Clay was raised on a farm in rural northeast Georgia, where he developed a fascination with the southern Appalachia and Piedmont landscapes. Clay’s interest in the natural environment and the interconnection of environmental conservation, human health, and long-term economic resiliency steered him toward an education in environmental engineering and a career in clean energy and energy efficiency. Clay received a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Georgia and a M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University.

Before joining Trajectory Energy Partners as a Project Development Director, he worked as a managing consultant in Navigant Consulting’s Energy Practice, focusing on federal and state energy efficiency policy analysis and implementation. There, he led Navigant’s work supporting the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lighting R&D Program and executed complex market and energy analyses promoting emerging clean energy technology development and advancement. Clay also contributed to Navigant’s work in implementing DOE’s Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, which has saved U.S. consumers over 71 quads of energy and $1 trillion to date.

Clay is proud to be working in solar development, especially with Trajectory’s focus on underutilized agricultural land and early-stage community engagement.