Michael Philips has served as an independent energy consultant for 12 years, focusing on project identification and design, financial and economic analysis, and program evaluation for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

His clients include the World Bank, French Ministry of the Environment, Global Environment Facility, International Finance Corporation, European Union, Asian Development Bank, US EPA, and private clients such as clean energy suppliers and electric utilities. Prior to his consulting work, Michael held a White House appointment at the US Department of Energy's Policy Office.

He also served as a professional staff member of the Resources Committee of the US House of Representatives and as a senior energy analyst for the City of Portland, Oregon Energy Office. Most recently, he co-authored the book The Business Case for Renewable Energy: A Guide for Colleges and Universities, offering guidelines for every stage of renewable energy planning for institutions of higher education.