As Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Fresh Energy, Dr. Margaret Cherne-Hendrick brings extensive experience in clean energy, climate science, nonprofit management, and fundraising to Fresh Energy.

Margaret has dedicated her career to fighting climate change and advancing the clean energy transition. She came to Fresh Energy from a multidisciplinary background in climate science and energy policy with past work alongside the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Barr Foundation, Conservation Law Foundation, and Institute for Global Sustainability. Margaret holds a doctorate in Geography from Boston University, a master’s degree in Organismal Biology and Ecology from the University of Montana, and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Reed College.

In her time undertaking graduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral work on the East Coast, Margaret investigated aging natural gas infrastructure, the carbon footprint of natural gas leaks, and their impact on urban environments. Through this work, she learned that driving climate-focused, science-based, equitable policy change provides one of the strongest and best avenues for making change and driving down emissions. This is, in part, what brought her to Fresh Energy.

Margaret and her family moved to Minnesota in 2017, where she got to know Fresh Energy’s leadership and work. Margaret has been on staff at Fresh Energy since 2018 and in her time at the organization has served as a thought leader, accomplished fundraiser, and strategic policy expert, helping to shape how Fresh Energy makes progress on equitable clean energy and climate policy while also building relationships.

Through her work at Fresh Energy, Margaret also co-founded and co-directed — and later, served as Board Treasurer — of the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition and raised significant funds to facilitate its successful launch into an independent nonprofit in 2024.

In her tenure at Fresh Energy, Margaret built, led, and significantly grew the organization’s work and impact within energy transition policy, including in the buildings and transportation sectors. She also broke new ground for the organization in “Vision 2030: Fresh Energy’s Strategic Framework,” by identifying pathways for our work to expand into the heavy industry and agriculture sectors — crucial and difficult areas that must be decarbonized to achieve an equitable, carbon-neutral economy by 2050.

A seasoned public speaker, climate advocate, nonprofit leader, and published researcher, Dr. Cherne-Hendrick has testified before the Minnesota Legislature and Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, co-founded and co-directed the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition, and frequently serves as a resource for the media.

For 30 years, Fresh Energy has been speeding Minnesota’s transition to a clean energy economy to ensure that our region enjoys good health, a vibrant economy, and thriving, equitable communities today and for generations to come. Margaret channels her deep, multidisciplinary experience and passion for climate science into her work as she leads Fresh Energy in its mission shaping and driving bold policy solutions to create equitable carbon-neutral economies for all.

Margaret lives in the Twin Cities and enjoys spending time with her wife, daughters, and dog as well as gardening, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.