CCSA adds valuable experience to its Board of Directors as the community solar industry enters an unprecedented growth phase
WASHINGTON — The Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA), the national trade association representing the community solar industry, is pleased to announce the addition of two new leaders to its Board of Directors. Erica Brinker of Chaberton Energy and Julia Bell of CleanCapital will join CCSA’s Board, which is responsible for guiding the organization as it continues to shape the community solar sector.
Erica Brinker, Chief Commercial & Sustainability Officer at Chaberton Energy, brings a wealth of experience in driving sustainability and renewable energy market expansion. Under her guidance, Chaberton Energy has become one of the fastest-growing solar developers in the U.S. Before joining Chaberton, Erica was Chief Commercial Officer & Head of ESG at Array Technologies, a global leader in renewable energy and, prior to that, she spent 10 years at Honeywell as Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Commercial Excellence.
Julia Bell, Chief Investment Officer at CleanCapital, a diversified clean energy company, joins the Board with significant expertise in energy and project finance. Her background in policy, law, and finance has helped CleanCapital’s portfolio grow to over 200 solar energy projects, totaling over 460 megawatts (MW), across 26 states and one U.S. territory — including the largest solar farm to date in Alaska. Julia has worked in numerous roles for CleanCapital over the past five years and previously worked as an Associate at White & Case LLP and in the New York City Mayor’s Office as a Policy Advisor.
“These new board members bring a wealth of experience in sustainability and energy finance that will be invaluable as CCSA navigates the complexities of expanding community solar nationwide,” said Tom Hunt, CCSA Board Chair and CEO of Pivot Energy. “Their expertise will sharpen our focus on crafting policies that not only promote clean energy but also drive equitable access to solar for underserved communities. With Erica and Julia’s guidance, we are well-positioned to advocate for innovative solutions that benefit both consumers and the industry at large.”
“As CCSA enters this exciting phase of growth, we are thrilled to welcome Erica and Julia to our Board. Their combined leadership in finance and renewable energy will be pivotal in addressing the evolving challenges in our industry,” said Jeff Cramer, CEO of CCSA. “With their support we will continue community solar’s path of innovation and growth to expand access to solar for all American households and businesses.”
These appointments follow the departure of two valued Board members. Joe Henri of Dimension Energy and Richard Caperton of Arcadia have stepped down after completing their terms. Both have provided significant contributions to CCSA’s growth and strategic direction, helping guide the organization through critical phases of policy and industry development.
With these changes, the current CCSA Board is comprised of the following members:
- Chair: Tom Hunt, CEO, Pivot Energy
- Vice Chair: Kelly Friend, VP Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Nexamp
- Treasurer: Salar Naini, President, TurningPoint Energy
- Sarah Wochos, VP of Policy and Business Development, New Leaf Energy
- Mark Sylvia, Chief of Staff, Bluewave
- Julia Bell, Chief Investment Officer, CleanCapital
- Erica Brinker, Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer, Chaberton Energy
These new appointments come as CCSA continues to lead the community solar industry’s national expansion. Over the past decade, CCSA has grown from a small coalition into a leading organization with more than 125 investor-backed community solar developers. The Board has played a critical role in CCSA’s efforts to establish best-in-class community solar programs in 19 states and counting.
With community solar now recognized as an essential component of the clean energy transition, CCSA’s leadership team remains focused on advancing policies that bring the benefits of community solar to more consumers across the country. The organization continues to work closely with state legislators, regulators, and industry partners to ensure that community solar programs are accessible, scalable, and impactful.
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About CCSA
CCSA is a national trade association representing over 125 community solar developers, businesses, and nonprofits. Together, we are building the electric grid of the future where every customer has the freedom to support the generation of clean, local solar energy to power their lives. Through legislative and regulatory advocacy, and the support of a diverse coalition — including advocates for competition, clean energy, ratepayers, landowners, farmers, and environmental justice — we enable policies that unlock the potential of distributed energy resources, starting with community solar. For more information, visit https://www.communitysolaraccess.org and follow the group on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Youtube.