Kelly Hewitt

Principal Energy Specialist, Central and West Asia Department, ADB

In August 2011, Kelly joined ADB. Her primary focus has been sovereign, non-sovereign, and public-private-partnership energy sector projects, programs, and sector development strategies. Kelly is a master degreed economist, juris doctorate lawyer, and Harvard University Kennedy School MPA Graduate. She also holds an MBA. Kelly leads energy sector programs, projects, restructuring and development strategies in Central West Asia. Her current interest is upstream natural gas and renewables. Kelly has more than 25 years of experience in power, and gas market regulation and reform, energy efficiency, climate mitigation, and renewable energy.

Prior to joining ADB, Kelly worked at Washington Gas, BGE, U.S. Department of Energy (FERC), the Integrated Energy Resources Planning Division of the Maryland Public Service Commission, the merger and acquisition group of Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts (currently – Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw Pittman LLP), and the energy law boutique firm Bruder, Gentle & Marcoux (absorbed by Shciff Harden LLP). Kelly served in Bangladesh for almost 6 years as Chief of Party over USAID’s program - Improved Capacity for Energy Access.

The right mix of regulations, and incentives, can speed the process of decarbonization. Photo: ADB

Effective Energy Regulation and Incentives Can Help Fight Climate Change

Policymakers need to take bold action on several fronts related to energy to make progress in the fight against climate change.

Kelly Hewitt

Incentives for wind, solar and other renewable energy projects can create unforeseen business risks. Photo: ADB

Once Seen as a Panacea, Renewable Energy and Alternative Fuel Subsidies Have Become a Moral Hazard

Tax and economic incentives for renewable energy and alternative fuel projects were once seen as key to attracting private investors to a country’s green energy plans. Increasingly, these subsidies – which can be revoked by governments as quickly as they were granted – are seen as risky and unpredictable if not rolled out carefully.

Kelly Hewitt