Tom “Smitty” Smith is the director of the Texas Electric Transportation Resources Alliance, working to develop policies needed to electrify transportation in Texas.
He previously worked as the director of the Texas office of Public Citizen for 32 years. During his career as a lobbyist on environmental, consumer, and ethics issues, Smith organized citizens to lobby for renewable energy standards and a diesel emissions reductions program in Texas, and to block a dozen unneeded proposed coal plants in the state, along with four new nuclear plants. He has testified before the Texas legislature more than 1,000 times. Smith has also worked as a legislative aide, at legal aid offices in Texas and Illinois, and has helped to develop food banks in Austin and Houston.