Doug has more than two decades of professional experience in Florida as a planner, clean energy policy expert, small business owner, and elected official, including 12 years as a St. Lucie County Commissioner (1998-2010). He attended Florida State University earning a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, with an emphasis on economics and the environment. In addition to more than a decade of public service, Doug has worked as a Senior Environmental Planner with St. Lucie County, an Environmental Specialist and Clean Energy Executive in the private sector, and Community Planner with 1000 Friends of Florida.
Coward is the Executive Director of the Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF), which is a non-profit clean energy bank certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Coward also owns and administers his own clean energy consulting business that is helping schools and large energy consumers shift to more cost-effective clean energy solutions, such as Solar PV and LED lighting.