Christina Nichols is the CEO of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).
IREC builds the foundation for the rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency, benefiting people, the economy, and our planet. IREC is unique in its integration of three essential, interrelated areas for clean energy growth: effective state energy regulation, quality workforce development, and technical assistance for local governments to streamline project deployment.
Nichols has worked in the energy industry since 1982, with national non-profit advocacy organizations, corporations, contractors and Federal agencies. She was the first Executive Director for Renewables Forward from 2022-2025, building the organization’s capacity to drive action for diversity, equity and inclusion across the clean energy industry. From 2018-2022, Nichols served as the Senior Program Director for Groundswell, a non-profit solar and economic justice organization focusing on increasing access to clean energy for low-income households. From 1998-2003, she led national communications for the Federal ENERGY STAR® program, and later served as the Green Jobs Advisor for the Department of Labor under ARRA. She created and led the “City Tour for Solar with SunEdison in 2008-’09 and was an early champion of solar at the commercial and municipal scale.
Prior to her work with Groundswell, Chris served as the Senior Advisor for Energy Workforce within the Department of Energy’s Jobs Strategy Council (JSC) under Secretary Moniz. From 2011-2016 she managed a $57M portfolio of solar market transformation projects including national laboratory research for the Department’s Solar Energy Technology Office – SunShot Initiative. She created the Solar Ready Vets program, the Solar Instructor Training Network, and established Veterans in Energy.
Chris obtained her undergraduate degree from Duke and her MBA from the University of Maryland. She drives a Leaf, powered by the solar panels on her roof in Maryland, and enjoys running, gardening and fighting for more clean energy.
