Oct 18, 2011
RALEIGH -- N.C. Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco today announced that Jonathan S. Williams will serve as the department’s new assistant secretary for energy. Williams comes to the post following two years as chairman of the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
“Jon will lead a quality team in the Energy Division as we grow jobs in the energy sector and serve energy efficiency needs throughout the state,” said Crisco. “He has the critical leadership skills needed to continue the momentum we’ve built in establishing North Carolina as a national leader in the green energy economy.”
Williams will be responsible for developing and implementing policies focused on growth and expansion of energy resources and jobs, implementing sound energy conservation strategies, developing renewable energy resources and industries, and continuing to foster the conventional energy resources in the state. Williams replaces Jennifer Bumgarner, who was recently named southeast portfolio manager for the San Francisco-based Energy Foundation. The change is effective Nov.1.
Williams will supervise activities of the state Energy Office which includes the weatherization assistance program. The Energy Office is currently supervising more than $108 million in energy-related federal Recovery Act financed grants and an additional $231 million in Recovery Act funds for the Weatherization Assistance Program. Grants are provided to more than 360 state and local government agencies, businesses and non-profits in the state that assistance low-income North Carolinians
The Energy Office also handles the state’s Utility Savings Initiative which saved North Carolina taxpayers more than $55.3 million in utility costs in the past fiscal year. Since the Utility Savings Initiative was launched in 2003, the state has saved more than $325 million while investing $11 million into utility savings improvements in North Carolina government, university and community college facilities.
“I appreciate that Mr. Williams, as he starts in this new post, will be reaching out to those of us in North Carolina’s sustainable energy sectors,” said Ivan Urlaub, Executive Director of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. “I am optimistic that the leadership experience he brings will help us continue our growth as a rising competitor in the global clean energy economy.”
“Duke Energy appreciates the role the State Energy Office plays as North Carolina shapes its energy future,” said Brett Carter, president of Duke Energy-North Carolina. “We look forward to working with Mr. Williams.”
Since October 2009, Williams has chaired the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. As head of the ABC Commission, Williams played a critical role in creating the comprehensive 2010 ABC reform legislation. Under his oversight the state ABC Commission also has focused on issues related to public health, public safety and fair commercial regulation.
Prior to leading the ABC Commission, Williams was deputy secretary of the N.C. Department of Crime Control & Public Safety. He was executive director of the Governor’s Crime Commission, a member of the N.C. Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs. Prior to that, Williams was a lawyer in private practice in Goldsboro.
Williams was recognized by the North Carolina Jaycees as one of five Outstanding Young North Carolinians in 1999. He and his wife Rose live in Raleigh with their two children.
“Jon will lead a quality team in the Energy Division as we grow jobs in the energy sector and serve energy efficiency needs throughout the state,” said Crisco. “He has the critical leadership skills needed to continue the momentum we’ve built in establishing North Carolina as a national leader in the green energy economy.”
Williams will be responsible for developing and implementing policies focused on growth and expansion of energy resources and jobs, implementing sound energy conservation strategies, developing renewable energy resources and industries, and continuing to foster the conventional energy resources in the state. Williams replaces Jennifer Bumgarner, who was recently named southeast portfolio manager for the San Francisco-based Energy Foundation. The change is effective Nov.1.
Williams will supervise activities of the state Energy Office which includes the weatherization assistance program. The Energy Office is currently supervising more than $108 million in energy-related federal Recovery Act financed grants and an additional $231 million in Recovery Act funds for the Weatherization Assistance Program. Grants are provided to more than 360 state and local government agencies, businesses and non-profits in the state that assistance low-income North Carolinians
The Energy Office also handles the state’s Utility Savings Initiative which saved North Carolina taxpayers more than $55.3 million in utility costs in the past fiscal year. Since the Utility Savings Initiative was launched in 2003, the state has saved more than $325 million while investing $11 million into utility savings improvements in North Carolina government, university and community college facilities.
“I appreciate that Mr. Williams, as he starts in this new post, will be reaching out to those of us in North Carolina’s sustainable energy sectors,” said Ivan Urlaub, Executive Director of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. “I am optimistic that the leadership experience he brings will help us continue our growth as a rising competitor in the global clean energy economy.”
“Duke Energy appreciates the role the State Energy Office plays as North Carolina shapes its energy future,” said Brett Carter, president of Duke Energy-North Carolina. “We look forward to working with Mr. Williams.”
Since October 2009, Williams has chaired the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. As head of the ABC Commission, Williams played a critical role in creating the comprehensive 2010 ABC reform legislation. Under his oversight the state ABC Commission also has focused on issues related to public health, public safety and fair commercial regulation.
Prior to leading the ABC Commission, Williams was deputy secretary of the N.C. Department of Crime Control & Public Safety. He was executive director of the Governor’s Crime Commission, a member of the N.C. Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs. Prior to that, Williams was a lawyer in private practice in Goldsboro.
Williams was recognized by the North Carolina Jaycees as one of five Outstanding Young North Carolinians in 1999. He and his wife Rose live in Raleigh with their two children.