Our Mission:

WCEE's mission is to provide nonpartisan, policy neutral forums on energy and environmental issues and to foster the professional development of our members. We do this by providing educational and networking opportunities in an open, cooperative and supportive environment.

Our History:

The Women’s Council on Energy & the Environment began on Capitol Hill during an explosion of energy and environmental law development in the late 70s to early 80s. Incorporated in 1981, it started with a group of women staffers coming together to learn from each other as they tackled new policy challenges.

They built a supportive, informal network of women that helped them learn and grow in their professions. The organization built beyond the Hill early on, expanding to anyone working on energy and environmental issues in the public and private sector. Building on their success, WCEE continues to support women as they enter and grow their careers 45 years later.

In celebration of WCEE’s 40th anniversary in 2021, WCEE President Barbara Tyran hosted a conversation with some of WCEE's earliest leaders. Watch their discussion of how it started, why it started, and what it was like working on energy and environmental policy in the late 70s and early 80s in Congress.