MAREC Action recently sat down to chat with Brittany West, a clean energy business leader and our newly elected Board President. Brittany brings a wealth of experience to our organization, and we wanted to learn more about her background and priorities for MAREC Action.
Question: Can you tell us a bit about your experience prior to your current role?
I have been working in Virginia state politics for ten years – as a volunteer, an aide to a Virginia House of Delegates member, and then as a contract lobbyist for Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, a large law firm. During my five years as a contract lobbyist, I represented clients in the energy sector including regulated utilities, gas companies, utility-scale developers, and clean energy supply chain manufacturers. The contract lobbying experience solidified my interest in clean energy and launched my career in that direction.
Question: What is your role like at the AES Corporation?
I have been at the AES Corporation for the past 3½ years, first as Manager, then Senior Manager, before being promoted to my current role as the Director of State Government East. My main geographic focus includes the PJM states and New York. I lead a team and together we see ourselves as thought leaders for the business.
We are aggressive in our advocacy efforts for execution and expansion of clean energy markets, both working with industry partners and engaging at the state legislature/regulatory commissions throughout our geographic footprint.
Question: What are your priorities as MAREC Action Board President?
As Board President, I want to elevate MAREC Action’s influence as the key voice for utility scale developers. We are the only clean energy organization that (1) is focused exclusively on the PJM states, (2) represents wind, solar, and storage developers, and (3) advocates for transmission-scale projects.
Within the PJM region, most MAREC Action members see the Commonwealth of Virginia as a critical business market. I applaud the Commonwealth for opening the clean energy market here, but now we must be laser focused on implementation of the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
Question: What are the benefits of a MAREC Action membership?
There are many benefits to MAREC Action membership, so I’ll highlight a few that stick out. As a member-driven organization, our members have extensive experience in the states we represent. That experience allows us to aggressively pursue policy change because we understand the clean energy landscape and employ a roster of talented government affairs leaders. The organization also has a unique regional view on the PJM RTO as a whole, allowing us to apply lessons learned across state lines to improve policy and grow the market for clean energy. As MAREC Action membership has grown, we have built the strong foundation with the staff and resources needed to excel and we expect to see that upward trajectory continue.
Question: What do you like to do in your free time?
I really enjoy traveling and just returned from a vacation to Rome, Italy. I have two cats named Lily and Benito, named after Bad Bunny.