SEPA Board of Directors Elects New Officers

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) Board of Directors recently held elections for two of its three officer positions. Ervan Hancock, Manager of Renewable and Green Strategies for Georgia Power, was elected to the position of Vice Chairman. Matthew Cheney, CEO of CleanPath Ventures, was elected as Treasurer. David Rubin, Director of Service Analysis for Pacific Gas and Electric Company, continues in his role as Chairman.

“The diversity of companies represented by SEPA’s officers is a testament to the organization’s unique position in the energy space,” said Julia Hamm, SEPA President and CEO. “Our officers come from a California utility that integrated more solar into its grid than any other in the U.S. last year, a southeastern utility that went from less than 5 MW to more than 55 MW in one year, and a solar project investment firm. SEPA’s officers are individuals who are well positioned to lead the organization in a way that will provide maximum value to its utility and solar industry members.”

SEPA’s Board of Directors helps guide the development of unbiased utility solar market intelligence, up-to-date information about technologies and business models, and peer-to-peer interaction that are the core of the association’s mission.

The SEPA Board of Directors consists of 20 members representing a broad spectrum of the energy industry. Seats on the Board are appointed across seven membership categories. Board members serve three-year terms.

David Rubin, Chair Pacific Gas and Electric Company David Rubin is presently the Director of Service Analysis at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in California, where he is responsible for economic development and distributed generation. He joined PG&E in 1985, spending seven years in the marketing and rates areas. In 1992, Mr. Rubin joined the International Energy Agency in Paris, France where he was responsible for electricity restructuring, energy efficiency and demand side management. He returned to PG&E in 1995, and assumed his current job responsibilities in 1997. In addition to his SEPA Board position, Mr. Rubin also serves boards of SolarTech and the California Association for Local Economic Development. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Science degree in engineering from MIT. Mr. Rubin is a registered mechanical engineer in California.

Ervan Hancock, Vice Chair Georgia Power Ervan Hancock is manager of Renewable and Green Strategies for Georgia Power, where he is responsible for the development of the company’s renewable generation portfolio, renewable and green energy strategy and renewable research programs. Prior to this role, Mr. Hancock served as Georgia Power’s area manager for Cartersville, leading customer service and operations functions for more than 32,000 customers. Mr. Hancock has also held the positions of manager of Renewable Generation for Southern Company Generation and assistant to the executive vice president of Supply Technologies, Renewables and Demand-Side Planning; and a project manager in Southern Company’s IT department. In addition to his role on the SEPA board, Mr. Hancock is chair of the Solar Energy Trade Show Association. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in May 1999. He also has studied at Wharton University in Pennsylvania.

Matt Cheney, Treasurer CleanPath Ventures Matt Cheney is a solar industry champion who was an early financier of solar technologies in America. Mr. Cheney founded Renewable Ventures in 1999, as the US division of the Dutch utility NUON. In 2000, Mr. Cheney introduced the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to the US solar retail market to provide clean energy services to Green Mountain Energy. Since then he has financed over $500 million in solar energy assets including the largest solar project in the US when it was built. Renewable Ventures was taken private in a management buyout in 2004 and was subsequently acquired by MuniMae in 2006, becoming MMA Renewable Ventures (MMA RV), which was the first independent syndicator of Solar Tax Equity funds in the US.

Currently, Mr. Cheney is the CEO of CleanPath Ventures, which focuses on the development of renewable energy by providing technical and financial resources to large-scale projects that are stuck, distressed, or stalled in the development cycle. Previously, he has worked with the US Agency for International Development, the National Rural Electric Co-op Association’s International Programs and the U.S. Department of Energy. Mr. Cheney has a Bachelor’s degree from American University and a Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

ABOUT SEPA The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is an educational non-profit dedicated to helping utilities integrate solar power into their energy portfolios. With more than 1,000 utility and solar industry members, SEPA provides unbiased utility solar market intelligence, up-to-date information about technologies and business models, and peer-to-peer interaction. From hosting national events to one-on-one counseling, SEPA helps utilities make smart solar decisions. For more information, visit www.solarelectricpower.org.