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Donald van der Vaart named state’s first energy policy advisor
Story Date: 1/16/2014
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Source: NCDENR, 1/15/14
N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary John E. Skvarla announced Wednesday he has named a longtime supervisor in the department, Donald van der Vaart, as the state’s first energy policy advisor.
Skvarla made the announcement during today’s inaugural meeting of the Energy Policy Council. Van der Vaart, who will move into the newly created position immediately, was promoted from his role as an engineering supervisor with the department’s Division of Air Quality. He has an extensive background in energy, environmental and regulatory work in academia, state government and the private sector.
“Pursuing Governor McCrory’s ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy is a priority for DENR and the state,” said Skvarla, an ex-officio member of the Energy Policy Council. “The Energy Policy Council is a great way to steer our efforts to bring a neglected economic sector to North Carolina, but we also need someone working on these initiatives full time. That is why I asked Don to be my energy advisor and serve as a resource for the council on these issues. His wealth of experience and education are obvious, but I also have come to place a great deal of confidence in him since I have been at DENR.”
Van der Vaart will serve as the state’s energy policy advisor and report directly to Skvarla. He will focus on increasing domestic energy exploration, development and production in North Carolina as well as promoting related economic growth and job creation. Van der Vaart also will work with the Energy Policy Council as well as federal, state, regional and local agencies to coordinate energy policy.
Van der Vaart has worked since 1997 as a program manager and later an engineering supervisor for the N.C. Division of Air Quality. He also teaches environmental policy and law at N.C. State University. His previous work includes scientific research at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and at Research Triangle Institute. Van der Vaart also has experience in research and regulatory positions for energy and utility companies in the private sector.
Van der Vaart holds a doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge (England), a law degree from North Carolina Central University, a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from N.C. State University, and a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has published numerous technical and legal articles and holds two patents.
The council was reorganized last year by the General Assembly in the Domestic Energy Jobs Act. Led by Lt. Governor Dan Forest, the 13-member council is responsible for advising and making recommendations to the governor and General Assembly on increasing domestic energy exploration, development and production in North Carolina as well as promoting related economic growth and job creation. The council serves as the central energy policy planning body of the state, and will work with federal, state, regional and local agencies to coordinate energy policy.
Skvarla is responsible for assigning the powers, duties and functions of the Energy Policy Council. Members of the council are designated and appointed by the governor, speaker of the state House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the state Senate. Background on the council, along with a list of council members and their designated appointments, can be found online at: http://www.energync.net/about-us/energy-policy-council.
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