Honoring Black Leaders in Energy

Our nation’s impressive accomplishments in the energy industry could not have been possible without numerous Black leaders paving the future. As we celebrate Black History Month, Choose Energy honors the pioneers who shaped our energy advancements and those who continue to push for a more sustainable future.

Dr. Tony G. Reames has used his career to advocate for energy justice and policy reform. He was appointed the Principal Deputy Director at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the Biden-Harris administration. In this role, he developed the first Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis within the DOE to advance environmental justice for minority communities. This department strives to increase access to clean, affordable energy for communities lacking equitable access.

As a professor at the University of Michigan, Dr. Reames created the Urban Energy Justice Lab to study energy justice topics. Specifically, this lab researches persistent racial and social disparities that make energy technology and services less accessible and affordable for minority communities. Most notably, the lab created a program to evaluate clean energy initiatives and measure how those resources are distributed amongst communities.

Hazel O’Leary is a lawyer and politician who had an ambitious career as a public servant, holding roles within the Federal Energy Administration and the Department of Energy. Most notably, she served as the 7th U.S. Secretary of Energy from 1993 to 1997 under the Clinton Administration. During her four years in the position, she fought for renewable energy policy reform. O’Leary also led the Department of Energy’s Ambassadors for the Minorities in Energy Initiative, which strives to promote diversity within the energy industry.

Jessica O. Matthews is an entrepreneur who founded Uncharted Power, a technology company that aims to improve access to sustainable infrastructure. She believes sustainable energy should be accessible to all communities and uses her company to connect underserved communities with reliable and efficient energy solutions.

Uncharted Power currently oversees $8 billion in sustainable energy projects. The Secretary of Energy appointed Matthews to the Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee in 2021 following Matthews’ impressive accomplishments as an entrepreneur in the energy industry. As an advisor, she recommends ways to advance how we deliver electricity nationwide, specifically focusing on distributing electric vehicle charging stations.

Paula R. Glover is the president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a bipartisan nonprofit that advocates for improved federal energy policies. Under her leadership, the alliance advanced impactful policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure and Investments Act. Before this role, she was the president of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, an organization focused on creating leadership opportunities for Black and minority community members in energy policy development. In addition to these accomplishments, she has a background in natural gas and electric distribution, where she worked with state legislators to ensure consumer needs were met.

Ralph Cleveland is currently the president and CEO of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), a position he gained in March 2022. AABE is an association dedicated to ensuring that Black and other minority communities’ voices and contributions are incorporated into energy policies and environmental issues. Cleveland has over 35 years of experience in the energy industry, with a background in oil and gas research. He is also a board member of the Alliance to Save Energy, a nonprofit striving to advance energy-efficient policy.