, job creation, and new company startups in both the developed and developing world.
