Neal Martin, Senior Director of Government Relations at ML Strategies in Washington, DC, brings more than two decades of experience in government and federal relations to his work, helping clients navigate a wide range of issues. He provides strategic guidance to organizations seeking to advance their legislative priorities and enhance their visibility before Congress and federal agencies.
Neal advises clients across a broad range of sectors on federal legislation, appropriations, and regulatory engagement. His client portfolio includes Fortune 100 companies, startups, and associations pursuing federal funding and strategic policy objectives. Neal helps clients craft tailored messaging and engagement strategies that align with evolving political and policy dynamics, and works closely with congressional offices, federal officials, and coalition partners to build support for client goals.
Prior to joining ML Strategies, Neal served as a legislative assistant to US Senator Max Cleland (D-GA), where he advised on appropriations, energy and environment, trade, and foreign policy. His firsthand experience on Capitol Hill informs his understanding of legislative strategy and stakeholder engagement.
Neal earned his BA from the University of Georgia.
Education
- University of Georgia (BA)
Recognition & Awards
JD Supra Readers’ Choice Award, Top Author – Energy, 2025
Case Studies
Case Study
ML Strategies formed a coalition of hydropower and renewable energy developers to build support for Massachusetts legislation, which was enacted in August 2016, that allows the state’s utilities to enter into long-term contracts with energy suppliers.
Case Study
ML Strategies advocated for the National Association of Health and Educational Facilities Finance Authorities (NAHEFFA) amid the Trump administration’s tax law overhaul. The final bill maintained the private activity bond tax exemption, including for nonprofit hospitals and higher education.
Case Study
ML Strategies advocated for the interests of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) and its members before the Massachusetts legislature and health agencies through several rounds of cost containment legislation and bills designed to address the opioid crisis.
Recent Insights
Viewpoints
September Energy, Sustainability, and Infrastructure Washington Update
September 2, 2025|Article
Energy & Sustainability Washington Update — August 2025
August 1, 2025|Article
Update on the One Big Beautiful Bill: Good News and Bad News for DOE LPO
July 10, 2025|Alert
Events
With the Trump administration passing the 100-day mark and the 119th Congress deep into reconciliation bill negotiations, the landscape for federal energy policy is undergoing significant shifts. Join us for an insightful webinar about the evolving energy priorities shaping national policy.
Neal Martin and Frank Guinta of ML Strategies and Meghan Burke of Mintz will be attending this conference.
Viewpoints
House Energy Committee Leadership Post Opens as Top Republican Announces Retirement
February 16, 2024| Alert
Read about the impact of House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers’s plan not to seek reelection and current contenders for the committee’s Republican leadership post.
New Opportunities from DOE for Domestic Manufacturing of Advanced Batteries
February 12, 2024| Article
Read about a $15.7 million funding opportunity issued by the DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office aimed at increasing productivity and lowering the costs of US battery production.
Energy & Sustainability Washington Update — February 2024
January 22, 2024| Blog
Our February 2024 Energy & Sustainability Washington Update reviews ML Strategies’ Outlook for 2024, the Biden administration’s continued support for the EV industry, funding for net-zero projects issued to federal facilities, new legislation aimed at building out transmission lines, the PROVE IT Act pending in the Senate, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law & IRA Opportunities.
ML Strategies Outlook for 2024
January 11, 2024| Advisory
Energy & Sustainability Washington Update —January 2024
December 22, 2023| Blog
Our January 2024 Energy & Sustainability Washington Update covers the upcoming American Climate Corps listening sessions, opposition to the Treasury Department’s Clean Vehicle Tax Credit, advancements toward a national standard for EV charging networks & connectors, federal funding for an Energy Auditor Training program, a new DOE Office of Critical and Emerging Technology, and an update on new opportunities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
Energy & Sustainability Washington Update — December 2023
November 28, 2023| Blog
Our December 2023 Energy & Sustainability Washington Update covers the Fifth National Climate Assessment, new funding for climate resilience, the DOE’s new funding opportunity to support the production of advanced batteries and battery materials, new legislation to support bidirectional EV charging, new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law & Inflation Reduction Act opportunities, and the status of the BIL at year two.
New Opportunities from DOE for Advanced Batteries
November 27, 2023| Advisory
Read about a new $3.5 billion funding opportunity announcement issued by the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to support the production of advanced batteries and battery materials, largely for use in electric vehicles, electric grid energy storage applications, or both.
Energy & Sustainability Washington Update — November 2023
November 2, 2023| Blog
Our November 2023 Energy & Sustainability Washington Update covers the House of Representatives Fiscal Year 2024 Energy & Water Spending Bill, the regional clean hydrogen hubs selected to negotiate with the DOE, DOE awards for three new interregional transmission lines, a pending House and Senate bill to modernize American manufacturing, and the Biden administration’s approval of the nation’s largest offshore wind farm and new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law & IRA Opportunities.
Energy & Sustainability Washington Update — October 2023
October 10, 2023| Blog
Our October 2023 Energy & Sustainability Washington Update covers ML Strategies’ addition of Senior Vice President John Lushetsky to its Washington energy team, the launch of the new American Climate Corps, and new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act opportunities, as well as recent successes of the two new laws.
Energy & Sustainability Washington Update — September 2023
September 7, 2023| Blog
Our September 2023 Energy & Sustainability Washington Update covers new DOE annual reports detailing the growth of wind power as a source of electricity, DOE’s report on the one-year anniversary of the IRA, the Net Zero World Ministerial’s first meeting, and the DOE’s 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board.
Events
Speaker
Panelist
Dec
17
2024
Apr
8
2024
Speaker
Nov
18
2021
Energy and Cleantech Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Cleantech San Diego
Virtual Event
Speaker
May
26
2021
Speaker
Feb
17
2021