"Those of us who were lucky enough to know and work with Barry are better people because of his vision, dedication to USEA's mission, quick wit and deep compassion. We must carry on his great work and celebrate his legacy. Heartbreaking for so many."

Karen Harbert,
President & CEO, AGA
​​​​​​​USEA Board Member

"Saddened to hear news of USEA Executive Director Barry Worthington's passing. A dedicated leader, Barry was a tireless advocate for American energy & bringing infrastructure where it was needed most around the world. My heart goes out to his family, friends & USEA staff."

Mike Sommers,
President & CEO, API
USEA Board Member

"Very sad to learn of the passing of a leader in the energy community, USEA's Executive Director, Barry Worthington. I'm grateful for the time we had together last Fall when he spoke at the EnVision Forum. My condolences are with his loved onces during this difficult time."

Neil Chatterjee
Former FERC Chairman

"Saddened to hear of the passing of USEA Executive Director Barry Worthington, a tireless champion for American energy security and friend to the Department of Energy. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the USEA team during this difficult time."

Dan Brouillette
Former Secretary of Energy

"We are all shocked and saddened by the news of Barry’s passing. I worked with Barry for many years, and he was a great friend, personally and to our entire industry. Barry was a globally respected and admired expert on energy issues. A tireless worker, he traveled the world in a nonstop search for consensus and innovation. 

"It is not an exaggeration to say that Barry was the heart and soul of the USEA, and his loss will be deeply felt throughout the association and energy communities he called home. 

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Louise, and to their children who were the center of his universe."

Tom Kuhn
President, Edison Electric Institute

“Barry Worthington personified the U.S. Energy Association’s mission, working tirelessly to expand the use of clean energy technologies for the benefit of customers around the world.

"His work left an indelible mark on the energy industry and helped spark technology advancement in an era of global transformation. It is with heavy hearts that we join Barry’s family, friends, and countless others across the industry in mourning his passing.”

Arshad Mansoor 
​​​​​​​President & CEO, Electric Power Research Institute

"We were deeply saddened to learn of the untimely passing of a well-liked and respected voice in the energy world. Barry Worthington was a true leader: his interest and natural curiosity was genuine; he was a mentor; and he encouraged meaningful dialogues in the United States and abroad. NARUC and USEA partnered on many important international activities.

"The loss hits close to home for us at NARUC, as Barry’s daughter, Kerry, is a valued member of our team and we are keeping her and the entire Worthington family in our thoughts and prayers. To our friends at USEA, we understand that the loss is significant, both professionally and personally.

"We hope that Barry’s family, friends and colleagues take comfort in knowing that he has left an indelible mark on modern concepts of energy knowledge, policy and practice."

Brandon Presley, NARUC President
​​​​​​​Greg White, NARUC Executive Director

"We are saddened to learn of the passing of Barry Worthington, the executive director of the United States Energy Association (USEA). Barry’s leadership and commitment to the energy sector – and to the nuclear industry – will be greatly missed. We at NEI have been fortunate to work with Barry and USEA, and had the pleasure of witnessing firsthand his unyielding commitment and dedication to energy access and innovation.

"Barry has always been a champion of equal access to reliable, clean and affordable energy for not just the U.S. but the world. While we mourn, we are comforted to know that his important work will continue through the USEA’s leadership, staff and members. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife and family."

Maria Korsnick
President & CEO, Nuclear Energy Institute

It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Barry Worthington, executive director of the United States Energy Association (USEA) for the past 31 years.

Worthington was a strong supporter of NERC, which serves on the USEA Board of Directors, and NERC’s North American responsibility to assure the reliability and security of the bulk power system.

Worthington provided outstanding leadership to USEA throughout his years there, noted Jim Robb, NERC’s president and CEO, with a primary focus on expanding access to and communicating the benefits of the U.S. energy industry.

“A kind and thoughtful man,” Robb said. “NERC extends its sympathy to his family, friends and the USEA staff.”

North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend and respected energy leader Barry Worthington. Barry’s career speaks for itself, and his dedication to expanding energy access in the U.S. and around the globe has made a lasting positive impact for countless people.

"At a dynamic and often divisive time in energy policy, Barry was a bridge-builder and united stakeholders to share expertise and find solutions—ultimately making the energy industry, our economy and our nation stronger. But what we will remember most is the personal legacy he leaves, demonstrating that it is not just the work we do but how we do it that matters most. 

"All of us at EPSA extend our sympathy to the USEA staff, Barry’s friends and his family.”

Todd Snitchler
President & CEO, Electric Power Supply Association

"Tetra Tech is deeply saddened to learn about the tragic death of USEA’s Executive Director, Barry Worthington. Our hearts go out to Barry’s family, the entire USEA team, and the many development professionals touched by this tragedy.

"Our team has been honored to work alongside Barry and we appreciate our collaboration with USEA during such a difficult time of loss. He was the best of collaborators, endlessly professional, and his dedication remain a source of inspiration, even at this most difficult of times. 

"Barry’s unwavering commitment to the energy industry and international development can be held as an example for future development professionals, and he will be remembered in our team’s future endeavors." 

Llyr Rowlands
President, Tetra Tech ES, Inc.

We at the Office of Community Services, State of Delaware, would like to take a moment to send our most sincere condolences at the loss of Mr. Barry Worthington.  Our hearts are with you and his family at this terribly sad time.

In Mr. Worthington’s 30 years with the USEA, he left and amazing footprint nationally and internationally. We, in Delaware Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Office, were often the lucky recipients of his willingness to share his vast knowledge and experience in the energy sector.  Although his loss his huge, we are confident his vast contribution to our work will continue to advance services that bring energy access to the neediest among us.

In closing, we express our deepest sympathies to the USEA community and all family and friends of Mr. Worthington.

Delaware Office of Community Services

We wish to convey to you and your USEA colleagues our condolences on the sad news of Barry Worthington’s death.

The World Energy Council US Member Committee began in 1923 to organise US involvement in the first World Power Conference held in London in 1924.  Barry served as the USEA’s Executive Director since 1988. There followed a long period of close and productive cooperation between the USEA and the Council until last year and we were truly sorry to see USEA depart from our global member community network. 

Barry worked tirelessly as the Council’s US Member Committee Secretary and was also a great contributor to the Cleaner Fossil Fuels Knowledge Network. He will be remembered as valued contributor to the World Energy Council. Over the many years of mutual association, those that knew him highlight his role as a champion of the US energy industry, who was very knowledgeable about international energy activities. His ideas were both pragmatic and visionary and he commanded great respect for his honesty and openness.   We will remember Barry’s intellect, his incisive humour and his eloquence – and most of all, his kindness and generosity will live on in the collective memory.

Our respectful thoughts and deepest sympathies are with colleagues, Barry’s family and friends.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General, World Energy Council
Jean Marie Dauger, Chair, World Energy Council

It is with deep regret that I share news of the passing of Barry Worthington, Executive Director of USEA. Barry passed away on Friday, August 14, at his home in Maryland.

Barry was always the gentleman, good-humored and astute. He was the very capable chair and leader of our Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity Systems and vice-chair of our Committee on Sustainable Energy. As noted in the announcement from USEA, Barry was an extraordinary leader who always worked to bring all sides together in a search for common ground. He was a strong supporter of UNECE’s agnostic, all-technologies approach to sustainable energy, taking the view that pragmatic, balanced approaches will deliver real results more effectively than more extreme positions.

On behalf of UNECE, but also speaking very personally, I can say that his leadership, vision, and style will be sorely missed – we have lost a friend and a champion.  We offer our condolences to his family and to USEA.

Scott Foster
Director, Sustainabile Energy Division
​​​​​​​United Nations Economic Commission for Europe