Honoring Black Leaders in Energy

Many of the breakthroughs that power today’s energy industry were made possible by Black innovators and energy leaders. In recognition of Black History Month, Choose Energy honors the pioneers whose contributions helped shape the industry’s growth and direction — and the Black leaders in energy who continue working toward a more innovative and sustainable future.

Dr. Tony G. Reames has used his career to advocate for energy justice and policy reform. He was appointed the Principal Deputy Director at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the Biden-Harris administration. In this role, he developed the first Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis — later called the Office of Energy Justice — within the DOE to advance environmental justice for minority communities. This department strives to expand access to clean, affordable energy.

As a professor at the University of Michigan, Dr. Reames created the Urban Energy Justice Lab and the Energy Equity Project to study energy justice issues. Specifically, this lab researches persistent racial and social disparities that make clean energy technology and services less accessible and affordable for minority communities. Most notably, the lab created a program to evaluate clean energy initiatives and measure how those resources are distributed among communities. Additionally, Dr. Reames now serves as the Director of the U-M SEAS Detroit Sustainability Clinic.

Hazel O’Leary is a lawyer and politician who had an ambitious career as a public servant, holding roles within the Federal Energy Administration and the Department of Energy. Most notably, she served as the seventh U.S. Secretary of Energy from 1993 to 1996 under the Clinton Administration. As the first woman and first African American to hold the position, she fought for renewable energy policy reform throughout her four years in office. O’Leary also led the Department of Energy’s Ambassadors for the Minorities in Energy Initiative, which sought to promote diversity within the energy industry.

Jessica O. Matthews is one of today’s top Black leaders in energy. She is an entrepreneur and the founder of Uncharted Power, a technology company focused on expanding access to sustainable infrastructure. Through Uncharted Power, Matthews works to bring reliable, efficient energy solutions to underserved communities, guided by the belief that clean energy and modern infrastructure should be accessible to everyone. She sold the company in 2025.

In 2021, the Secretary of Energy appointed Matthews to the Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee, where she still serves today. She is also the CEO of O. Labs, an invention studio designed to serve those often excluded from innovation spaces. She is frequently cited by technology leaders and has been recognized by The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Paula R. Glover is the president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a bipartisan nonprofit that advocates for federal policies to improve energy efficiency. Under her leadership, the alliance advanced impactful policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Prior to serving in this role, she was the CEO of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, an organization focused on creating leadership opportunities for Black and minority community members in energy policy development. In addition to these accomplishments, she has a background in natural gas and electric distribution, where she worked with state legislators to ensure consumer and community needs were met.

Ralph Cleveland is another key voice among today’s Black energy industry leaders. From 2022–2025, he was the president and CEO of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), an association dedicated to ensuring that Black and other minority communities’ voices and contributions are incorporated into energy policies and environmental issues. Cleveland has over 35 years of experience in the energy industry, with a background in oil and gas research. He is also a board member of the National Energy Foundation and the National Petroleum Council. Savoy Magazine recognized him as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America.