Shelley N. Fidler

At Van Ness Feldman, Ms. Fidler has supported clients and coalitions interested in policy and business strategies relating to smart grid, electricity, green buildings, energy efficiency, clean diesel engines, carbon capture, EPA regulation, and clean energy.  She has worked with and trained clients in effective advocacy; brought former adversaries to new, constructive relationships; and assisted a prominent organization to manage its explosive growth.

Professional Background

Prior to joining Van Ness Feldman, Ms. Fidler held a variety of high profile positions within the federal government. She served as Principal Deputy at the White House Climate Change Task Force, an interagency group charged with coordinating President Clinton’s climate change policy. In this position, Ms. Fidler was broadly responsible for overseeing the energy and environmental domestic policy initiatives announced by the President, most especially efforts to “green” the federal government. She conceived of and managed a series of Executive Orders mandating significant reductions of energy use and costs in federal facilities, increasing federal vehicle fuel economy, and dramatically expanding the use of alternatively fueled vehicles. She also managed the “greening” efforts at the White House complex itself. Ms. Fidler served concurrently as Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy, performing special assignments for the Deputy Secretary of Energy and the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy regarding energy efficiency, renewable energy and federal energy management.

From 1995 to 1998, Ms. Fidler served as the Chief of Staff to the President’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). During her tenure, she was responsible for managing the CEQ, helping to formulate Administration policy, and resolving conflicts on environmental and natural resource issues as diverse and contentious as electricity restructuring, clean air, climate change, forest management, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, sustainable development, MTBE, designation of national monuments, and brownfields.

Ms. Fidler served as the Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Energy and Commerce in the U.S. House of Representatives and as Assistant to the Chairman for Policy for the House Subcommittees on Fossil and Synthetic Fuels and Energy and Power for Congressman and Subcommittee Chair Philip Sharp (D-IN). While on Capitol Hill, she worked on legislation and policy development in the areas of natural gas, coal, electricity, synthetic fuels, energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, clean air, acid rain, superfund, automobile fuel economy and emissions, pipeline safety, and nuclear energy, among other matters.

Government Service

Principal Deputy, White House Climate Change Task Force, 1998-2000

Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy, 1998-2000

Chief of Staff, Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President, 1995-1998

Staff Director, Subcommittee on Energy & Power, Committee on Energy & Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives, 1993-1995

Assistant to the Chairman for Policy, Subcommittee on Fossil & Synthetic Fuels, Subcommittee on Energy & Power, Committee on Energy & Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives, 1980-1993

Chief Legislative Assistant, Congressman Philip Sharp (D-IN), U.S. House of Representatives, 1975-1980

Professional and Civic Affiliations

• Keystone Center's Energy Board
• Board Member, Energy and Environmental Study Institute
• Board Member, Center for Inspired Teaching
• Member, Women's Leadership Council(WLC), Brown University
• Founder and Member, Women's Council on Energy and Environment (WCEE)
• Mentor, Women's Launch Pad, Brown University

Articles

• Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Take Center Stage in the Obama Era
• Designing a Climate-Friendly Energy Policy

Speaking Engagements

• National Regulatory Research Institute and IPPAI Present The Politics and Economics of Climate Change, October 14, 2010
• IDEA's 100th Annual Conference and Trade Show, June 28, 2009
• National Flea Market Association 11th Annual Conference, February 26, 2009
• Renewable Energy Technology Conference & Exhibition (RETECH), February 25, 2009
• The Future is Now: The Business, Technology and Politics of Global Energy, April 24, 2008

News

• Van Ness Feldman Helps U.S. Green Building Council Prepare Green Building Executive Action Report
• Van Ness Feldman Helps U.S. Green Building Council Prepare Report on Existing Federal Authority for Green Buildings
• Van Ness Feldman's Shelley Fidler Mentioned in Article on Energy Spending in the New Stimulus Plan
• Van Ness Feldman Helps American Electric Power (AEP) Develop Green Building Commitment at Clinton Global Initiative
• Van Ness Feldman Structures Commitment to Offset Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Clinton Global Initiative 2007 Annual Meeting
• Van Ness Feldman Assists Eight Electric Utilities to Structure Major Energy Efficiency Commitment at Clinton Global Initiative