Jensen to Lead Energy Program Work in Minnesota and Nationwide
Gaithersburg, MD – The Izaak Walton League of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conservation and outdoor recreation, today announced the promotion of Eric Jensen to Director of the League’s Energy Program. Jensen will take over the reins of the League’s longstanding Energy Program and be responsible for continuing the League’s important role in Minnesota energy policy while positioning the program for expansion.
Jensen brings significant experience working on a range of energy issues to this role as well as knowledge of the League. Over the past seven years, he has worked for the League with regulators, utility company staff, lawmakers, partners, and volunteers to improve energy policies and practices. For the past six months, he has also served as Acting Energy Program Director.
“Eric knows our energy work intimately and brings a lot of expertise to bear as well as commitment and enthusiasm,” says League Executive Director Scott Kovarovics. “Eric has the skills to build on our decades of success in furthering renewables and energy efficiency in Minnesota. He will also lead efforts to leverage the League’s experience in Minnesota to advance clean energy policy in other states.”
A focal point for the League’s Energy Program has been establishing a clean, efficient energy system in Minnesota. This includes engagement in regulatory affairs, such as rate cases, conservation filings, and efforts to accurately determine the true value of renewable energy sources. Following precedent-setting work on calculating the “value of solar” in Minnesota, the League has shifted to implementation and to reforming the energy utility business model. Successful reform will shift the focus of utilities to saving energy and providing clean energy to customers. The League’s Minnesota-based efforts have gained widespread attention because of the nation-leading dialogue the state’s innovative energy policies have sparked and their potential for far-reaching application to other states.
“I feel fortunate to be part of an organization that values our natural resources and promotes a connection with our environment,” says Jensen. "To be able to utilize my experience on energy issues to further their mission is a fantastic opportunity.”
Jensen has a degree in chemical and biological engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and advanced regulatory training from New Mexico State University and the Sustainable FERC Project. He holds board positions on the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, and Xcel Energy’s Renewable Development Fund and is engaged in numerous community programs and organizations.
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Founded in 1922, the Izaak Walton League of America (www.iwla.org) protects America's outdoors through education, community-based conservation, and promoting outdoor recreation.