Nicholas Cain, PhD

Summary

I’m a researcher, entrepreneur, and advocate with over two decades of experience working on environmental issues. As SOLARCYCLE’s Director of Government Affairs, I work with lawmakers, regulators and companies to encourage the responsible management of solar PV in the US. Prior to joining SOLARCYCLE, I spent five years as a program evaluator, working to improve the design and implementation of programs that promote energy efficiency, clean energy, and electric vehicles. Leading teams of data scientists and analysts, my work improved the implementation of California’s $1 billion Solar on Multi-family Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program, helped shape the $250-million California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALEVIP), and supported the federal EV tax credit in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Before my work as a consultant and evaluator, I co-founded Atma Connect — a nonprofit technology company that won Tech for Good’s Startup Weekend and the Amplify Urban Resilience Challenge. I helped start this organization while finishing my PhD in Environmental Policy Analysis which focused on understanding public opposition to energy infrastructure. I started my policy career working for the Sierra Club National Media Team, where I helped develop and publicize smart growth approaches to suburban sprawl. I then served as Director of Communications for the Pacific Institute where I created campaigns for the Institute’s programs, wrote about the global water crisis, and contributed to the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project.