The Clean Energy Transition Institute (CETI) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Becky Kelley has been selected as CETI’s next Executive Director. Becky was chosen after a rigorous, competitive, and thoughtful search, facilitated by Clover Search Works, that began after we shared that our founding Executive Director, Eileen V. Quigley, would step aside this summer. Eileen’s last day is July 31, and Becky’s first day will be August 3, 2026.

Becky is a respected clean energy and climate policy expert, strategist, and collaborative leader. From 2021 to 2025, she served as Senior Climate Advisor to Washington Governor Jay Inslee, leading policy, budget, and coalition work. Becky is also the former president of the Washington Environmental Council (now Washington Conservation Action) where she worked for over two decades, leading the organization’s climate and clean energy policy efforts and many environmental advocacy campaigns and coalitions. Most recently, she consulted for the NW Energy Coalition on data center policy. Becky received her B.A. in International Studies from the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon.

We are confident that Becky’s belief in CETI’s mission, her extensive experience working on clean energy issues in the region, the relationships she has cultivated through that work, and her inclusive leadership style will build on our strong foundation and take the organization into its next chapter.

“I am honored to have been selected as CETI’s next leader and excited to build on its history and strengths. The next few years are critical for the transition to clean energy, offering both complex challenges and tremendous opportunity. CETI has an important role to play in framing research, delivering trusted analysis, and convening dialogues to inform and catalyze action by the many people working to accomplish an equitable transition to clean energy in the Northwest,” said Becky.

Eileen will support Becky’s transition into the role. Under her leadership, CETI has advanced technical, economic, and equitable decarbonization solutions tailored to Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington since 2018. CETI plays a critical role in the Northwest clean energy ecosystem and would not exist without Eileen’s vision, dedication, and expertise. We are confident that Becky will build upon the incredible impact that Eileen has had over the last eight years at CETI’s helm.

Please join us in welcoming Becky to CETI. Becky looks forward to getting to know the CETI community at upcoming events and through outreach this fall. As of August 3, she can be reached at becky@cleanenergytransition.org.

Sincerely,
CETI Board of Directors