Stephen A. Smith, Executive Director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
February 27th, 2009 ›
Dr. Stephen A. Smith, DVM has spent 28 years addressing important solutions impacting the modern environmental movement. He has served as executive director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy since 1993, working at the forefront of climate change issues to encourage healthy energy options while supporting higher standards of environmental stewardship at the state and federal level.
In 1999, Dr. Smith set aside his career as a veterinarian to devote himself full time to Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Under Dr. Smith’s leadership SACE has grown to be a premier voice for energy efficiency and renewable energy issues in the Southeast region.
Previous leadership experience includes his service as chair for the U.S. Climate Action Network board of directors; membership on the South Carolina Climate, Energy and Commerce Advisory Committee on behalf of Governor Sanford; North Carolina Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change; the North Carolina Climate Action Planning Advisory Group; State of Florida Energy Supply and Demand Committee of the state Climate Action Team; Tennessee Valley Authority’s Integrated Resource Planning Advisory Group; two terms on the TVA’s Regional Resource Stewardship Council, a federal advisory panel to TVA’s management of the Tennessee River watershed; the U. S. Department of Energy, Tennessee Valley Electric System Advisory Committee; and the national governing board for the Center for Resource Solutions’ National Green Power Accreditation and the Advisory Board for the Alliance for Climate Protection.
Dr. Smith’s experience, knowledge and expertise on regional energy issues has permitted him opportunities to testify before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Public Works and Transportation and the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, the Great Smoky Mountain Congressional Caucus, and before several state public service commissions.
Dr. Smith received a doctorate in veterinarian medicine from the University of Tennessee (1992) and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Kentucky Wesleyan College (1988). In late 2007, Dr. Smith was trained by Vice President Al Gore through The Climate Project to present on the topic of global warming.
In February 2009, Dr. Smith and his wife commissioned a 7.1 kW solar PV system on their home in Knoxville, TN and a solar thermal system the previous October. Coupled with their energy efficiency investments, the Smiths’ home is a “net-zero energy house.”
