While studying at San Diego State University, Tara’s passion for climate advocacy was born. Her experience as the Sustainability Commissioner led to her first job, which turned into a nine-year career with a San Diego-based clean energy firm where she held a top leadership role for the second half of her career. Tara became one of the first women in the nation to achieve the NABCEP Technical Sales certification.
In February 2020, Tara wanted to do more to stop the climate crisis – Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation, a 501(c)(3), was founded to expedite positive change for a just and livable future. The nonprofit specializes in climate-related project management, policy/advocacy as well as advising and coalition building. Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation partners with philanthropists to support climate projects in Communities of Concern, laying the foundation for jurisdictions and states to adopt large-scale, bold climate programs. One of Tara’s favorite initiatives that Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation manages is the Solar Moonshot Program, which has helped over 170 nonprofits across the country afford the switch to solar power.
Tara has helped building regional and statewide coalitions to defend rooftop solar against investor-owned utility attacks for 14 years. Tara has chaired the California Solar+Storage Association San Diego chapter and served six years as board president emeritus and board member of GRID Alternatives San Diego in addition to being involved in various coalitions that advocate for environmental and climate justice. Tara recently served two terms as the Vice Chair of the San Diego Community Power Community Advisory Committee, was a founding Steering Committee Member of the San Diego Green New Deal Alliance, served as an Executive Committee Member of Surfrider San Diego, managed the San Diego Climate Hub and is a board member of Climate Defenders Action Fund.
Tara is a proud recipient of the the California Assembly District 77 2024 Environmental Hero award, 2021 San Diego Business Journal’s Next Top Business Leaders Under 40 award, 2021 SDSU Rising Aztecs award, 2021 Business for Good San Diego Environmental Champion of the Year award, 2019 San Diego Business Journal’s Next Top Business Leaders Under 40 award and the 2019 San Diego Business Journal’s Business Women of the Year Rising Star award.