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Zolaikha Strong (she/her/hers)

Senior Director Policy & Regulatory Affairs | Energy Technology
Generac
Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States

Zolaikha Strong is the Senior Director Policy & Regulatory Affairs at Generac Power Systems supporting the Executive Leadership Team in the Energy Technology space advocating for the advancement of policies and opportunities to develop go-to-market strategies related to advancing battery and inverter solutions, home energy management, virtual power plants, distributed energy resource management, demand response, wholesale market integration / ancillary services, energy trading among other emerging opportunities. She represents Generac before federal agencies and state public utility commissions, energy offices, legislatures, and other Eastern state administrative agencies, while collaborating with clean energy industry peers, utilities, non -profit advocates and other energy policy thought leaders.

Previously she was the Head of US Government Affairs at Last Energy, as the lead contact with US government representatives, aligning opportunities with the company’s objectives both globally and domestically. Prior to Last Energy, Zolaikha was the Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the National Hydropower Association, driving political and policy strategies to implement the industry’s federal and state priorities for the waterpower industries hydropower, pumped storage and marine energy. Formerly, Zolaikha was with the global Copper Alliance where she led the North American Clean Energy Office. She also served on the Dept. of Commerce Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee and Chaired the Education and Outreach Sub-Committee. She focused a significant time in her career on all grid related issues as the Manager of Federal Regulatory Affairs representing the electric utility industry in North America for Edison Electric Institute. She was also with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in an advisory position focused on the regulation of transmission.

Zolaikha received a graduate degree in Public Administration from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and bachelor’s degree in business administration in Finance from Seton Hall University.

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