Adam James

Adam James is a co-founder and board member of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI), an organization devoted to providing young people with the tools they need to impact clean energy policy. James also serves as the chief of staff at Energy Impact Partners. His expertise is on global demand dynamics, including public policy, financing, energy market landscapes, and business strategy.

Prior to beginning his position at Energy Impact Partners, James worked as a senior project manager and a staff project manager for Tesla. From July 2013 to November 2015, James worked as an analyst for Greentech Media covering downstream solar markets. Previously, at the Center for American Progress (CAP), James worked on U.S. clean energy policy and international climate negotiations. In that capacity, he worked closely with Senior Fellows Bracken Hendricks and Dr. Andrew Light, as well as supporting former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta. At CAP, James’s published on electricity market policy, financing for clean energy and efficiency, multilateral negotiations, clean energy manufacturing and innovation, the natural gas boom, and carbon regulations. As a volunteer, James has worked closely with the Sierra Club's Clean Energy Team modeling a framework for Indiana's transition to renewable energy sources and advising on policy avenues.

James frequently writes on electricity markets, technology integration, finance, infrastructure, policy, and politics. His articles and reports have been featured in Climate Progress, Renewable Energy World, Midwest Energy News, The Energy Collective, EC&M, and Greentech Media. His work has been widely cited including in the Washington Post, Forbes, Grist, and Solar Server.

James holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from George Mason University.