Washington, D.C. — The Center for American announced today that Sam Ricketts is joining the organization’s Energy and Environmental Policy team as a senior fellow, where he will help advance policies to confront the climate crisis and build a just and thriving clean energy economy.
Ricketts comes to CAP after serving as climate director for the presidential campaign of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), where he drove climate policy and strategy for a candidate on a mission to confront this existential challenge. Previously, he served as an adviser to Gov. Inslee at the Democratic Governors Association, in which he helped support state-level climate leaders and solutions, and as director of Gov. Inslee’s Washington, D.C., office, where he was the governor’s chief liaison with the federal government and fought for the Evergreen State in the nation’s capital.
“It has been an incredible honor to work with Gov. Inslee this year to put forward a bold plan to confront the climate crisis and build a more inclusive and innovative clean energy future,” Ricketts said. “There is no bigger threat facing this country, and progressives will need to work together to achieve transformative federal action. I am excited to join the great and effective team at the Center for American Progress to fight for a clean economy and a livable climate.”
Ricketts will begin his time at CAP by moderating a panel on how to build a 100 percent clean future featuring advocates and state leaders on Thursday, November 14, from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m ET.
From 2009 to 2012, Ricketts was the first executive director of the U.S. House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition—a caucus formed by then-Reps. Inslee (D-WA) and Steve Israel (D-NY) to promote clean energy and climate action. During his time with the coalition, Ricketts helped advance federal clean energy investments in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a historic climate legislation, and to defend the Clean Air Act and oppose the Keystone XL pipeline. He was honored by the Alliance to Save Energy as an “unsung hero of energy efficiency.”
“Sam helped develop a leading climate plan for a leading climate champion,” said Christy Goldfuss, senior vice president for Energy and Environment Policy at CAP. “We look forward to having his insights and enthusiasm as we work to build a 100 percent clean energy economy to ensure a safe climate.”
Ricketts is a Seattle native and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Syracuse University.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Zachary Drennen at [email protected] or 202-741-6372