About CSE and Our Mission

A nonprofit with one mission – Decarbonize^®

Center for Sustainable Energy^® (CSE) is a national nonprofit that accelerates adoption of clean transportation and distributed energy through effective and equitable program design and administration. Governments, utilities and the private sector trust CSE for its data-driven and software-enabled approach, deep domain expertise and customer-focused team.

Our vision is a future with sustainable, equitable and resilient transportation, buildings and communities.

Who We Are

We are a collaborative team living and working across the U.S. to create a more sustainable, equitable and resilient future. We're proud of CSE's reputation as a trusted, objective partner. CSE's fee-for-service business model frees it from the influence of shareholders, members and donors, and ensures its independence.

Meet our executive team and board of directors.

What We Do

CSE develops, implements and promotes large-scale incentive programs for electric vehicles (EVs), EV chargers, energy storage and solar. We lead pioneering energy efficiency and microgrid projects. And we provide policy guidance, technical consulting, data analysis and visualization, and multicultural marketing, engagement and outreach.

Building on data and experience, we created Caret^® – a proprietary forecasting, planning and program management software suite. We use Caret to design and administer incentive programs, pinpoint and prioritize optimal EV charger sites, and convert data to insights to get more impact from every dollar.

Because of our work, consumers, property owners and businesses have growing access to clean transportation and energy.

Our Programs

Who We Work With

images of companies, IOUs, federal and local agencies

We work at all levels, locally to nationally, with governments, regulators, utilities and electricity providers, businesses and community-based organizations. We help our clients achieve their goals effectively, efficiently and equitably.

Our Clients

How We Got Here

group receiving recognition with next to a Reuild a Greener San Diego sign

Our story began in 1996, when a handful of energy experts formed the San Diego Regional Energy Office to advise on policies and run local energy efficiency programs.

In 2007, we became the California Center for Sustainable Energy as our reach expanded beyond San Diego to include statewide incentive programs.

In 2014, we dropped California from our name as our work spread to other states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Oregon.

Today, CSE works in over a dozen states across the U.S. that are home to a third of all Americans.

About Us

Who We Are

What We Do

Who We Work With

How We Got Here

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