Charles Watson

Associate

Charles Watson is an Associate at California Strategies where he specializes in transportation, energy, land use, permitting, and environmental issues. Since joining the firm, Watson has helped analyze, strategize, and advise clients seeking to navigate through California’s complex regulatory and legislative environments. Watson has exceptional skills in drafting legislation, preparing collateral materials, complex policy analysis, and coalition building and advocacy. Watson applies his expertise and understanding of the State’s regulatory and legislative environments to help clients achieve success. He has helped facilitate with many agencies, including the Natural Resources Agency, Coastal Commission, State Lands, State Water Board, Department of Water Resources, Parks and Recreation, Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, Caltrans, and others.

Watson also has extensive knowledge of local, state and federal funding programs, and has helped shape programs and secure key grants and incentives to accelerate the deployment of innovative technologies. Watson helps align technologies and State priorities to help California agencies achieve their environmental and economic development goals, including the Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, State Water Board, Natural Resources Agency, and others.

Prior to joining California Strategies, Watson worked as a Project Manager at Environmental and Energy Consulting (EEC), a consulting and advocacy firm specializing in policy and government relations related to conservation, air quality, oceans, recycling, climate, and clean energy. At EEC, Watson aided clients with securing funds for conservation and natural resource projects in rural and urban settings. Additionally, prior to EEC, Watson interned in the Office of Senator Dianne Feinstein, where he assisted staff in analyzing legislation related to transportation and the environment and managing constituent affairs.

Watson attended the University of California Davis, where he earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and History, with honors, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He currently resides in West Sacramento.

Specialties
1.
Environmental Policy and Regulation
2.
Planning, Permitting and Land Use Strategies
3.
Alternative Fuels and Renewable Energy
4.
Strategic Consulting for Emerging Green Technologies

Expertise

Economic Development
Energy
Environment
Federal State & Local Government
Natural Resources
Real Estate & Land Use
Technology & Innovation
Transportation & Infrastructure
Water

Contact Charles Watson