Thursday, July 30, 2015

Plug In America Names Joel Levin Executive Director

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 29, 2015—Joel Levin, former vice president of business development at the Climate Action Reserve, has been named executive director of Plug In America the nation’s leading nonprofit electric vehicle advocacy organization. Levin’s appointment is effective immediately.


An expert on U.S. and global carbon markets and California climate policy, Levin oversaw development of the Climate Action Reserve, the state-chartered nonprofit that runs North America's largest carbon offset registry. During his 12-year tenure, he recruited and managed relationships with hundreds of companies that participate in the Los Angeles-based organization, which establishes standards and issues carbon offsets for projects across the country.

“Joel has just the kind of experience we need to help take Plug In America to the next stage as we continue to accelerate adoption of plug-in vehicles and shape policy nationwide,” said Plug In America board president Michael Thwaite. “This year, Plug In America marks the tenth anniversary of our efforts to electrify transportation, and we look forward to expanding our efforts with Joel at the helm."

Levin will oversee Plug In America programs including:
  • National Drive Electric Week, the world’s largest grassroots EV outreach event
  • State and federal policy initiatives
  • Pioneering EV research
  • Corporate-campus test-drives
  • A national network of EV drivers and supporters helping to accelerate EV adoption
“I’m thrilled to join Plug In America at such an exciting moment,” Levin said. “It is now common to see plug-in vehicles in driveways and on the streets of our cities. What a revolution from just a few years ago when the cars were virtually nonexistent. Plug In America has played a central role over the past decade in enabling our country to reach this point. I am eager to see how we can achieve even more together.”

Levin has worked with the California Environmental Protection Agency, California Public Utilities Commission, California Air Resources Board and state legislature in helping to develop climate change policy while with the Reserve, and sought support for its programs from private foundations and government agencies.

Prior to joining the Reserve in 2003, he co-founded and led Feeva Wireless, a wireless software company; he marketed electricity demand-response programs for Automated Power Exchange; served as program director for Counterpart International, a nonprofit international development organization; and worked on the Capitol Hill staff of Senator Timothy E. Wirth (D-CO).

About Plug In America: Plug In America, a San Francisco-based national nonprofit organization, works to accelerate the shift to plug-in vehicles powered by clean, affordable, domestic electricity to reduce our nation's dependence on petroleum and improve the global environment. The organization conceived National Drive Electric Week and has advanced workplace charging by pioneering regular ride-and-drive events at such leading corporations as Google, Mattel and Paramount Pictures. It developed the world’s largest, most dedicated network of plug-in vehicle owners and drivers, many of whom have driven EVs for well over a decade. We drive electric. You can, too. www.pluginamerica.org

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