Keith Dennis
President
Keith Dennis is President of the Beneficial Electrification League, a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to increase understanding of the benefits of electrification by promoting the market acceptance of beneficial electrification. He is also the CEO of Electrification Strategies LLC. Keith has an interdisciplinary background in engineering, business, and law. He worked for nearly a decade at NRECA where he was Vice President of consumer member engagement and coined the term "environmentally beneficial electrification," which led to an industry movement around beneficial electrification.
Keith joined NRECA directly from the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) where he led a Policy and Guidance Team for a $3.2 billion energy efficiency and conservation grant (EECBG) program. He also served at The White House Council on Environmental Quality where he supported several large energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
Keith holds an A.B. in Engineering and Environmental Sciences from Dartmouth College, a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) and Master of Engineering Management (M.E.M.) from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, and a Master of Studies in Environmental Law (M.S.E.L), summa cum laude, from Vermont Law School. He is also licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.).
Gary Connett, Great River Energy (retired)
Chair
Gary is a recently retired electric utility executive with a long-standing and demonstrated history of working in the national electric utility industry. Prior to his retirement, Gary was the director of demand-side management and member services for Great River Energy, a generation and transmission cooperative located in Maple Grove, Minnesota. In that capacity Gary was responsible for the organization’s nationally recognized demand-side management programs, which included demand response, conservation and energy efficiency, and beneficial electrification initiatives.
Today Gary remains actively engaged in the electric energy business as a consultant to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and as co-chairman of the Beneficial Electrification League. Gary holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Bethel University, St. Paul, MN, and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from St. Thomas University, St. Paul, MN.
Robin Roy, Ph.D., Principal, Next Energy US
Vice Chair
Robin advises government, industry and environmental organizations on energy policy and strategy, focusing primarily on practical steps toward an energy future that is deeply decarbonized, abundant, resilient, and economically vibrant. Focus areas include beneficial electrification and advanced storage and grid-responsive consumer technologies to integrate clean electricity
Robin works at the nexus between the practicalities of competitive markets, effective public policy, and the opportunity created by technological and institutional innovation, with a particular focus on bringing greater mutual understanding among diverse stakeholders where that can advance business, consumer, and environmental opportunities.
Robin previously co-founded Next Energy P/L, an adviser to Australian governments, industry and environmental organizations on energy policy, strategy and project management. He was formerly director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, focusing on new directions for federal and state clean energy policy, and continues to consult to NRDC. He previously served with the U.S Congress Office of Technology Assessment advising on nuclear plant life management, vulnerability of energy systems to terrorism and natural disaster and energy market restructuring, and early in his career worked at Pacific Gas and Electric Company on demand response and combined heat and power.
Robin received a PhD in Civil Engineering, an MS in Engineering-Economic Systems and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.
Diane Huis, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives
Diane Huis is former Senior Vice President for Innovation and Business Development at North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives. In this role, Huis was responsible for working with the member cooperatives to identify and incorporate beneficial electrification opportunities in the areas of electric transportation, industry, agriculture and grid flexibility. Diane’s previous experience with North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives includes wholesale power supply resource planning and portfolio management, risk management, transmission planning and regulatory affairs.
Diane has a B.S. from Georgia Tech in Industrial Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina. She is a graduate of Leadership North Carolina Class XXV, a program that engages leaders from across North Carolina to learn about issues related to government, economic development, health and human services, education and the environment.
Ben Longstreth, Clean Air Task Force
Ben Longstreth is the director of the carbon capture program at the Clean Air Task Force, where he works to develop evidence-based policies and partnerships that will reduce carbon pollution from the industrial and power sectors. Prior to joining the Clean Air Task Force, Ben was a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. At NRDC, a founding member of the Beneficial Electrification League, Ben’s portfolio included working to expand beneficial electrification.
Ben has a B.A. from Williams College and a J.D. from Columbia University.
Elizabeth Noll, Holland and Knight
Elizabeth Noll is a senior policy advisor in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office. Elizabeth has spent more than a decade refining her energy policy and technical skill set to achieve measurable outcomes. She has worked at multiple levels of government from federal to state and local, as well as in the nonprofit environmental and private sector energy space. Most recently, Ms. Noll served as the deputy assistant secretary for House Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the Biden-Harris Administration.
Elizabeth has long advocated for increased clean energy innovation budgets at the DOE, particularly in working closely with allied thought leaders across the political spectrum to defend and grow federal funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy research by more than $1 billion. During her time at the Natural Resources Defense Council , she developed deep knowledge in federal mechanisms for advancing clean energy policy, including federal budgets, clean energy tax credits and minimum efficiency standards for appliances and equipment.
Elizabeth has an M.S. in Public Policy Analysis from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a B.S. from Clemson University.
Georgia Transmission
New Hampshire Electric Cooperative
Western Farmers Electric Cooperative
Great River Energy
Seminole Electric Cooperative
GDS Associates
Old Dominion Electric Cooperative
Hoosier Energy
CoBank
Tri-State G&T Association
Oglethorpe Power
Dairyland Power Cooperative
Brittany Tann
Roanoke Electric Cooperative
Stephanie Weise
Western Iowa Power Cooperative
Basil Williams
Roanoke Electric Cooperative
Joyce Bodoh
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
Chris Michalowski
Mountain Parks Electric, Inc.
Stacy Miller
Dakota Electric Association, Board of Directors
Chris Studer
East River Electric
Keith Dennis, NRECA
President
See Keith Dennis' bio in the Board Leadership section above.
Deb Roepke
Strategic Advisor
Ms. Roepke specializes in building coalitions. She has served in leadership roles for DOE-funded solar and energy access programs that have engaged thousands of utility staff to meet new challenges through innovative solutions. Debra has extensive experience in strategic alliances for the service of low-income populations as she founded and grew “one of the most effective and efficient charities in the DC region”, Computer C.O.R.E. Prior to this, she specialized in IT and research analysis for the US Navy and Marine Corps. Her experience includes effective management of large staffs and the successful engagement of diverse groups with representatives of all age groups and more than 40 nations. She has a degree in Biology from Macalester, a Masters in Science, Technology and Public Policy from GWU, and a Master Certificate in Six Sigma from Villanova.
Alex Hofmann
Chief Strategy and Operations Officer
Alex Hofmann is the Chief Strategy and Operations Officer for the Beneficial Electrification League (BEL) where he helps organizations better capture and deliver the benefits of electrification. Before joining BEL he worked for nearly 13 years at the American Public Power Association where he was Vice President of Technical and Operations Services, sat as a Principal member of the National Electric Safety Code Main Committee, was named one of industry’s top 40 innovators by Public Utilities Fortnightly, and developed and piloted the Light Up Navajo project with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority. Mr. Hofmann has been awarded three utility operations-related patents and oversaw the safety, security, resiliency, energy services, reliability, and R&D portions of APPA member services. This includes programs like the Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo, mutual-aid, cybersecurity services, operations benchmarking, designation, and analytical services. Mr. Hofmann has provided technical advocacy before the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Health and Safety Administration, Office of Management and Budget, and other governmental and industry forums. He has also worked to develop electric infrastructure models, distributed energy projects, and LEED Certified electric systems. Mr. Hofmann earned his Master’s in Public Administration from Columbia University in the City of New York, and his B.S. degree from the California State University of Monterey Bay.