Liz Perera

Senior Director of National Programs and Policy (Contractor)

Elizabeth “Liz” Perera is a strategic clean energy policy leader with over two decades of experience in federal policy, government affairs, and coalition-building focused on rapid deployment and expansion of solar and other renewable energy technologies. She brings a unique combination of government experience, national campaign leadership, and deep technical energy and environmental policy expertise.  Most recently, Liz served as a Senior Advisor and Scientist in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, where she supported implementation of major provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including project development, clean energy tax credit analysis and Community Benefit Plans for large-scale clean energy projects. Her work with the LPO’s Risk Management and Environmental Teams, focused on project development, permitting and finance of clean energy deployment across federally supported energy investments. 

Previously, Liz served as the Sr. Director, Climate Policy and Partnerships at the Sierra Club for over a decade where she built and managed coalitions, directed advocacy on federal legislation and regulatory programs, and translated complex climate and energy policy dynamics into actionable strategies for policymakers and grassroots stakeholders.  Liz also held policy and research roles with Union of Concerned Scientists, Natural Resources Defense Council and ICF Consulting where she worked with industry groups, nonprofit allies, and federal stakeholders.  She is mission-driven and has extensive experience managing consultants, leading public communications efforts, and serving as a policy expert in high-level public and private forums. Her work consistently bridges policy, equity, and market opportunity.  She holds a Master of Environmental Management from Yale School of the Environment and a Master of Public Health from Hunter College, bringing a multidisciplinary lens to energy, public health, and project development. She lives in Bethesda, MD with her husband Alex Perera (WRI) and two kids Lia (16) and Aiden (14) and their dog Cody.  She loves hiking, yoga, community service, travel and boating on the Chesapeake Bay.