Peter Nierengarten, PE
Environmental Director - Fayetteville, Arkansas

Peter is originally from southern Arkansas, having grown up in Arkadelphia. After graduating from Arkadelphia High School in 1995, he enrolled in the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Peter earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas in 2000 and 2001.

He then worked for a short time for a civil consulting firm in Northwest Arkansas before moving to Portland, Oregon in 2003. For almost nine years, he worked for the Portland Water Bureau as an engineer, project manager, energy manager, green building consultant, and sustainability advocate.

In the summer of 2012, Peter and his family relocated back to Fayetteville from the West Coast, and he began working as the Environmental Director for the City of Fayetteville. In that role, he has managed several sustainability projects and accomplishments for the city, including adoption of Fayetteville’s first Energy and Climate Action Plan, adoption of 100 percent Clean Energy Goals, Fayetteville becoming Arkansas’ only LEED-Gold Community, managing development of 10 MW of solar PV at Fayetteville’s wastewater treatment plants, implementation of the Recycling Master Plan, and managing Fayetteville’s Downtown Ramble Project.

In addition to managing Fayetteville’s Sustainability Department, Peter manages the city’s Recycling and Trash Collections Division.

Peter is vice chair of the Ozark Regional Transit Board and chair of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation Board. He is also an active member of the Boston Mountain Solid Waste District Board and the Climate Mayors Steering Committee.

Peter is very active in promoting climate action, energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste reduction, sustainability, and active transportation for the City of Fayetteville. He is extremely proud to serve Fayetteville in a role that will provide vital direction for his community’s continued sustainable growth.