As the world grapples with the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions, one individual stands at the forefront of innovation and progress – Kimberly Ann Johnston. With a career spanning over three decades in the energy sector, she has emerged as a beacon of expertise and leadership, reshaping the trajectory of the industry towards a carbon-free future.

As a Founder and CEO, Kimberly embodies a commitment to excellence and sustainability. Through highly specialized consulting services, her firm engages with governments, utilities, and community-led organizations to pave the way for resilient power infrastructure and climate risk mitigation strategies. Her visionary approach not only fosters sustainable development but also sets new standards for energy security priorities worldwide.

Kimberly's influence transcends corporate boardrooms, resonating across prestigious global platforms like the United Nations and NARUC. As a sought-after speaker, she catalyzes action and inspires change by sharing insights on clean energy technologies, industrial decarbonization, and transportation electrification. Her impassioned advocacy ignites a sense of urgency and purpose, propelling stakeholders towards meaningful environmental stewardship.

Kimberly's journey epitomizes resilience, innovation, and unwavering dedication to building a sustainable future. Through her visionary leadership and tireless advocacy, she leaves an indelible mark on the energy sector, shaping a world where clean, renewable energy powers progress and prosperity for generations to come.

Join us as we delve into Kimberly's remarkable story and explore the transformative impact of her work on the global stage.

 

Path to Sustainable Progress

Houston, renowned as the Energy Capital of the World, served as the backdrop for Kimberly's journey in the 1990s. As a young working mother, she embraced the city's dynamic energy market, spanning oil and gas, midstream, power, and utility sectors.

Throughout her career, Kimberly's passion has been to drive economic growth and broaden access to low-carbon or carbon-free energy solutions. With a knack for crafting intelligent policies and regulations, she has played a pivotal role in fostering emerging energy markets while prioritizing energy security, job creation, and greenhouse gas reduction.

Reflecting on her career trajectory, Kimberly shares, "I am committed to creating sustainable energy opportunities that benefit all." Her impactful contributions include spearheading initiatives such as the launch of major midstream IPOs and the establishment of Texas' competitive energy market, now a leader in US wind energy production. Through her efforts, Kimberly has accelerated the adoption of sustainable and reliable energy solutions across various US markets.

Kimberly's journey exemplifies dedication and expertise driving significant transformations in the energy sector, ultimately paving the way for a more sustainable future.

 

Navigating Challenges

Winter Storm Uri presented a defining moment for Kimberly and millions of Texans. "My family, along with 4.5 million others, faced life-threatening circumstances," she recalls. The storm inflicted over $100 billion in economic damage and exposed vulnerabilities in energy infrastructure, necessitating significant financial interventions.

This crisis underscored the urgent need for robust energy security infrastructure to safeguard communities from extreme weather events and surging energy demands. In response, Kimberly retired from her role as America’s Power and Utilities Partner at EY to establish a specialized energy consulting firm. Recognizing the importance of public-private collaborations, her firm focuses on enhancing energy security, advancing decarbonization goals, and ensuring a resilient energy future.

 

Collaborative Sustainability

As a prominent speaker at global energy conferences, including the United Nations COP events, Kimberly emphasizes the significance of collaboration. Following natural disasters in Houston, she convened stakeholders at the United Nations Conference of the Partners (COP) to foster public-private collaborations for climate resilience projects and nature-based infrastructure.

Attending COP events globally, Kimberly drew inspiration from diverse cultures uniting to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. While some presentations felt repetitive, she highlighted emerging initiatives such as global climate disclosure frameworks and methane reduction consortia, emphasizing the importance of leveraging expertise for a sustainable energy future.

Reflecting on her COP experiences, Kimberly stresses the imperative to create a sustainable energy future, underscoring the importance of collaboration and innovation.

 

Embracing a Greener Horizon

Kimberly advocates for data-driven decision-making, prioritizing community needs and investor appetite in deploying capital investment towards next-generation infrastructure. Transitioning to carbon-free and low-carbon power systems should prioritize energy security, reliability, and community resilience.

She emphasizes the need for the US to lead in the global transition to a low-carbon and ultimately net-zero future. Kimberly advocates for harnessing America’s natural gas resources and expanding technologies like hydrogen development, renewable energy, and advanced nuclear power. This multi-faceted approach is crucial for ensuring energy security while transitioning to carbon neutrality by 2050.

 

Strategic Partnerships and Innovative Solutions

Operating with agility, Kimberly's firm, NextGen Energy Partners, pioneers transformative projects driven by market signals and technological advancements. Strategic alliances with organizations like The Accelerate Group and WIRED Global Institute enable adaptability to sector transformations.

By seizing opportunities as a first mover, Kimberly’s firm catalyzes decarbonization efforts while remaining responsive to market dynamics.

 

Forging a Sustainable Future

Kimberly envisions an exciting era of electrification across transportation and industrial sectors. Advancements in EV battery technology and solar energy promise significant progress, alongside innovations in sustainable aviation fuel and carbon capture technologies.

She emphasizes the importance of standardized, dependable infrastructure to support widespread EV adoption and decarbonization in carbon-intensive industries. These innovations promise a greener, more efficient future.

 

Guiding with Integrity

Operating with authenticity and curiosity, Kimberly prioritizes integrity, humility, and perseverance in her leadership approach. She fosters genuine connections and meaningful relationships, empowering stakeholders to collaborate towards common goals.

 

Driving Collective Action

Kimberly stresses the importance of consensus-building in addressing societal and market challenges. Drawing from her diverse experiences, she emphasizes the significance of shared purpose and objectives in fostering collaboration and effective problem-solving.

 

Paving the Way Forward

Kimberly believes resilience is essential for navigating crises and driving sustainable progress. Through grid modernization and infrastructure investments, she envisions a responsible transition to a carbon-free electric system, ensuring reliability and affordability even amidst challenges.

 

Mobilizing for Impact

As President of NextGen Energy Partners, Kimberly mobilizes public-private capital investment towards grid resilience, hydrogen development, and industrial decarbonization. Passionate about nature, she collaborates on alliances for biodiversity preservation and nature-based solutions.

Kimberly's knowledge series at COP events underscores the importance of global commitment to sustainability. Through collective effort and collaboration, she believes in working towards a sustainable future for all.

 

Aligning Passion with Purpose

Kimberly advises embracing authenticity and focusing on initiatives that align with values and bring joy. By investing in transformative change while prioritizing self-care and family, individuals can achieve fulfillment in both personal and professional endeavors.