Chelsea Barnes is a Policy Analyst with EQ Research LLC, a research and consulting company she and her colleagues formed in 2013. She coordinates the firm’s Policy Vista service, drafting renewable energy legislation and providing clients with reports and analysis of pending energy legislation at the state level. Additionally, Chelsea researches and analyzes solar and wind incentives for incorporation into financial models. She also conducts research for the firm’s rate case tracking service, analyzing utility proposals and implications for distributed generation. Her areas of policy expertise include renewable portfolio standards, net metering, and the treatment of third-party ownership. Being on the ground floor of a new business, Chelsea is also the Marketing Coordinator, managing external partnerships and new product development.

In addition to her work at EQ Research, Chelsea is the Co-Chair of the local Sierra Club group. She coordinates monthly educational programs on a variety of environmental topics and organizes volunteers for environmental advocacy related to local issues including transportation, renewable energy, climate change, and water quality. Recently, she coordinated the Clean Energy for Raleigh program, a group-purchasing program designed to activate citizens to install solar energy and make home energy efficiency upgrades.