William A. Zobel

Title: 
Executive Director
Organization: 
California Hydrogen Business Council
Biography: 

William (Bill) Zobel serves as Executive Director of the California Hydrogen Business Council (CHBC), a non-profit trade association advancing the commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cells in California. 

As Executive Director, Bill is responsible for all aspects of CHBC operations, staff and resources and serves as the organization’s chief advocate.  He works closely with the membership, the CHBC Policy Director and supporting staff to identify areas where CHBC’s engagement in the legislative and regulatory process will increase awareness and support the development of the hydrogen and fuel cell industry. 

Bill has over 30 years of experience in the energy sector covering a wide range of issues and responsibilities.  Prior to joining the CHBC, Bill was Vice President of Business Development & Marketing for Trillium which designs, builds, owns and operates alternative refueling stations across the US serving the CNG/RNG, Electric and Hydrogen transportation markets. Bill also managed Market Development and Strategy for Trillium as an affiliate of the Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC) and Integrys.  During this period the company realized considerable growth, becoming one of the largest providers of CNG in the US.  

Prior to joining Trillium, Bill managed the SempramUtilities Natural Gas and Electric Vehicle Clean Transportation programs.  Recognized as the premier utility Clean Transportation program in the US, the Sempra team executed an alternative fuels strategy which focused on customer education & outreach, sound alternative transportation fuel policy, and the demonstration/commercialization of promising natural gas and electric vehicle technologies.        

Before entering the alternative fuels market, Bill served as the Director of Environmental and Climate Change Policy for Sempra Energy, and as Director of Strategy and Business Analysis for BP North America where he helped develop BP’s US brand and domestic policy following the acquisitions of Amoco and ARCO.  In his 15 years with ARCO, Bill was instrumental in the development and execution of the nation’s first regional smog trading program, RECLAIM, and worked on the development of nation’s first reformulated gasoline, EC-1.             

Bill has previously served as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for CalStart, and served on the Board of Directors for the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), the California Electric Transportation Coalition (CalETC), the California Manufacturers and Technology Association (CMTA), NGV America, the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition (CNGVC), California Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership the Conservation Corps of Long Beach, and the Moonlight Cultural Foundation.  Bill was honored to serve as part of a select group under US Energy Secretary Stephen Chu to develop the National Petroleum Councils “Future Transportation Fuels Study”, published in 2012 under the Obama administration. 

Bill is a graduate of Columbia University’s executive business program and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from California State University Long Beach.   

 
Category: 
Speaker