Alexander "Andy" Karsner was unanimously confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) on March 16, 2006, after his nomination by President Bush in December 2005. He was sworn-in on March 23, 2006, as the 9th Assistant Secretary of the EERE. He served in the position until October 2008. BusinessWeek magazine has called Karsner “The Point Man for Bush's Green Push.” Karsner graduated with Honors from Rice University, and received an MA from Hong Kong University. Before coming to public office, he led his company, Enercorp, to win a global competition to develop the world's largest private wind farm outside the United States at that time. (Enercorp LLC finances and operates overseas renewable energy projects) He has worked with Tondu Energy Systems of Texas, as director of development and senior development manager for Wartsila Power Development of Finland, and prominent multinational energy firms and developers including ABB of Sweden, RES of the UK, Tacke of Germany (now known as GE Wind), and Vestas of Denmark. He also served as chief of staff for the Moses Cheng Mo-Chi, former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.

 

Karsner represents the US Government on several public/private boards, including the Freedom Car and Fuel Partnerships with the major automakers and oil companies; International Protocol for Hydrogen Economy; the Defense Science Board; and the National Governor's Association Energy Task Force. Karsner visited Antarctica from January 7-14, 2008, through the National Science Foundations U.S. Antarctic Program. He was preceded by David Garman who was appointed by President Bush in 2001.