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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Team
Cliona Robb | Thompson McMullan, P.C.
Cliona Mary Robb, LEED® AP, is the Director of Thompson McMullan, P.C. Formerly, she was the chair of Christian & Barton's Sustainability, Energy and Green Development practice group and a member of the Energy and Telecommunications department. She represents municipal, industrial, and commercial customers of electric, natural gas, and water utilities regarding rate, service and transmission line siting. Cliona also works on renewable energy transactions involving solar power and wind power and has been appointed by the Governor to the Solar Energy Development Authority, where she serves as Chair.
Cliona is currently serving as VA-REA's Chair.
Carrie Hearne | Virginia Energy
Carrie Hearne serves as Associate Director in the State Energy Office at the Virginia Department of Energy. In addition to overseeing internal operations, her role includes leading a team to advance equity and access within Virginia’s energy system and provide technical assistance to local governments. Projects include setting up a new Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) Solar Fund; ensuring access to shared solar programs; assessing impacts on the energy transition within historically economically disadvantaged communities; and working to implement key state and federal programs.
Originally from rural West Virginia, Carrie moved to Virginia in 2019 after working for over a decade on clean energy policy and sustainable business operations in Portland, Oregon. Carrie holds an MBA in sustainable systems from Presidio Graduate School and a Bachelor’s degree from Earlham College. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Renewable Energy Alliance and lives in a solar-powered home in Richmond, Virginia, with her two dogs Timber and Odie.
Carrie is currently serving as VA-REA's Vice Chair.
Kevin Comer | Antares Group, Inc.
Kevin Comer is a mechanical engineer specializing in energy and environmental systems. He is experienced in: R&D and market assessments for advanced energy systems; power plant performance testing and analysis; biomass fuel supply studies; biomass repowering and cofiring in fossil fuel-fired boilers; energy use evaluation and energy auditing; performance and economic modeling for energy systems; environmental permitting for power generation projects; feasibility and design studies for solar photovoltaic systems; project management and performance assessment for installation of solar photovoltaic systems; and public outreach for “green” energy.
Kevin is currently serving as VA-REA's Treasurer.
Kirk Johnson | Old Dominion Electric Cooperative
Kirk Johnson is Senior Vice President for Member Engagement at Old Dominion Electric Cooperative. He is responsible for developing and executing strategies to enhance ODEC’s engagement with external stakeholders and ODEC’s members. Prior to joining ODEC, Kirk was Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. In that role, Kirk directed NRECA’s legislative, regulatory, and political efforts on behalf of the association’s 900 members in 48 states.
Kirk and his wife Janet Woodka live in Richmond, Virginia. He enjoys playing golf, traveling, cooking, and playing with their dogs Gumbo and Roux.
Kirk is currently serving as VA-REA's Secretary.
Get to know the rest of VA-REA's Board of Directors
Preston Bryant | McGuireWoods Consulting
Preston is a senior vice president at McGuireWoods Consulting, where he works in the firm's infrastructure and economic development group. Preston’s practice centers largely on infrastructure and economic development, where he advises clients on State government and its legislative and regulatory processes.
Preston regularly represent clients before the General Assembly, Governor’s Office, and regulatory agencies. Preston served as Virginia secretary of natural resources in the cabinet of Governor Timothy M. Kaine (2006-2010), overseeing the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Department of Historic Resources, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
Rick Thomas | Timmons Group
Rick
Thomas specializes in Environmental Services and Energy projects and
provides environmental consulting services for a wide range of the
Timmons Group’s municipal, State, Federal and private clients.
Guy Chapman | Archaea Energy
Guy is President of Collegiate Clean Energy at Ingenco. CCE & Ingenco provide customers with 100% renewable energy 24x7 from their landfill gas generation portfolio.
Guy brings over 20 years of experience in the energy industry with experience in clean energy research & project development, practical experience in large scale greenhouse gas inventories, carbon trading and clean energy strategy development.
Rob Corradi | Amazon Web Services
Eric Heintz | M&T Bank
Eric Heintz is co-sponsor of M&T’s Solar Tax Equity Initiative and a Relationship Manager with M&T Bank’s Greater Washington commercial lending group. In regards to Solar Tax Equity, Mr. Heintz helps customers identify solutions for structured finance applications and is working to bring M&T to market as an active tax equity investor.
Mr. Heintz is responsible for 1) the development and deployment of the tax partnership as a new product at M&T Bank (product still in development), 2) building relationships with developers and other centers of influence in the renewable energy space, and 3) structuring, diligence, and underwriting of renewable energy transactions.
Francis Hodsoll | SolUnesco
Francis Hodsoll is the co-founder and CEO of SolUnesco, where he leads strategy, business development, policy, performance management, and community engagement. He uses his expertise in energy wholesale markets, policy, land use, and finance to develop utility-scale solar projects that connect society’s needs to sustainable, cost-competitive energy. SolUnesco has more than 1 GW of projects under development. Francis holds a BA in economics from Colby College and an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
He has served as Board Member of the MD-DC- VA Solar Energy Industry Association, Chair of the Energy Workgroup for Governor McAuliffe’s Climate Change and Resiliency Update Commission, Committee Member of Governor McAuliffe’s Energy Committee, and Founder of the Virginia Advanced Energy Industries Association. Francis also founded and serves as President of E&E Frontiers, an energy management consulting company whose clients include the U.S Military, US AID, Nextera, Advanced Energy Economy, ICF, LMI, Sun Edison, Sol Systems and Standard Solar.
Emily Hughes | EDP Renewables
Emily Hughes is a Project Manager at EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA), specializing in greenfield development and acquisition of utility-scale solar and wind projects in the eastern United States & Canada. Emily is based at EDPR NA’s corporate headquarters in Houston, TX. EDPR NA develops, constructs, owns, and operates wind farms and solar parks across North America.
The company has developed more than 6,900 megawatts (MW) and operates more than 6,300 MW of renewable energy projects, with many more projects—including offshore wind—currently under construction and in the development pipeline. Emily graduated from Rice University in 2013 and has 7 years of experience in the energy industry, including energy business software consulting, renewable energy development and project management.
Jon Amores | Appalachian Power Company
Jonathan Miles | James Madison University
Dr. Jonathan Miles serves a professor in the Department of Integrated Science and Technology at James Madison University and director of the Center for Wind Energy at JMU.
Dr. Jonathan Miles serves a professor in the Department of Integrated Science and Technology at James Madison University and director of the Center for Wind Energy at JMU.
He previously served as Program Director of the international Master’s program in Sustainable Environmental Resources Management at JMU and on an IPA assignment with the wind program at the U.S. Department of Energy. Dr. Miles holds a B.A. in physics from Clark University and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Deborah Reyes | 174 Power Global
Deborah Reyes brings 25+ years of experience in the global energy sector shaped by a broad spectrum of commercial and leadership positions in the U.S. & overseas markets leading power project development in renewables and conventional power. Ms. Reyes' expertise includes originating and advancing projects to construction through her intimate knowledge of: site selection, land acquisition, interconnection/ transmission issues, permitting/ entitlement processes, origination, financing, project marketing, strategic market entry analysis, contract negotiations and deal structuring in several languages and multiple countries.
Currently, Ms. Reyes is Vice President, Development, Eastern U.S. Region & County Manager for Mexico for 174 Power Global USA, an affiliate of the global solar module manufacturer Hanwha Q Cells, USA.
Anthony Smith | Secure Futures
Tony serves as President and CEO of Secure Futures LLC, bringing over 30 years of experience in energy efficiency, solar energy, and community development in Vermont, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
In 2016, Tony led Secure Futures in the development of over 1.7 MW of distributed solar power in Virginia, including the first PPA in the Dominion PPA Pilot Program, a 205kW system at the University of Richmond.
He serves as a board member of the Virginia Renewable Energy Alliance. Tony earned a Masters in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD from the Wharton School of Management, University of Pennsylvania.
Lisa Oliver, PE | Fisher Associates
Lisa joined Fisher Associates in 2018 and is the Renewables Group Manager for the Energy Sector. She is responsible for leading a team of professionals working on wind, solar and energy storage projects across the United States. Lisa leverages her design experience and knowledge to work with different project teams to identify solutions to project specific challenges while monitoring expectations for design schedules, quality control, and content for design document delivery by integrating with the design team to ensure schedules are met, identified project risks are mitigated, and opportunities are embraced throughout the design phase.
Prior to working at Fisher, Lisa worked at EDP Renewables for nearly a decade as a Civil Engineering Manager working on the development, design, construction and operations of wind projects.
Tracey Steiner | Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
Tracey Steiner is REC’s Chief Engagement & Consumer Officer.
Steiner provides executive leadership in the Cooperative’s member
service, public relations and communications, economic development and
government affairs programs, assuring the needs of REC’s members,
communities and stakeholders are being met through proactive outreach,
outstanding customer service, and innovative programs and services.
Prior to coming to REC, Steiner’s work experience included leading the
education, training and event functions and serving in legal and
regulatory positions for the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association (NRECA). In her 29 years at NRECA, prominent
responsibilities included advising NRECA staff on a wide variety of
legal and federal policy matters and advising the Touchstone Energy
Cooperative, Inc. board and staff, helping to grow and further the
national brand of more than 700 electric co-ops. Steiner holds a Juris
Doctor from George Washington University Law School and a Bachelor’s of
Science in Journalism from the University of Maryland.
Andrew Williams | Sol Systems
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Andrew leads Sol’s Policy and Corporate Affairs team, possessing nearly 20 years of energy industry expertise. He oversees corporate and external affairs with a specific interest in creating and defending renewable energy markets and creating innovative ways to organize, communicate and develop sustainable domestic Infrastructure + Impact solutions for customers. Andrew joined Sol from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) were he served as Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, U.S. climate and energy. While at EDF, he helped shape EDF’s state-level domestic advocacy strategy. Before joining EDF, Andrew served as Vice President and General Counsel for Hickory Creek Ventures, Operational Officer and Vice President for Atlas Pipeline Mid-Continent, and as the Manager of Environment Health and Safety for Spectrum Field Services. Andrew serves as the Vice-Chair of the State Policy Committee of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Board Vice President for the Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition. He has served in appointed advisory capacities including the advisory board of SAFER PA, Virginia Governor Northam’s Natural Gas Workgroup, and Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry’s advisory council for the Oklahoma Commission on Marginally Producing Oil and Gas Wells. Andrew also serves on the board of Renewables Forward and the national BLADE Foundation in Washington, D.C. Andrew received his B.S. in Environmental Science, Agriculture and Natural Resources and his J.D. from Oklahoma City School of Law. He is an active member bar in Oklahoma and Washington, D.C.
Eric Bateman | Dominion Energy
Eric Bateman is a Communications Consultant on Dominion Energy’s Corporate Public Policy team in Richmond, VA. In this role, Eric provides strategy, policy and communications support on the Company’s implementation of the Grid Transformation and Security Act and Virginia Clean Economy Act. Recently, he has been closely involved in some of Dominion Energy’s largest renewable energy projects, including Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW).
Prior to joining Dominion Energy, he was the Energy and Regulatory Program Manager at the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (now Virginia Energy), and was the Legislative Director for a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Eric holds a Master of Public Administration and B.A. from Virginia Tech.
Hannah Coman | Apex Clean Energy
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Hannah Coman is Associate General Counsel at Apex Clean Energy, one of the largest clean energy companies in the United States with over 20 gigawatts of development projects across the country. She works closely with the business development team at Apex negotiating off-take agreements for wind and solar projects.
Ms. Coman previously worked at the Southern Environmental Law Center as the Virginia Solar Attorney, where she advocated for effective solar policy in Virginia and across the Southeast. Prior to joining SELC, she represented clean energy entrepreneurs and start-ups in commercial matters at an international law firm in Boston, MA. She is a graduate of Davidson College and Boston College Law School; her studies and work have focused on renewable energy for more than a decade, including studying renewable energy policy in Berlin, Germany, as a Fulbright Scholar. She served as the Chair of Virginia’s Clean Energy Advisory Board (CEAB) from 2019 until 2022.
Walter Crenshaw | AES Clean Energy
As a Senior Director at AES Inc., Walter leads the commercial execution of the company's portfolio of renewable energy projects phase. He works closely with a diverse team to ensure that renewable energy projects are completed on time and on budget for AES' long-term utility power purchase agreement and commercial and industrial customers. Prior to that Walter led a greenfield development effort to expand AES's presence in the Virginia solar power market and
built strong relationships with regulatory agencies and decision makers. Before that, he held a number of positions at Dominion Resources, including Director of Commercial Business for the Cove Point LNG export facility and Director of Business Development for power generation in deregulated markets. He has a Master's degree in Economics from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master's of Business Administration from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.
Walter has served on the NAMI CVA Board of Directors since January 2021, and as President since January 2023. He additionally serves on the Board of Directors of Circles RVA. And he is a graduate of the Leadership Metro Richmond Class of 2021.
Ryan Tully | Sun Tribe
Ryan Tully serves as Vice President of Asset Management at Sun Tribe where he is responsible for
leading the business development, performance engineering, and field operations functions for Sun
Tribe’s rapidly growing operations & maintenance business. Ryan works closely with a diverse team of
professionals that work to ensure both new and existing solar projects safely and effectively deliver
clean energy well into the future.
Ryan previously served in the United States Marine Corps and holds a B.A. in economics from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.
Immediate Past Chairperson
Tyson Utt | CEP Solar
Co-Founder
& Manager of Commonwealth Energy Partners (CEP), a Virginia-based
sustainable energy company whose mission is to Empower Virginia's Clean
Economy. Prior to forming CEP, Tyson spent ten years with Apex Clean
Energy where he led Apex’s growth into the Virginia market before
becoming Vice President of Development and leading a team across the
eastern United States. Before Apex, he spent seven years with EDP
Renewables in various roles from corporate operations in Houston, Texas
to project development in Portland, Oregon. He served eight years on the
Board of MAREC and is currently serving a sixth term on the Board of
VA-REA
Tyson served as VA-REA's chairperson from 2015-2019.
