Director
Jeff Hughes was the Director of the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the UNC School of Government between 2003 and 2019. The EFC grew under Jeff’s leadership from a staff of two to over 30 staff and students at its peak while establishing financial stability for the Center. Jeff has over thirty years of environmental finance experience as a researcher, policy analyst, consultant, and practitioner. Jeff was also an Associate Teaching Professor with the UNC School of Government where he taught courses on environmental finance and policy for university students and practitioners. Prior to joining UNC, Jeff worked as a utility director for Chatham County, NC, and as an international finance advisor with RTI International. Jeff was/is an active member of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Council of Infrastructure Authorities (CIFA). Jeff held a seat on the Board of NC GreenPower and the EPA Environmental Financial Advisory Board. He received a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering with a focus on water economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Duke University.
Jeff Hughes currently serves as a Commissioner in the North Carolina Utilities Commission.