Zach Clayton

Zach has worked for RMI’s Electricity program since spring 2023. He focuses on clean energy development in rural America, helping communities, developers and utilities, and electric cooperatives navigate how to both build large projects more effectively and improve local quality of life through this investment. Zach also works with local and state governments to analyze and establish appropriate financial incentives and regulations to attract development and benefit their constituents.

Background

Zach joined RMI in summer 2021 and worked for the institute’s Urban Transformation and Industries programs his first two years. He helped heavy transportation and industry companies in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southern California pursue electrification, green hydrogen, and low-carbon fuel alternatives, quantified the energy and carbon emissions savings from increasing urban nature in six cities around the world, and selected optimal sites for public electric vehicle charging in Houston. Zach also worked with climate scientists in Paris and Los Angeles to highlight the cities’ emission hotspot locations for priority action, and modeled microgrid (rooftop solar + battery) systems to create community resilience hubs in three U.S. cities.

Prior to RMI, Zach pursued his degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering to understand the infrastructure and strategies needed to build more sustainable and equitable communities. He also achieved certification as an engineer-in-training and completed an internship with the Smart Surfaces Coalition, where he studied natural infrastructure in Baltimore.

Education

MS, Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
BS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University

Location

Washington, DC