WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2013 – U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank today announced the appointment of 37 private-sector representatives to the Secretary’s newly re-chartered Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE&EE) Advisory Committee during the group’s initial meeting at the Department of Commerce. RE&EE members come from a diverse group of companies, trade associations, and non-profit organizations from many different energy sectors, including wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, hydropower, biofuels, fuel cells, smart grid, and energy efficiency industries.
“The renewable energy and energy efficiency sector holds tremendous growth potential, and transitioning to cleaner, safer, and affordable sources of energy is a high priority for the Department of Commerce and for President Obama," said Deputy Secretary Blank. "We need to work together to continue reducing our imports of foreign oil, increasing renewable electricity generation, boosting fuel economy standards, and implementing common sense policies that increase energy efficiency and spur investment from clean-energy companies. As part of our work toward these goals, I am proud to welcome 37 well-qualified appointees to the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee.”
The RE&EE Advisory Committee was initially chartered in December 2010, and issued 22 recommendations to the Obama administration – half in September 2011 and half in May 2012 – on ways to improve the export competitiveness of the RE&EE sector. These included increasing foreign direct investments and access to sources of new capital. The Committee was formed through the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Export Initiative (RE4I), a Department of Commerce-led component of the President’s National Export Initiative. The new Committee will be tasked with continuing this work and supporting the ongoing implementation of the RE4I.
Committee members include:
· Ameet Shah, Astonfield Renewables
· J. Brendan Herron, Hannon Armstrong Capital
· Brian J. Lombardozzi, BlueGreen Alliance
· Bruce Bauchmire, DLZ Corporation
· Bryan Ashley, Suniva, Inc.
· Cindy Thyfault, Westar Trade Resources
· Dan Delurey, Demand Response and Smart Grid Coalition
· David Rosenberg, Gamesa Technology Corp.
· Frank Wolak, Fuel Cell Energy Inc.
· Frank C. Shaw, Skadden, Arps, Meagher, & Flom
· Gordon Brinser, SolarWorld Industries America
· James D. Crouse, Capstone Turbine Corporation
· Jeffrey D'Souza, Oryx Investments
· Jennifer von Bismarck, TowPath Partners
· John Smirnow, Solar Energy Industries Association
· John Purcell, Leeco Steel
· Joseph O. Neuhoff III, Covanta Energy
· Karl Gawell, Geothermal Energy Association
· Keith Derrington, Ameresco
· Kelly Beninga, SkyFuel
· Kenneth P. Kramer, Rushton Atlantic, LLC
· Kenneth Foladare, Chinook Energy
· Linda Church Ciocci, National Hydropower Association
· Maja Wessels, First Solar Inc.
· Mary Burgoon, Rockwell Automation
· Michael Weaver, CTG Energy Services Inc.
· Michael Sachse, Opower
· Mita M. Burke, Sunshine Industries U.S.A., Inc.
· Paula Stern, The Stern Group, Inc.
· Robert Rose, Breakthrough Technologies Institute
· Roy Dunbar, Sustainable Star LLC
· Scott Sklar, The Stella Group, Ltd.
· Sunil Pancholi, Lockheed Martin Corporation
· Sylvia Minton, Mage Solar USA
· Terry Fry, Nexant, Inc.
· Todd Foley, American Council on Renewable Energy
· Trey Taylor Verdant Power, Inc.
For more information on the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Export Initiative, visit: www.export.gov/reee.
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