Claire van Zuiden

Partner

“Claire has proven to be an effective leader who helps create outcomes both efficiently and strategically. I had the opportunity to oversee her successfully apply a systems-based approach to communicate complex environmental and energy issues.”

- Steve Cohen, Executive Director of The Earth Institute and Professor of Practice at SIPA, Columbia University

Claire van Zuiden is a Partner at California Strategies & Advocacy where she works with clients to attain their sustainability, advanced transportation, and environmental goals and objectives. Van Zuiden incorporates her technical and political background and expertise, communication and connection skills, and strong writing and messaging to provide clients with a strategic and comprehensive solution to resolve complex issues across varying environmental and energy fields.

Van Zuiden is a leading advocate for advanced technology programs, regulations, legislation, and budget allocations. Since joining the firm nearly thirteen years ago, she has helped align the client’s technologies and priorities with California’s environmental and economic goals. She has shaped funding programs that provide key incentives and secured hundreds of millions in grants and incentives in California. Additionally, van Zuiden has led and executed multiple events with high-level executives and top government officials throughout California.

Van Zuiden specializes in:

 

  • Developing successful strategies to grow and finance clean technology companies
  • Advocating for environmental, transportation, and energy policy and programs
  • Creating tailored communication strategies
  • Identifying and pursuing incentive opportunities
  • Developing incentive programs
  • Securing grants to deploy advanced technologies, including advanced transportation and infrastructure, renewable energy, and water
  • Leading events with top government officials throughout California

 

Prior to joining California Strategies, van Zuiden worked for Conservation Strategy Group (CSG), a Sacramento-based lobbying and consulting firm specializing in environmental and natural resources strategy. Following CSG, she began managing the CPV Consortium, a global, non-profit Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) industry organization. As the Executive Director, she orchestrated full-day educational workshops and media events in conjunction with worldwide solar conferences and spoke on behalf of the CPV industry at conferences around the world. Van Zuiden helped ensure that there are a single industry voice and an accurate understanding of audiences worldwide.

Van Zuiden earned a Master of Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University and was President of her graduate program and the Associate Director of the Columbia University Earth Summit. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California Davis, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

She is a Senior Fellow for the Millennial Policy Initiative for Climate Change and Energy, the Co-Chair of the Board for New Leaders Council – Sacramento, and a volunteer for the Sacramento Tree Foundation.

She lives in Sacramento with her husband, son, and three chickens.

Specialties
1.
Zero-emission Vehicles, Infrastructure, and Alternative Fuels
2.
Renewable Energy and Energy Storage
3.
Environmental Policy and Regulations
4.
Strategic Consulting for Emerging Green Technologies

Expertise

Energy
Environment
Federal State & Local Government
Natural Resources
Non-Profits
Public Private Partnerships
Technology & Innovation
Telecommunications
Transportation & Infrastructure
Water
Career Highlights
1.
Facilitated the largest deployment of zero-emission buses and trucks in California
2.
Keynote speaker at Intersolar Europe 2011 and SolarExpo 2011 & 2012
3.
Advocated and supported the development of multi-billion-dollar public incentive and grant programs
4.
President of Columbia University’s Master of Environmental Science and Policy Program
5.
Associate Director of the Columbia University Earth Summit

Contact Claire van Zuiden

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By Don A. Wright The Tri County Water Authority held its board of directors meeting at its Corcoran headquarters and online with Zoom. The talk before the meeting was about...
Claire Van Zuiden highlights how California Strategies helps provide the bridge between innovators/companies and policymakers at the ITS America Events World Congress Conference
Claire Van Zuiden highlights how California Strategies helps provide the bridge between innovators/companies and policymakers at the ITS America Events World Congress Conference.   Read More