Beckie Menten

Previously, Beckie oversaw CSE’s administration of distributed energy resources programs, including CPUC- funded ratepayer programs including the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) in San Diego Gas & Electric service territory, the statewide Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program and numerous California Energy Commission (CEC)-funded DER technology demonstration projects. Beckie is a strategy-driven clean energy and sustainability professional with 15 years of experience in California climate and demand side management programs, strategies, and policies. Prior to joining CSE, she served as Director of Customer Programs at Marin Clean Energy (MCE), where she developed a first-of-its kind distributed energy resources program for California’s first operational Community Choice Aggregator including programs for low income rooftop solar, energy efficiency, financing, electric vehicles, demand response, and customer side storage. Beckie is a past recipient of a Switzer Leadership Grant (2010). The Leadership Grant supported her work at the California Public Utilities Commission incorporating energy efficiency best practices into Investor Owned Utilities (IOU) and local government programs, with an emphasis on financing, low income, and multi-family programs. Prior to working with the CPUC, Beckie worked at the City of Arcata as Energy Program Specialist for several years. In her time here, Beckie performed numerous greenhouse gas inventories, wrote and implemented several grants to fund municipal energy efficiency improvements, and championed the development of a local energy assessment financing district. Her graduate studies focused on the role local governments can play in adapting communities to a climate change defined world. Before entering the Masters program, Beckie co-directed the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology, a live-in student demonstration home on campus that focuses on spreading the message of environmental awareness and conscious living. Beckie has a great interest in interdisciplinary approaches to climate change, and works to develop a many faceted approach to reducing carbon dependence. She spent time abroad while pursuing her undergraduate degrees in French and Political Science, and was greatly influenced by actions the European governments were taking to meet Kyoto Protocol targets. She hopes someday to continue her work at the state, national, and international levels, exploring comparative approaches to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and eventually serving to influence climate change legislation. While not fighting to change the world, Beckie enjoys biking, backpacking, climbing, playing ultimate frisbee, gardening, hanging out with her dog, and just generally being outdoors.