McKenna Dunbar

McKenna is an internationally recognized climate thought leader and Principal of The Grid Foundry, specializing in high-impact strategies for energy efficiency reform, grid reliability, and infrastructure modernization. With a track record of shaping billions of dollars in federal programs and state-level policies while leading transformative initiatives at the intersection of decarbonization, future-forward green building design, and workforce development, Dunbar has played a pivotal role in advancing and reviewing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) program design.

Dunbar’s efforts bridge technical innovation and grassroots resilience, prioritizing frontline and rural communities while championing workforce strategies that uplift communities of concern and promote climate-resilient, energy-efficient infrastructure.

Central to this work is a commitment to ensuring that the digital infrastructure landscape evolves prudently, developing smarter, integrated networks capable of supporting tomorrow’s complex energy needs. Their collaborative efforts have influenced national clean energy dialogues, secured multi-million-dollar funding for community-driven projects, and advised on scalable pathways to reduce emissions and optimize building performance.

Dunbar’s impactful work has garnered recognition from The Aspen Institute, Environmental Protection Agency, The White House, APHA, TED Countdown, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Forbes, People's Climate Innovation Center, The World Around, Shondaland, Commission on Environmental Cooperation, ACEEE, NBI, LinkedIn, The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, and Udall Foundation, among others.