Green.org sat down with Nadia Marquez Pabst, Chief of Staff at Antenna, to learn how we can develop a clean energy sector that works together more harmoniously.
Nadia, thank you for being here today. Tell us a little bit about you and your background:
I’ve spent my career focused on the design of complex rules and regulations to help bring new, green technologies to market. Prior to joining Antenna as Vice President of Public Affairs and later as Chief of Staff to the CEO, I served as Head of U.S. Government Relations for Cruise, a leading self-driving car company with multi-billion-dollar investments from General Motors, Honda and SoftBank. Here, I helped craft new laws and regulations for self-driving cars in over 40 U.S. cities, while also serving as the Co-Chair of the Autonomous Vehicle Subcommittee for the Bay Area Council and on the Policy Advisory Committee for sf.citi.
I also proudly served as Founder & President of Latinx@Cruise, one of the company’s first official cultural diversity initiatives. Prior to Cruise, I drove public policy and new market design for Advanced Microgrid Solutions, an advanced energy storage company based in San Francisco, CA. I also worked in Washington, DC, where I supported Federal Governmental Affairs for NextEra Energy / Florida Power & Light, the world’s largest renewable energy developer and the largest electric utility in the nation. Here, I oversaw political engagement with the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch on issues relating to renewable energy, public utilities and tax reform.
In 2021, I served as Co-Chair for the Vermont Climate Council’s Just Transitions Subcommittee, specializing in the state’s investments in low-emissions and job rich sectors and technologies to address the effects of climate change. Currently, I serve in leadership positions for the Board of the ACLU Vermont and the Aspen Institute’s Latinos & Society Program. My professional background also includes roles at the U.S. Department of State and the Human Rights Watch. I graduated from Georgetown University with degrees in English and philosophy.
What is a fun fact about you?
I dream of running for office, and have since I was young. My thinking around timing and level of government are TBD and change perhaps daily.
Why do you think climate change and sustainability is such an important topic today?
There are a variety of reasons why climate change and sustainability are important topics today, and I could go on for hours about an increased focus on environmental justice, corporate ESG and the latest climate tech innovations — now capable of reaching citizens as scale — have gotten us to where we are. But, I believe one of the biggest drivers is a data-driven understanding of how our way of life depends on building a new, just energy system. Building a power system that balances economic, national security and environmental needs is an extraordinarily complex task, but it is absolutely vital to get it right because our way of life depends on it. Policymakers are beginning to focus on fact-based guidance on how to build this system, and the recent strains to our energy resources and affordability have only reinforced how important this undertaking is.
What do you envision your industry looking like 10 years from now?
I envision a clean energy sector that works together more harmoniously. We are seeing this already where traditionally at-odds industries are working together on shared goals around climate action and environmental justice — from private vs. public sector, energy developers vs. IOUs and in even in some places Republicans vs. Democrats. We have to remove the “versus” if we to meet our climate mandate, and stakeholders, I believe, are beginning to realize this.
What can the average person do to make a difference?
Pay privilege forward, in any way and every way you can. From resources to education, networks to language: we all have something to offer and we must leverage whatever privilege we have in the name of others if we are to move forward as society.