Steve Levitas currently serves as the Interim Executive Director of New Energy Economics (NEE), a non-profit organization that provides research and analysis to support energy policy making at the state level.  Steve is leading the expansion of NEE’s programmatic work, including deeper engagement in state utility regulatory proceedings, the production of timely analysis and publications, and the development of large-load customer tariff designs that meet rapidly growing energy demand while protecting ratepayers from unnecessary price increases.

A nationally respected authority on energy policy, Steve was appointed in 2025 by Governor Josh Stein to the North Carolina Utilities Commission to fill a temporary vacancy. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President for Regulatory and Government Affairs at Pine Gate Renewables, where he led policy strategy and expanded offtake opportunities for independently owned solar through competitive procurement program design, voluntary customer programs, PURPA implementation, and market reform. He worked extensively on the development and passage of landmark clean energy legislation in North Carolina in 2017 and 2021, and on the 2022 North Carolina Utilities Commission proceeding leading to adoption of a plan to reduce Duke Energy’s carbon emissions by 70%. He has also been heavily involved in transmission and interconnection policy and process matters.

Steve previously served as Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Strategy at Cypress Creek Renewables, leading regulatory and government activities and advising on the commercial impacts of public policy. Earlier, he was Vice President for Business Affairs and General Counsel at FLS Energy and spent more than 20 years in private law practice focused on renewable energy project development and environmental regulatory matters.

From 1993–1996, Steve served as Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources. Prior to state government, he opened the North Carolina office of the Environmental Defense Fund in 1988, serving as Director and Senior Attorney. He has served on the boards of numerous nonprofits, including New Energy Economics, the Center for Energy Education, the Solar Energy Industries Association, the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association, and the North Carolina Justice Center.

Steve is a graduate of UNC–Chapel Hill and Harvard Law School.