State Affairs
CARRIE CULLEN HITT - VICE PRESIDENT OF STATE AFFAIRS
Carrie Cullen Hitt serves as Vice President of State Affairs for SEIA and was previously President of the Solar Alliance, which recently merged with SEIA. Prior to joining the Solar Alliance, Carrie served as Vice President, Renewable Products for Constellation Energy. In this role, she developed programs and capabilities to help customers manage their business' impact on the environment through greenhouse gas reducing activities, including purchasing renewable power. She also served as Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs from 2002-2007. From 1999-2001, she worked at Green Mountain Energy Resources as Director of Regional Business Development. She has also held energy related positions at the Massachusetts Legislature and Harvard University.
Carrie holds an undergraduate degree from Clark University and an MA from the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University. She currently serves on the advisory council of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA).
SARA BIRMINGHAM - DIRECTOR OF WESTERN POLICY
Sara joined SEIA in 2012 as the Director of Western Policy, to oversee regulatory and legislative activity in the Western states. Prior to joining SEIA, Sara held the same title at the Solar Alliance since 2007, with a focus on legislative and regulatory activity in California. Sara has been involved in distributed generation and energy efficiency since 1998 when she began her career at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), where she most recently managed the utility's California Solar Initiative (CSI) program as well as its predecessor, the Self-Generation Incentive Program. Sara has a BS in Environmental Engineering with an emphasis in Renewable Energy from Humboldt State University.
Sara currently lives in Portland, Oregon and enjoys cooking, music and travel.
KATIE BOLCAR - DIRECTOR OF MID-ATLANTIC STATES
Katie Bolcar joined SEIA in January 2012 as the Director for Mid-Atlantic States, to oversee regulatory and legislative activity in the Mid-Atlantic. Prior to joining SEIA, Katie held the same title at the Solar Alliance. From 2007-2011, she worked at the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Program where she managed market transformation activities, including workforce development. She also managed the Solar Program's international activities was detailed to the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi for 6 months. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia and earned her Masters in Public Policy and Environmental Management from Duke University.
Katie currently lives in Maryland and enjoys traveling, hiking, doing yoga, cooking, and a myriad of other creative outlets.
CHRISTINE HILTY - ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, STATE AFFAIRS
Christine Hilty joined SEIA March 2012, as the Administrative Assistant for the State Affairs department. Christine is responsible for assisting Carrie Cullen Hitt - Vice President of State Affairs with all State Affair issues making sure all are members receive the most up to date information. Prior to joining SEIA, Christine worked for Fraioli & Associates a political fundraising firm raising money for Democratic members of Congress. In her spare time, Christine enjoys kayaking, scuba diving and volunteering at nursing homes and hospitals with her dog bear.
