Richard Ottinger is Dean Emeritus of the Elizabeth House School of Law at Pace University where he teaches environmental law. He founded and chairs the Pace Energy & Climate Center, which advocates for the transition from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Dick was a 16 year Westchester Congressman (1964-70, 1974-84), chairing the House Energy & Power Subcommittee. In 2017, he received the national award from the American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy and Resources for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy. Dick joined Bedford 2020 in 2016, believing that the organization could become a national example of what a local community can do to achieve meaningful climate change mitigation.