Nicole Capretz is an environmental attorney with over 20 years of experience as an energy, equity, and climate policy advisor for local governments and the nonprofit sector. Nicole was the primary author of the City of San Diego’s groundbreaking 100% clean energy Climate Action Plan, and she has since helped other cities in Southern California adopt similar 100% clean energy climate plans, as well as helped to launch three Community Choice Energy programs. The California Energy Commission dubbed her the "godmother of 100% clean energy" when she was inducted into the agency's Clean Energy Hall of Fame in 2021.

Nicole was appointed by the Senate Pro Tem to the California Strategic Growth Council in 2018 to help shape policies on housing, climate, equity and transportation. Ms. Capretz received a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Arts in Environmental Law, and a Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School.

​

Previously, Nicole served as the Associate Director for Green Energy/Green Jobs at Environmental Health Coalition, an environmental justice organization in National City. She has also worked as an environmental and energy policy advisor for the San Diego City Council. Nicole’s duties as Founder and Executive Director of CAC include overall strategic and operational responsibility for the organization’s staff, programs, expansion and execution of its mission.

​

Nicole’s pioneering work on climate policy has earned her numerous accolades:

​​

• Clean Energy Champion and California Clean Energy Hall of Fame Inductee, California Energy Commission (2021)

• "Woman of Distinction," Assemblymember Todd Gloria (2019)

• “Special Recognition Award for Climate Advocacy” by Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (2018)

• Sullivan Solar Power - Solar Advocate of the Year (2017)

• New York Times Top 10 Californians of the Year (2016)

• “Voice of the Year” - Voice of San Diego (2016)

• “Voice of the Year” - Voice of San Diego (2015)

• “Best People of San Diego” - San Diego CityBeat (2016)

• “Bike Advocate of the Year” - San Diego County Bike Coalition (2016)

• “Leadership Award” - San Diego County Democratic Party (2016)

• Finalist for San Diego Magazine’s 2016 San Diego Woman of the Year (2016)

• Finalist for San Diego Business Journal’s 2016 “Women Who Mean Business” Awards (2016)

• Newsmaker of the Year - East County Magazine (2015)

• Sierra Club San Diego “FEAT Award” (2015)

• First San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action “Making a Difference Award (2015)