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About E2

Joining E2 is the most effective way to stay informed about cutting-edge environmental issues, leverage your professional network, and use your skills to influence important environmental policy issues.

MEET E2: About E2

Stephen Cowell
Chairman & CEO
Conservation Services Group

For 25 years, Stephen Cowell has had his finger on the pulse of the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy as founder and chief executive of Conservation Services Group (CSG). CSG is a national non-profit organization providing consultation, program design and implementation services on all aspects of energy efficiency and renewables. Steve has founded and directed numerous energy efficiency and renewable energy organizations during his career and co-chairs the policy committee of the New England Clean Energy Council, so E2 New England members on the Council naturally encouraged Steve to join E2. Steve signed on in September 2008. He joined just in time to accompany E2 Co-founder Nicole Lederer and four other E2 volunteers to Washington, DC, to make a presentation about the economic opportunities from clean energy policies to the Environmental Management Team, a joint House-Senate working group.

Steve appreciates that E2 has deepened his connection "with the environmental movement per se." He reflects that "I'd been much more focused on the business interest side of energy efficiency and renewables. E2 has allowed me the opportunity to work more directly with the environmental aspect and has really helped to solidify my understanding of its interconnectedness with business strategies."

When E2's April 2009 trip to DC was scheduled, Steve came along to advocate for federal policy that promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy investments to stimulate job creation. He states, "E2 has done a great job of really connecting with the DC scene. For 30 years, I had believed states were really where the action was and that the federal government was merely in a holding pattern. Now I realize there can be changes made at the federal level, and E2 has allowed me to have impact there."

In addition to participating in Capitol Hill meetings and presentations, Steve enjoys connecting with other members at E2 events and finding collaborators locally and across the country for interesting projects. He also appreciates the opportunity to learn from the experts at NRDC about what the internal and external challenges are in the effort to arrive at stronger environmental policies.

As E2 completes its 10th year, Steve looks forward to further participation on DC trips, national media messaging opportunities and strengthening E2's presence and activism on the local/regional level. He says, "The leadership and structure of E2 has been so helpful in getting me in front of key decision-makers. Many of us who are running companies day-to-day just wouldn't be doing these things given the time constraints, but E2 offers a very well structured, organized, informative and efficient way to have impact."