Congratulations to David Woodson on being named a finalist for the

2026 CleanTech Leader Award 

David Woodson is the Executive Director of Campus Energy, Utilities, and Operations at the University of Washington, where he leads efforts to modernize campus energy systems and reduce carbon emissions at the flagship Seattle campus. His work focuses on balancing sustainability goals with affordability, reliability, and long-term institutional resiliency.  Previously, David held a similar role at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where he gained experience delivering large-scale energy transition projects within complex regulatory and funding environments. He now brings those lessons to UW to navigate shared challenges related to infrastructure investment, energy affordability, grid constraints, and climate commitments.  David is a UW alumnus (Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ’91) and earned his MBA from UBC in 2006. He has served on the Board of the International District Energy Association since 2017 and currently serves on the Executive as the Immediate Past Chair.

Tell us about your current role and organization.

I lead the Campus Energy, Utilities, and Operations group for the University of Washington’s Seattle campus. Our team includes professionals, technicians, and operators responsible for the campus’s energy systems and related operations. We support the University’s strategic plan through five key priorities: decarbonization, operational excellence, power plant reliability, energy efficiency, and risk management.

What accomplishment are you most proud of related to clean technology or innovation?

I am most proud of the progress we have made at UW in developing our energy implementation plan. We have been intentional about engaging both existing and future partners, raising awareness of what is possible, and taking a comprehensive approach to decarbonizing our energy systems. At the same time, we are working to ensure that reliability and affordability remain aligned with the needs of one of the world’s great public universities.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the clean technology sector?

When I first served as interim Director of Utilities at UBC, I attended an International District Energy Association conference. I was inspired by the projects other campuses had completed, and I began to see the impact the district energy industry could have on decarbonizing buildings at scale.

Learning from others inspired our team at UBC to transform its energy systems, and that work eventually led me back to UW, where I had been an undergraduate several decades earlier. I feel very fortunate to be taking on a second “project of a lifetime” at UW.

I have had similar energy-focused roles at two research universities, UW and UBC. At both campuses, my work has centered on large-scale energy infrastructure investments that can make a difference beyond the individual campus. Through organizations such as IDEA, I have also had the opportunity to influence projects around the world. It is inspiring and hopeful to learn from the excellent work being done by peers in our field. Most of all, I value the alignment between my personal values and the work I get to do every day.

What do you see as the biggest opportunity for the clean energy economy in the Pacific Northwest?

The biggest opportunity is to align industry, funding, and government at a scale that makes transformational work possible. We need to address electrical grid challenges, decarbonization, climate adaptation, and affordability together rather than treating them as separate issues.

We also need creative ways to invest in projects that people 50 or 75 years from now can look back on and feel inspired by. The choices we make today should create lasting value for the region.

Is there anything else you’d like the CleanTech Alliance community to know about your work or impact?

While at UBC and UW, I have also become active on the board of the International District Energy Association and served as chair of its executive committee last year. Through that work, I have advocated for greater awareness of our industry among students and the next generation of energy leaders.

When I give guest lectures at UW, one of the questions I often hear is, “How do I get your job?” That question stays with me because, when I graduated, I did not even know that district energy was an industry or a career where I could have an impact.

It took me nearly 20 years in the workplace to find this field, and my story is not unique. Many people are still unaware of district energy and the role it can play in the energy transition. Creating stronger connections with students and helping them see themselves in this work is something I care deeply about.