MINNEAPOLIS—The Great Plains Institute released the following statement by President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom:
“We are excited about the announcement that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has appointed longtime Great Plains Institute (GPI) Energy Systems Vice President, Doug Scott, to serve as Chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) beginning in June 2023.”
For the last three years, as part of his role at GPI, Doug has been advising the Illinois Governor’s Office on energy and environmental issues, including the historic, nation-leading Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). CEJA made many changes to the ICC’s processes and gave the Commission a lot more authority to help with the clean energy transition.
These changes make returning to the Chair’s job especially impactful and timely. Doug will also continue to advise Governor Pritzker and his team on myriad energy and environmental issues at a time of great opportunity, given the recent federal investments in infrastructure and clean energy.
This is, of course, bittersweet for us at GPI.
Doug has been transformative during his eight years with us, leading our Energy Systems team, helping expand the scope and impact of our efforts to catalyze a prosperous, equitable net-zero carbon economy (GPI is now engaged across some 40 states), and helping to manage rapid growth at the organization. Some of Doug’s other accomplishments during his GPI tenure include the following:
- Assisting the states of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in developing their statewide clean energy and climate action plans.
- Helping states, utilities, and their regulators across the country better align utility regulation and practice with achieving a net-zero carbon power sector that is reliable, affordable, equitable, and more resilient in the face of growing threats, both natural and cyber.
- Crucial work in partnership with the Midwestern Governors Association to help catalyze long-term transmission planning and two multi-billion-dollar rounds of transmission line development that will enable a net-zero carbon electric grid.
In addition to his many talents, all of you who have interacted with Doug know that he is among the finest people you will ever have the good fortune to meet.
In other words, we see just what Governor Pritzker sees in him!
Doug had a long history with GPI as a participant in our work even before working here, starting when he was head of the Illinois EPA and then as Chair of the ICC the first time. He also served on the GPI Advisory Board before joining the staff in 2015.
In his note to GPI colleagues, Doug wrote,
I joined GPI because I truly believe in the “GPI Way” of bringing folks together, respecting everyone’s position, and trying to work on solutions to very complex issues. I really believe that is the only way we’re going to make the energy transition work and work for everyone, including those who have traditionally borne the downside of the energy economy. GPI is uniquely positioned to lead, and I’ll be watching, admiring (and sometimes participating in) the work, just from a new seat.
Indeed, in his role as Chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission, Doug will return to being a powerful participant in GPI’s system-changing work rather than leading it. So, despite losing Doug as an internal colleague, we are gaining his significant leadership among state officials across the country all along the political spectrum.
In terms of what this means for GPI and the work that Doug has been leading, we are appointing longtime senior program manager, Trevor Drake, to serve as interim vice president for the Energy Systems program while we conduct a national search for a permanent replacement.
Thankfully, Doug has assembled an exceptionally strong team, and while they—like the rest of us at GPI—will miss him terribly, they are well-equipped to carry on the work, and I will be taking on a larger programmatic role during this transition as needed.
Please join us in wishing Doug well in this next chapter!”
Media Contact:
Darren Goode
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(202) 550-6619
