Energy Communities IWG Executive Director Starts New Role in U.S. Department of Energy

Brian Anderson, Executive Director of the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization (Energy Communities IWG) and former Director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), recently transitioned to a new role within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). While maintaining his leadership position in the Energy Communities IWG, Anderson will now also serve as Senior Advisor on Energy Communities for DOE’s Office of the Undersecretary for Infrastructure.

“I’m thrilled to start this new role continuing to support America’s energy communities. As the grandson of a coal miner, this work is personal to me and I’m looking forward to delving even deeper into this important issue,” said Anderson. “I am honored to have served as director of NETL for five incredible years. The lab conducts life-changing research and I’m grateful to have led this important organization.”

In this new role, his work spans the program portfolio and includes institutionalizing the place-based work of the Energy Communities IWG. Anderson is also responsible for providing technical advice and guidance to the Under Secretary, Deputy Under Secretary, and program offices within the office’s portfolio.

Anderson served as Director of NETL from 2018-2023, where he managed the complete NETL complex, including delivery and execution of the laboratory’s mission and national programs in carbon-based energy and program support to multiple DOE offices.

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Established by an executive order during President Joe Biden’s first week in office, the Energy Communities IWG is pursuing a whole-of-government approach to create good-paying union jobs, spur economic revitalization, remediate environmental degradation and support energy workers in coal, oil and gas, and power plant communities across the country. The Energy Communities IWG supports the administration’s goals of a carbon emission-free electricity sector by 2035 and economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050. Learn more at energycommunities.gov.