Vanessa Perkins originally hails from California and moved to Chicago in 2017 to pursue work in the energy efficiency and clean energy space. She is a passionate environmental scientist who understands how a healthy environment and science-based policy can support a healthy economy and create jobs – after all, she is one of many “clean jobs” in Illinois. Vanessa is committed to scaling sustainable climate solutions by making clean energy and energy efficiency affordable and accessible to all. Through her work at Resource Innovations and Franklin Energy, she has influenced and led energy efficiency projects across the commercial and industrial sector.
Vanessa was a 2018-19 E2 fellow and researched the opportunity and need for expanded, affordable EV charging in Chicago neighborhoods. Since her fellowship, she has founded Community Charging, an Illinois not-for-profit, to fund and build smart and affordable charging options in urban residential communities that lack public charging options.
Vanessa’s educational background and scientific interest is in ecology and marine conservation. She loves music, driving electric and diving. Vanessa became an E2 Chapter Director in January of 2021.