Alex Dane is Director of U.S. Clean Energy Implementation in the U.S. Energy Program and WRI’s Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition. Alex brings 18 years of experience advancing national and local decarbonization strategies. He currently oversees a portfolio of initiatives on large buyer demand, grid modernization, market reform, utility engagement, and distributed energy deployment. Alex partners with senior leadership across global regions to shape WRI’s energy supply strategy and leads cross-functional teams delivering projects for public, philanthropic, and private sector entities.

Within the U.S., he has supported the implementation of federal and philanthropic initiatives, supporting over 600 local governments to navigate key decision points and deploy clean energy projects. Through this work he has served as an expert and advisor for city and public agencies, directly involved in the development 900 MW+ of solar, wind and storage projects and procurements. Previously at WRI, Alex held senior roles, including Senior Manager of Clean Energy Innovation & Partnerships, where he guided local governments nationwide develop clean energy strategies and deployment of renewable procurement, EV infrastructure, and equitable financing.

Earlier in his career, he served as a Senior Technical Project Lead at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), managing multi-million-dollar programs for DOE and HUD to expand clean energy access in tribal, Alaskan, and disadvantaged communities. His work has catalyzed hundreds of megawatts of renewable energy deployment and shaped resilience planning frameworks adopted nationwide.

Alex holds dual master’s degrees in Public Administration Affairs and Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. He is a former Mayoral Appointee to Denver’s Sustainability Advisory Council and has authored influential publications on clean energy finance, resilience planning, and municipal energy codes. Recognized with multiple innovation awards, Alex continues to drive market transformation and equitable clean energy solutions across the U.S. and globally.

Alex lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife and two children. On a given weekend you can find Alex coaching youth sports teams and making the most of Colorado’s sunshine alongside his family.