Great Attendance at our last Clean Energy Breakfast

The Clayton County Energy District held a quarterly and “around the county” Energy Breakfast Series, on Friday, December 8th at Johnson’s Restaurant in Elkader. Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change during the Barack Obama administration, addressed the crowd of 40 or so, about national energy policy and climate change. Heather is an Elkader native and Central High School graduate and the daughter of CCED board members, Fran & Ken Zichal.
She is an expert on energy and environmental issues, Heather currently serves as President of Zichal Inc., a DC-based sustainability consulting firm focused on providing strategic and policy advice to national and international clients. Ms. Zichal also serves on the sustainability boards of PG&E and Airbnb and directs climate and oceans work with Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
As the top advisor to President Obama for energy and climate policy, Ms. Zichal served as point person in the White House where she coordinated and implemented policy for the Administration. She shaped and executed many of the President’s top energy and climate priorities, including Obama’s comprehensive “Climate Action Plan,” historic new fuel economy standards, mercury pollution reduction rules, and clean energy deployment in the U.S.
Prior to joining the Administration, Ms. Zichal served as the Energy and Environmental Policy Director to the 2008 Obama presidential campaign.  She also held senior positions in the U.S. House and Senate, including Senator John Kerry’s Legislative Director.
CCED board members also hosted a LED light bulb swap. Our thanks to the Johnson’s staff for serving a delicious breakfast and to Heather Zichal for being such an inspiring voice for local clean energy policy and practices!
After the breakfast, Heather was gracious enough to visit a couple of Global Science classes at her alma mater, Central Community High School and visit with the Winneshiek Energy District and other community leaders in Decorah about their local clean energy initiatives.