Rich Powell

Rich Powell is the CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers Association and the Clean Energy Buyers Institute, leading our vision to cultivate a global community of energy customers driving a clean energy future for all and solve the toughest market and policy barriers to a carbon-free energy system.

He previously was CEO at ClearPath, advising policymakers on investing wisely in breakthrough energy innovation to reduce global emissions, removing roadblocks to building and exporting U.S. clean energy and industrial technology, and maintaining and promoting flexible clean energy resources. He frequently testified before Congress and was deeply engaged in the wave of bipartisan clean energy legislation approved by Congress in recent years.

Before leading ClearPath, he worked for McKinsey & Company in its energy and sustainability practices, focusing on corporate clean energy strategy, government low-carbon growth strategy, and clean tech market entry.

Rich serves on the board of ClearPath, and he is a strategic advisor to the Silverado Policy Accelerator and a member of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center’s Advisory Group. He is a fellow at the Institute. Rich served on the Advisory Committee to the Export Import Bank of the United States from 2019 to 2021. The Washingtonian has named him to its list of the “Most Influential People in Energy” from 2022 to 2024.

He has a B.A. from Harvard College, in Environmental Science and Public Policy, and a J.D. from New York University.