Jim Rogers and Ron Binz Join SEPA Board of Directors

Washington, D.C. – The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has announced that Jim Rogers, former Chairman and CEO of Duke Energy and current CEO of Intrepid Energy Partners, LLC, and Ron Binz, former Chair of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Principal at Public Policy Consulting in Denver, have joined its Board of Directors.

Widely recognized as a thought leader in the industry, Rogers brings to the board 25 years of experience as a utility CEO, having served in that capacity at Duke, Cinergy and PSI Energy. Rogers’ long-time passion for energy efficiency has expanded in recent years to include other less traditional options for utilities and their customers including photovoltaics and storage. He also works with the Global Sustainable Energy Partnership, a nonprofit organization focused on the use of renewable energy and other advanced technologies to meet the critical power needs of emerging economies.

“I look at the future, and I see the changes that are occurring in the mix of generation in the United States,” Rogers said of his decision to join the SEPA board. “It’s clear to me that solar will play an increasing role in the future because it has the ability to be distributed, and its deployment will lead to a more resilient grid.”

During his four years as chair of the Colorado PUC, Binz played an instrumental role in implementing Colorado’s “New Energy Economy” and was active in the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. He was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2013 but asked the president to withdraw his name following a Senate confirmation hearing. In his consulting practice, Binz has focused on issues of the new utility business model and new regulatory paradigms. He also served as Colorado’s utility consumer advocate from 1984 to 1995.

“Solar energy is an idea whose time has come. It will be a major feature of our energy future,” Binz said. “While we may not know exactly what that future energy system will look like, our duty is to help create the business models and technical innovations that will support all the possibilities for clean energy resources now opening up before us.”

“Jim and Ron bring new perspectives to the SEPA board, combining deep and respected industry experience with a keen ability to look beyond current challenges and debates,” said Julia Hamm, President and CEO of SEPA. “As SEPA evolves to meet the changing needs of both our utility and solar industry members, both of these strong leaders will help us keep the big picture in focus while we narrow in on the important and unique role our organization can play in the evolving electric industry.”

The SEPA Board of Directors is comprised of a combination of utilities, technology and service providers, and other key players representative of the SEPA membership and the energy industry at large.

About SEPA: SEPA is an educational nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC dedicated to helping utilities integrate solar power into their energy portfolios. It provides a range of research, educational programs, networking opportunities and advisory services to its membership base of more than 550 electric utilities and 450 corporations, government agencies and non-profits that support SEPA’s mission.

Media contact: K Kaufmann, 202-379-1637 or [email protected].