The Climate Change Pandemic & A Path to Decarbonization is an online panel of the 30th RPA Assembly.
Billy Fleming
Wilks Family Director, Ian L. McHarg Center, University of Pennsylvania
![Billy Fleming Clinton School](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/BillyFlemingClintonSchool.jpg?bossToken=506297acd68c480a40660f04c0ebf2763c2be42c65ecba6ebe23e64875ac7118 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/BillyFlemingClintonSchool.jpg?bossToken=55eb36dc4125caefb0315c75fa9e6b4e868fabd9815a978ad932bfce364928e3 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/BillyFlemingClintonSchool.jpg?bossToken=d06a75da522e24df05846e37025e30c95994961c9496ec8ecf77175ee34fc97e 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/BillyFlemingClintonSchool.jpg?bossToken=f7a1ab45726b8ee1926cdab569524627a8ab88e138ac12fcd5afd9d3071a236a 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/BillyFlemingClintonSchool.jpg?bossToken=e82011809aef475d7fc78ff1f1bbaa80324a6ab94802968a73e7286bc32b8fb5 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/BillyFlemingClintonSchool.jpg?bossToken=94458bc18f5032e1df81beb3f71dd3fb450e915db083e15e4e4f9541921589cf 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/BillyFlemingClintonSchool.jpg?bossToken=f8dfac127098113354c6e07c1fbe9e7a04b56604e039c885b1e6539516a2717d 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/BillyFlemingClintonSchool.jpg?bossToken=10c836f3b538618740d299ba5fa1ccea66149d8285bbb9fabb5cc11867c405ff 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/BillyFlemingClintonSchool.jpg?bossToken=13045d413635c6475fb9db7a8e482cc367abb8c0a0633c1632d1a643db1b2203 1543w)
Billy Fleming is the Wilks Family Director of the Ian L. McHarg Center in the Weitzman School of Design. and a senior fellow with Data for Progress. His fellowship with Data for Progress has focused on the built environment impacts of climate change, and resulted most prominently in the publication of low-carbon public housing policy briefs tied to the “Green New Deal for Public Housing Act” introduced in 2019. In his role at the McHarg Center, Billy is co-editor of the forthcoming book An Adaptation Blueprint (Island Press, 2020), co-editor and co-curator of the book and now internationally-traveling exhibit Design With Nature Now (Lincoln, 2019), and author of the forthcoming Drowning America: The Nature and Politics of Adaptation (Penn Press, expected 2021). Billy is also the lead author of the recently published and widely acclaimed “The 2100 Project: An Atlas for the Green New Deal.” He is also a co-author of the Indivisible Guide (2016).
His writing on climate, disaster, and design has also been published in The Guardian, The Atlantic, CityLab, Dissent Magazine, Houston Chronicle, Jacobin, Places Journal, and Science for the People Magazine, and he’s frequently asked to weigh in on the infrastructure and built environment implications of climate change, as well as candidate and congressional climate plans, by major climate reporters and congressional staff. His research has been supported by grants from the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy, Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, William Penn Foundation, and by a variety of sponsors in the design and building industry.
Prior to joining Penn, he worked as a landscape architect, city planner, organizer, and, later, in the Obama Administration’s White House Domestic Policy Council. He holds a bachelor of landscape architecture (University of Arkansas), master of community and regional planning (University of Texas), and a doctorate of city and regional planning (University of Pennsylvania).
Michael Green
Executive Director, Climate XChange
![Michael Green Headshot](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Michael-Green-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=34afe9b165fe1520c5f3b988a83918b4fd7728999e2f34857a7680db836c8f8f 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Michael-Green-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=322ccc8a854d3a77029ca9e875c9e1076aab3eb498e6fe938b966a6784499b90 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Michael-Green-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=c2fda2489d33c1b129ad64db77d67b679bbcdb11ff97f6cf92e18216854ea398 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Michael-Green-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=fbfae1b013103796890d4a899f2b09f55a2629d5978023b9a6b11624754baedd 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Michael-Green-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=c8f4a8cc614fa549cab6b09a0d258c5813f9fb6e249b9da9f6d5e7d0ab691898 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Michael-Green-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=d1cebf7ecd7ccdb7218e3a7e85ba59944b9beedb0d1eaaa9941e9c3675eda19c 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Michael-Green-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=978b20ea540b706d50e1ee811a2eee0a4f71b531a2fc1d6ca2a74e26175acf9b 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Michael-Green-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=e39a3c1146169c56e7a6e3b977c4410084299ad287484125ef7595a53d9ae758 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Michael-Green-Headshot.jpg?bossToken=fafecb006b9a3b61cac6496b406c5f70398eb156dadaafccb591ab9440a38265 1543w)
Michael Green leverages his extensive knowledge of policy and climate science to lead Climate XChange, a Boston based nonprofit focused on carbon pricing advocacy media and research. Prior to joining Climate XChange, Michael was the Executive Director and Co-Founder of CABA, a business association focused on climate policy. In Boston, he sits on several advisory councils focused on smart planning and climate-related goal setting for the city. Nationally he is recognized as an expert in climate policy design. He has been asked to speak at the White House, testify before federal agencies and acts as an advisor to national nonprofits on campaign management and private sector engagement. Michael has served as a representative to the United Nations focusing on international climate science and policy since 2012 and is a regular lecturer at Northeastern University and other leading educational institutions. Recognized as a Champion of Change by President Obama in 2016, Michael was honored for his commitment to climate change as an equity issue. Michael sits on the board of several nonprofits focused on climate change and clean transportation. His passion for protecting our climate stems from his adoration of the great outdoors. Outside of the office, he can often be found roaming the nearest mountains on his bicycle, skis or in his hiking boots. He lives in Jamaica Plain with his dog and wife.
Judith Lagano
Senior Vice President of Asset Management, NRG Energy, Inc.
![Lagano Judith](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Lagano_Judith.jpg?bossToken=1b54dc3be5e459fdc2fbaedfe52744006213e9c1d02292ca31047e1321907a9a 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Lagano_Judith.jpg?bossToken=f11dbf856239a875a83c752fb68a98664b488e9bfd371b34c8d613a811095263 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Lagano_Judith.jpg?bossToken=05f2b42a84ce51205f0c88e6b929f4c67699e4638c8b19bfc44ebe4110b9374b 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Lagano_Judith.jpg?bossToken=938938c6a516daf7e69b06c9ecf0efa28dec0c8bd434453caed01f5303e9f62f 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Lagano_Judith.jpg?bossToken=9e43852703b09f6b977b0804546a3cd86fdf99d32befc8165103f824da935b30 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Lagano_Judith.jpg?bossToken=b5d2d6496695cb078906939b6d5b0d1238fd23e5f00154dda0673c2e80d6259c 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Lagano_Judith.jpg?bossToken=b615981e72dea9dae8b988baf16ee4d6a058f9b4f38349fa33f1044ad1d57b36 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Lagano_Judith.jpg?bossToken=21590bb445b769c4b32be6b39ac4cceb742dfb361258f8b88ece280e3f23a4b7 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Lagano_Judith.jpg?bossToken=4edf35efe4f46369cd80aad9c2fde5eacfb3ec7314b631f99388e4ce87b36aed 1543w)
Ms. Judith Lagano is Senior Vice President of Asset Management at NRG Energy, Inc. where she is responsible for managing NRG’s 23,000 megawatt portfolio of domestic and international assets. In addition to generation asset management, Ms. Lagano has responsibility for NRG’s Petra Nova carbon capture & enhanced oil recovery business as well as the company’s portfolio of real estate and surplus properties. Prior to her current role at NRG, she served as Regional President of NRG’s East Region. Before joining NRG, she was General Manager of Hydroelectric and Cogeneration Projects at United American Energy. Ms. Lagano is a registered Professional Engineer in New York and New Jersey. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering and holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Baruch College.
Sonal Jessel
Policy & Advocacy Coordinator, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
![Sonal Jessel](https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/300x300/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sonal-Jessel.jpg?bossToken=9f31152277a98c94f2b06b4ebfee6400be98038dbc19aec0c9f03abea57e2cf2 171w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/600x600/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sonal-Jessel.jpg?bossToken=22504d7e85a50b874a04be2c86250164bc13963d09843277df9e572778191bff 343w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/900x900/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sonal-Jessel.jpg?bossToken=861e2595f5904654db94e4e7ef91dd293b134e7357c4dfe072090f23a02c8a7f 514w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1200x1200/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sonal-Jessel.jpg?bossToken=9062edbbfb63bf1fb61a2736e4d55718db2ca3be462bd3e211a5d858b40292db 686w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1500x1500/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sonal-Jessel.jpg?bossToken=7aa07108ab915902d3acb1390f7748dffe5e7812f58e9899df1236c9ae065b10 857w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/1800x1800/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sonal-Jessel.jpg?bossToken=a46b090d04fa39569d7a809c4771e94bec7b081fec830867e07d1ad871f63c80 1029w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2100x2100/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sonal-Jessel.jpg?bossToken=9f983088af044715ced33d953a3cf7523ea915935045eb1fbdd60f489cd377cb 1200w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2400x2400/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sonal-Jessel.jpg?bossToken=c7210f5e5986c5ff8ec807039d7c6439b94efa72795007e9cc43b4a488fc6a91 1371w, https://img.imageboss.me/general/cover/2700x2700/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:80/headshots/Sonal-Jessel.jpg?bossToken=5e5749680edb918336a1d33c67010304f003c6317c4142c1b1e167fcd8180741 1543w)
As one of WE ACT’s Policy and Advocacy Coordinators, Sonal works to advance the organization’s policy agenda at the local, state, regional, and national level, and leads the Northern Manhattan Climate Action (NMCA) Plan. Prior to joining WE ACT, she conducted research in energy insecurity, housing, and public health at Columbia University, and coordinated clinical trials at Weill Cornell Medicine. With roots in California and Connecticut, Sonal has an MPH in Population and Family Health with a concentration in Climate and Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, and a BA in Organismal Biology from Pitzer College, in California. Her interest is focused on the intersection of environmental and social justice, health, and policy.
Clint Plummer
CEO, Ravenswood Generating
Mr. Clint Plummer serves as Chief Executive Officer of Ravenswood Generating in New York City, where he oversees the operations of the existing generation facility as well as the development of new projects and strategic partnerships. As a 15-year veteran of the clean energy industry, Plummer most recently served as Head of Market Strategies and New Projects for Ørsted US Offshore Wind. Previously, Plummer worked as Vice President of Development for Deepwater Wind, where he worked to grow the U.S. market for offshore wind energy and positioned the company as a respected and responsible market leader. In 2008, he was instrumental in Deepwater Wind’s selection as the preferred offshore wind developer for the state of Rhode Island. From 2009 to 2011, he led the pre-construction development of the Block Island Wind Farm, the first of its kind in the U.S. In 2013, he led Deepwater Wind’s successful efforts to acquire the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s first competitively-leased offshore wind site, and to scope the project now known as Deepwater ONE. Additionally, Plummer led the company’s successful efforts to secure a Power Purchase Agreement with the Long Island Power Authority for the South Fork Wind Farm – the first in New York. Further, Plummer led Deepwater Wind’s successful application to the Maryland Public Service Commission for the nation’s first award of Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits. Plummer earned Master’s degrees in Engineering and Public Administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New York University, respectively, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University.