EESI Donor Spotlight: Bob Harris

Bob Harris’s first interactions with EESI came when he was the director of Nebraska’s state energy office, on the board of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), and very active in energy efficiency and renewable energy issues. “Being on the board of NASEO and affiliated with other clean energy organizations, I knew you needed to have an informed Congress and Administration” – and he saw how well EESI filled that role.

Bob later joined the Department of Energy in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, where he began to do much of his charitable giving through the federal government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). CFC allows federal employees to donate to charitable organizations through payroll deductions. Bob didn’t initially know that EESI was a participant (CFC #10627), as government employees have a thick booklet of options to choose from. “More government employees would contribute to EESI, if they knew EESI was an option,” he said.

Now with the Tennessee Valley Authority, Bob has continued to give through the CFC – designating the large majority of his contributions to EESI because its work informing Congress, the Administration and the general public about energy efficiency and renewable energy is so important. As an EESI Associate, Harris donates more than $1,000 a year. It is EESI’s ability to educate politicians and help promote and influence policy for decision makers that is especially important to him. The choice was clear. Bob explained, “decisions are made by Congress and there’s a need to educate the D.C. policy makers on the right clean energy options, as EESI does.”

For information on how you can support EESI's work with Congress, please visit www.eesi.org/donate.