The Boston Green Ribbon Commission (GRC) is pleased to welcome Erich Yaeger as its first Director of Decarbonization and Energy Transition, strengthening the organization’s capacity to help Boston’s leading institutions move ambitious climate goals into implementation.
Yaeger brings more than 12 years of experience advancing energy efficiency and decarbonization across higher education, manufacturing, and the built environment. In his new role, he will work with GRC members and partners to address complex electrification, energy infrastructure, and implementation challenges as Boston accelerates its transition away from fossil fuels.
“The GRC is perfectly positioned to support Boston’s institutions and businesses in this next phase of the energy transition,” said Yaeger. “Moving from planning to implementation is difficult, but collaborations like BosTEN and the GRC’s Working Groups can help institutions move faster and achieve more effective outcomes. I’m excited for the opportunity to work alongside our members to deliver on Boston’s climate goals.”
Yaeger joins the GRC from Harvard University’s Office for Sustainability, where he led decarbonization strategy for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, working across a 264-building portfolio to align capital planning and operations with institutional climate goals and local emissions regulations. Previously, at Keurig Dr Pepper, he led sustainable operations initiatives across the company’s manufacturing network. His work there resulted in KDP’s first production plant fully transitioning from natural gas to electricity, a critical step toward achieving the company’s 2030 Science Based Targets.
“I am thrilled to welcome Erich to the GRC team,” said GRC Executive Director Dr. Lindsey Butler. “His combination of technical expertise, firsthand understanding of the challenges facing our member institutions, and his love for Boston made him the perfect fit for the role. Bringing our first Director of Decarbonization and Energy Transition onto the leadership team marks an exciting milestone as the GRC deepens its focus on implementation.”
Yaeger holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and is pursuing a master’s degree in sustainability at Harvard Extension School. A longtime Boston-area resident, he lives with his family in Jamaica Plain.