GridNEXT 2022 Keynote Speaker

Cottingham is the chief author of Houston’s Climate Action Plan, a science-based, community-driven strategy for Houston to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, meet the Paris Agreement goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, and lead the global energy transition. During her tenure at the City of Houston and thanks to her leadership, she helped the city move to 100 percent renewable electricity and address one of the city’s oldest environmental justice challenges by turning the 240-acre Sunnyside landfill into the nation’s largest urban solar farm. 

Prior to joining the City of Houston, Lara was a member of Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ Houston office, providing strategic counsel in various areas including crisis and executive communications, corporate governance, sustainability and social responsibility issues, and stakeholder engagement for a broad range of clients across the energy sector.

“In working with Mayor Turner and Climate Mayors across the U.S., I saw how important partnerships are to helping cities decarbonize,” said Cottingham. “There is no better partner or place for climate action at work than Greentown Labs. Greentown is 100 percent committed to attracting and nurturing the energy companies of the future and making Houston the energy transition capital of the world. I’m excited to join the team and see how climatetech can help cities reach their climate goals.” 

Outside of the office, Cottingham volunteers at BARC, Houston’s animal shelter, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. She attended the University of Texas in Austin, where she graduated magna cum laude with degrees in history, ancient history and classical civilizations, and government. In 2013, she earned an MBA in energy finance and public affairs from the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business, where she co-founded the UT Energy Savings Fund.

Connect with Lara on LinkedIn.

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