Patrick Cummins

Senior Policy Advisor

Center for the New Energy Economy

Patrick Cummins is a Senior Policy Advisor working for former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter at the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University.  He currently leads an initiative to help Western states and utilities meet the requirements of EPA’s Clean Power Plan.  Patrick has worked with states, provinces, tribes, industry, and environmental groups on climate and air quality programs for more than 25 years, including as Executive Director of the Western Climate Initiative from 2008-2015 and as the Director of Air Quality Programs at the Western Governors’ Association from 2000-2013.  Previous to that, Patrick served as Deputy Director of Denver’s Regional Air Quality Council where he worked to bring the Denver area into compliance with federal health standards for air quality.  He holds a chemistry degree from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado and a master’s degree in environmental policy from Indiana University.