Full Name
Steven Levitas
Job Title
Interim Executive Director
Company
New Energy Economics
Speaker Bio
Steve Levitas is a solar industry veteran and nationally respected authority on energy policy. He currently serves as Interim Executive Director of New Energy Economics, a non-profit energy policy research organization. In 2025, Governor Josh Stein appointed Steve to the North Carolina Utilities Commission to fill a temporary vacancy. Prior to that time, he served as Senior VP for Regulatory and Government Affairs at Pine Gate Renewables. In addition to leading Pine Gate’s policy team, Steve devoted much of his time to expanding the offtake opportunities for independently owned solar generation resources through competitive procurement program design, voluntary customer programs, PURPA implementation, and market reform. He worked extensively on the development and passage of landmark clean energy legislation in North Carolina in both 2017 and 2021, as well as in the initial proceeding before the North Carolina Utilities Commission in 2022 leading to the adoption of a plan to reduce Duke Energy’s carbon emissions by 70%. He has also been heavily involved in matters relating to transmission and interconnection policies and procedures.
Steve previously served as Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Strategy for Cypress Creek renewables, where he led the company’s regulatory and government activities and advised the company about the impact of public policy on its commercial strategy. Prior to joining Cypress Creek, Steve served as Vice President for Business Affairs and General Counsel for FLS Energy and spent over twenty years in private law practice, concentrating on renewable energy project development and environmental regulatory matters.
From 1993 through 1996, Steve served as Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources. Prior to his service in state government, Steve was Director and Senior Attorney of the North Carolina office of the Environmental Defense Fund, which he opened in 1988. Steve has served on the board of directors of numerous non-profit organizations, including the Center for Energy Education, the Solar Energy Industries Association, and the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Harvard Law School.
Steve previously served as Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Strategy for Cypress Creek renewables, where he led the company’s regulatory and government activities and advised the company about the impact of public policy on its commercial strategy. Prior to joining Cypress Creek, Steve served as Vice President for Business Affairs and General Counsel for FLS Energy and spent over twenty years in private law practice, concentrating on renewable energy project development and environmental regulatory matters.
From 1993 through 1996, Steve served as Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources. Prior to his service in state government, Steve was Director and Senior Attorney of the North Carolina office of the Environmental Defense Fund, which he opened in 1988. Steve has served on the board of directors of numerous non-profit organizations, including the Center for Energy Education, the Solar Energy Industries Association, and the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Harvard Law School.
Speaking At
