by AnnDyl Policy Group
WASHINGTON, DC MAY 18, 2021 – The AnnDyl Policy Group announced today that Rick Counihan has joined the firm as a Senior Vice President. Counihan comes from technology giant Google, where he had been Global Lead for Energy Product Policy and Regulation.
Counihan has spent the last 25 years helping private sector firms navigate the energy regulatory and legislative environment including with Fortune 50 companies like Google and innovative start-ups like Green Mountain Energy, EnerNOC, and Nest.
“We are thrilled to have Rick bring his comprehensive experience in energy policy at the state and federal levels to our growing team at AnnDyl,” said Kara Saul Rinaldi, President and CEO of the energy and environmental strategy firm. AnnDyl was founded in 2010 to help clients monitor and influence clean energy policy at the state, federal, and international levels of government.
“Rick brings his expertise in utility regulatory structures and policy at this critical time when national policymakers are tackling issues related to demand reduction, climate change, and how technologies and policies can build solutions to our energy challenges,” Saul Rinaldi added.
Counihan has extensive experience in the energy regulatory space having previously worked for Southern California Edison, representing the utility before the California Public Utilities Commission. He has also testified before the commissions in Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Virginia as well as the California Energy Commission.
“AnnDyl’s clients are leaders in building a new, reliable, and clean energy future and I am excited to be a part of a growing firm that is helping to change the way the world uses energy,“ said Counihan.
Counihan has left his mark on energy legislation as well. In addition to his regulatory experience, Counihan has legislative experience at both state and federal levels, including as Staff Director of the Energy Committee in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he authored the second state appliance efficiency law in the U.S., and 6 years on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s staff in the U.S. House of Representatives as the lead professional staff on the Energy Efficiency title of the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Counihan also served as Vice President at the Electricity Innovation Institute (E2I) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and throughout his career has served on the boards of directors of various energy related trade and non-profit associations.
Counihan has a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University and a B.A. in Economics from Pomona College.