Team

Lloyd Ritter is the founder and managing partner of Green Capitol, LLC.

Since 2006 Green Capitol has specialized in clean energy, environment, climate and sustainable agriculture advocacy, strategic planning and public policy development. Prior to forming Green Capitol, Lloyd was a Senior Counsel for Tom Harkin (D-IA). In 2002, Lloyd designed the first-ever bi-partisan clean energy title to appear in a Farm Bill, deemed “landmark legislation” at the time by the Alliance to Save Energy. He was also one of a handful of staffers leading the design and campaign for passage of the first Renewable Fuels Standard, biomass, bioproduct and wind power amendments to the 2005 energy bill. Lloyd worked for and with several innovative pro-environment consultancies and institutions prior to his stint on Capitol Hill. Lloyd has a very long history of working successfully across the political divide, and with diverse constituencies such as E NGOs, clean tech, agriculture and good governance organizations to help win policy victories in the broad public interest, at the state, federal and international levels. Lloyd holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Juris Doctor with Certificates in Environmental and International Law. He has received several awards and recognition for his work and is often quoted in the press on sustainability issues ranging from solar and wind power, to climate change and the growing bioeconomy.

Aaron Whitesel has over twenty years of experience in Washington, DC in agriculture, energy, and environmental policy.

Originally from a dairy farm in the Midwest he has a degree in agronomy and business, a law degree, and an executive degree in Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies. Aaron served the late Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Senator’s personal office covering domestic and international food programs, environmental and energy issues, and all issues related to agriculture. After serving Senator Lugar Aaron led DuPont’s DC office on food, biofuels, and agriculture issues and later served in the same capacity for Nutrien.

Matt is a Ph.D. scientist with nearly 20 years at the nexus of energy, agriculture and environmental policy.

Matt received his Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences. He was the 2004-05 American Meteorological Society Congressional Fellow, serving on the Senate Agriculture Committee. Matt spent the next decade leading the environmental biotechnology policy team at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, advocating for federal and state investments in biotech applications in climate change and sustainable agriculture. From 2014-2019, Matt was executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization. Matt joined Green Capitol in 2019.

Kevin has 20+ years in advising senior leaders on energy, science, and climate policy, in both the Executive and Legislative Branches.

Kevin served as the Energy Branch Chief in the White House Office of Management and Budget, Director of the Sustainability Performance Office at the Department of Energy, and as Subcommittee Staff Director for the House of Representatives’ Committee on Science and Technology. He has expertise in energy technologies, science policies, as well as Federal budgeting, appropriations, credit, and regulatory processes. His undergraduate degree is in Political Economy of Natural Resources and he holds a Master of Public Policy degree.

Matt Caswell is a former senior agribusiness executive at a leading farmer-owned cooperative, with decades of corporate affairs experience in agriculture and energy. Matt has over 20 years of experience in leadership roles at farmer-owned cooperatives, multinational corporations, and non-profit trade associations. He has served within some of the largest components of the agricultural value chain, including farmer-led trade associations, agricultural technology companies, and agricultural processors and traders in corporate affairs, communications, and commercial roles.

Matt’s areas of expertise include advanced biofuels, renewable energy, trade, sustainability, risk management, rural development, biotechnology, crop protection, and water quality. He has also held CEO-direct roles in communications, owner relations, and many other aspects of corporate affairs programming. In 2020, Matt was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Agribusiness Association, the largest state agribusiness association in the country and leader in farmer-driven water quality and nutrient management initiatives.

Matt is from Perry, IA and holds a law degree from Drake University. He currently resides in Omaha, NE, with his wife and two children.