Glenn Blackmon | 2026 Clean Energy Champion

Director, Energy Policy Office, Washington State Department of Commerce

“Glenn Blackmon exemplifies the power of state leadership, pairing ambitious clean energy policy with equity, collaboration, and lasting national impact.”

Glenn Blackmon is the recently retired director of the Energy Policy Office at the Washington State Department of Commerce. In his 15 years at Commerce, Dr. Blackmon spurred the enactment of Washington’s most ambitious clean energy and climate policies, including its clean electricity standard, cap-and-invest program, clean fuels standard, and comprehensive environmental justice law.

Shortly after joining the Washington State Energy Policy Office in 2011, Dr. Blackmon began work on electricity policy and implementation of the state’s renewable portfolio standard, the Energy Independence Act. He addressed early implementation gaps through rulemaking and subsequent legislation.

In Washington’s 2018 Biennial Energy Report, Dr. Blackmon advanced the framework that became the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), the state’s 100% clean electricity law enacted in 2019. He worked closely with then-Governor Jay Inslee, legislators, environmental justice advocates, state agencies, and more than 50 electric utilities to develop and enact the statute. CETA set a national precedent by pairing a clean electricity mandate with explicit provisions for environmental justice and low-income energy assistance.

CETA also laid the groundwork for broader economy-wide decarbonization. Dr. Blackmon incorporated provisions to update the Washington State Energy Strategy to align with the state’s share of the Paris Agreement’s carbon neutrality goals. This work catalyzed a suite of landmark climate policies, including the state’s cap-and-invest program, clean fuels standard, comprehensive environmental justice legislation, and multiyear utility rate reform.

In addition to these achievements, Dr. Blackmon also focused his efforts on improving the capacity of the Energy Policy Office. He made it a priority to train the next generation of clean energy and climate leaders, such as by establishing a full-time AmeriCorps fellowship program within the office.

According to the CESA Board of Directors: “Glenn Blackmon exemplifies the power of state leadership, pairing ambitious clean energy policy with equity, collaboration, and lasting national impact.”

In their nomination materials for Dr. Blackmon, his colleagues at Commerce demonstrated their fondness and respect for him, writing: “Glenn Blackmon is a humble, caring leader who has dedicated his life to clean energy, economic and environmental justice, and the fight against climate change. During these challenging times for clean energy and climate mitigation policy, we admire how Glenn has built a legacy of inspiring action.”

Prior to his role at the Washington State Department of Commerce, Dr. Blackmon worked at the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and at the Washington State Senate Energy & Utilities Committee. He holds a Ph.D. in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a B.A. in economics from Louisiana State University.