Joe Desmond

Executive Director, California Energy Efficiency and Demand Management Council (CEDMC) 

jdesmond@cedmc.org

Joseph Desmond leads the Council’s work to accelerate and expand the markets for energy efficiency, demand response, and distributed energy resources. As Executive Director, he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Council, managing staff and Board-related matters, and connecting with members. Mr. Desmond combines entrepreneurial vision, deep energy domain expertise, and communication skills to navigate complex regulatory and political environments successfully. His leadership and stakeholder engagement strategies are guided by insights into the utility, legislative, and public policy decision-making process at local, state and federal levels.

Desmond served numerous executive roles under California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, including Deputy Secretary of Energy for the State Resources Agency, Chairman of the California Energy Commission, and Undersecretary for Energy Affairs.  Before public service, Desmond was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Infotility, Inc, a consulting and software firm creating value derived from energy usage data, including demand response communications and control applications. Before that, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Electronic Lighting, Inc., and previously Vice President of Parke Industries.

He has served as a Board Director for the American Council on Renewable Energy, an Advisory Board Member for the Precourt Institute for Efficiency at Stanford, and Vice Chair of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee.

Mr. Desmond earned a B.S. in Marketing, Finance, and Management from Northeastern University, graduating magna cum laude.