Elected to the State Assembly in 2008 and reelected in 2010, Assembly member Nancy Skinner has been involved throughout her career in efforts to promote energy conservation. During the oil crisis of the late 1970s, Ms. Skinner and others lobbied the City of Berkeley to establish an Energy Office and a citizen’s Energy Commission.
An early champion of integrating economic development with environmental protection, Ms. Skinner authored the legislation to establish Berkeley’s Community Energy Services Corporation, which continues to provide energy efficiency services to small businesses and homeowners throughout the East Bay. During her time in the Assembly, Ms. Skinner has carried major legislation governing energy storage, net energy metering, renewable energy, and energy upgrade financing. Ms. Skinner founded ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. As Executive Director of ICLEI’s US office, Ms. Skinner launched the Cities for Climate Protection program — the US movement of mayors and cities working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Ms. Skinner also served on the California Energy Commission's Climate Change Advisory Committee and San Francisco’s Clean Technology Task Force. She also serves on the board of directors of a number of non-profit organizations involved in environmental and energy issues.