Richard L. Ottinger

Richard L. Ottinger is Professor and Dean Emeritus of Pace Law School, where he has been on the faculty since 1984 and was Dean 1994-1999.  He established at Pace the first Energy & Climate Change Center, a leading national and international clean energy research center. He has published and authored or co-authored a dozen books and more than 100 articles on sustainable energy and climate change. In 2017 he received the American Bar Association SEER Award for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy.

A 16-year Member of Congress, he chaired the Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee where he pioneered in establishing the country’s energy efficiency and renewable energy laws. He was a founder, former Board Chair, and now Chair Emeritus of the Energy and Environmental Study Institute (EESI) in Washington a leading advocate for sustainable energy before Congress.  He now devotes himself to addressing international climate change issues, assisting developing countries adopt sustainable energy programs.  He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Cornell University.