
While with PG&E, Mr. Richard oversaw the company’s government relations, state and Federal regulatory relations, communications and community relations programs. He was part of the senior management team which guided the company through the energy crisis and its financial reorganization.
"I'm very enthusiastic about joining Cleantech America’s board. The threat of global warming and the geopolitics of oil are two of the biggest challenges facing us today. Working with Cleantech to develop utility scale, affordable solar energy will be an exciting way to help make a difference for future generations," Richard said.
Bill Barnes, CEO of Cleantech America, said “Dan has long been a recognized leader in shaping pro-consumer, pro-environment public policy on energy and transportation issues. Zero emission, utility-scale solar electricity represents a near term, potentially sea-changing response to climate change and global warming. Dan is eminently qualified to help guide our company in that role.”
Between 1992 and 2004, Mr. Richard was also an elected director of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), leading efforts to secure $4 billion of capital programs for system rehabilitation, expansion to the San Francisco Airport and seismic retrofit.
San Francisco-based Cleantech America is a developer of utility scale, environmentally clean solar farms. The company’s mission is commercializing photovoltaic solar technology for global warming solutions and energy independence. Its principal business is generating photovoltaic peak electricity free of green house gases for sale to utilities, municipalities and other customers.
Cleantech America recently signed agreements with PG&E for 5 MW of zero-emission peak solar power, and with the Kings River Conservation District (KRCD) for 80 MW of solar electricity. The KRCD solar farm, which is slated to begin generating power in 2009, is the largest announced solar farm in the world at this time.
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