Our Project Team applies collaboration with business acumen and technical expertise to build a winning business case for Solar DE. Our team is built around: Using the Power of Collaboration to Forge Support; Applying Technical Expertise with Business Acumen; and, Developing a Winning Business Case. To apply the Power of Collaboration, we have assigned a veteran collaboration process manager, nationally recognized for achieving positive stakeholder outcomes. Our technical experts include: solar PV, water heating and daylighting experts, from academia and industry, with a positive track record of APS-specific experience; an expert in distributed generation to ensure that our efforts are valuable to APS in the future when considering other DE technologies; a team of utility-focused technical experts having innovative skills in the analysis of T&D and power supply systems and the financial skills to provide an understandable analysis of the costs and benefits of solar DE.
To prepare our Winning Business Case, we have assembled a team of highly experienced utility regulatory policy, cost-of-service and rate-making experts. This team will provide APS with a compelling Solar DE plan built on consensus; founded on technical expertise and business acumen; and presented as a winning business case.
KEY TEAM MEMBERS
Project Manager — Fred Jennings
Mr. Jennings brings experience in utility program design and implementation, which gives our team an understanding of program strategies and polices that have proven successful in similar circumstances. While Mr. Jennings will be the prime contact with APS, it is expected that other key team members will work directly with APS team members so that we can leverage the collaborative power of an integrated and unified project team to meet the study goals described in the RFP.
Client Liaison — Steven Rupp
The Client Liaison role serves as an advocate for APS to ensure that expectations are being met throughout the project cycle. Mr. Rupp is a Vice President and Senior Client Manager at R. W. Beck with more than 20 years experience leading complex project teams to develop comprehensive electric system master plans including the characterization and analysis of distributed generation technologies.
Stakeholder Collaboration — Mark Gabriel
Our team has put an emphasis on stakeholder involvement because we understand that this activity is a constant that must be nurtured throughout the process. Our stakeholder involvement effort will be led by Mark Gabriel who is experienced in leading complex broad-based collaborative efforts at the national and regional levels.
Solar DE Characterization, Photovoltaic Technologies — Mark Wilhelm and Tom Lepley
Key team members supporting PV technologies, Mark Wilhelm and Tom Lepley, bring practical, local experience with installed PV systems. Together they will provide APS with an independent, expert perspective on the overall solar market, growth drivers and barriers, competitive landscape, and other insights that are valuable to building a successful business case.
Solar DE Characterization, Solar Water Heating and Daylighting Technologies — Frank Stern and Harvey Bryan
Frank Stern and Harvey Bryan each bring a unique understanding of solar hot water and solar day lighting that complement one another. Mr. Stern hails from the consulting world where tailored solutions are at the heart of Blue Summit successes while Mr. Bryan’s position in academia puts him in position to monitor emerging technologies as research and development drive innovation forward. Fusing these two perspectives will provide our team with a point of view that considers solutions — and potential pitfalls — from a variety of angles.
Solar DE Characterization, Distributed Energy Technologies — John Westerman
John Westerman will add his expertise in conducting feasibility and impact studies on distributed generation technologies that include PV applications. Mr. Westerman’s perspective will be valuable because he has performed assessments on a wide range of distributed generation technologies and is experienced in evaluating next generation technology.
Rates and Regulatory Strategy — Richard Cuthbert and Scott Burnham
To perform the tasks that we believe will prove to be pivotal to the overall success of DE, Richard Cuthbert and Scott Burnham will prepare a detailed strategy to enable APS to successfully negotiate the regulatory environment while ensuring that economic and rate issues have been analyzed and tailored to reflect the realities of the local markets.
Additional Subject Matter Experts
To supplement our team, R. W. Beck may draw on a variety of individuals who have expertise in important areas such as project finance, stakeholder communication and detailed rate modeling. Patricia Cruz, Keith Deaton, Walter Levesque, Rachel Freeman, Toben Galvin, and Beth Baker, will be available as needed by APS.
