Melanie Steele is the Executive Vice President at CO2EFFICIENT. She brings a decade of experience as a legislative strategist, advisor, and advocate having worked on energy and environmental issues in legislative and executive branches of government.

Before joining CO2EFFICIENT, Melanie served as the Associate Director for the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) where she worked on issues related to water resource management and infrastructure, various water restoration projects, ocean policy, and public lands. At CEQ, Melanie oversaw the implementation of Executive Order 13956, Modernizing America’s Water Resource Management and Infrastructure, which formally established the Water Subcabinet to improve coordination among Federal agencies to better manage our Nation’s water resources.

Previously, Melanie served in the U.S. Senate for Sen. James E. Risch (R-ID), where she handled the Senator’s energy portfolio, including his work on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and where she worked to advance legislation related to electricity markets, nuclear energy, hydropower, and grid security.

Prior to her service in the U.S. Senate, Melanie worked in the U.S. House of Representatives for Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). As Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ Legislative Director, she oversaw the Representative’s energy and environmental work for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including shepherding the Representative’s hydropower legislation into law. In addition, Melanie worked on a number of projects related to natural resources and agricultural issues in Eastern Washington.

Melanie received her Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Wheaton College in Illinois and her Juris Doctorate from Regent University in Virginia.