• George Sterzinger, Executive Director

George Sterzinger, Executive Director

George Sterzinger is responsible for REPP's day-to-day operations: fundraising, grant management, and board relations. He oversees the launch of new programs, procedures, strategies, and products to promote REPP's mission.

History
George Sterzinger has more than twenty years experience in energy policy and regulation. In the late 1980's, as Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service, he initiated state efforts to secure an advanced gasifier that could use waste wood to power an advanced turbine generator . As a direct result of these efforts, a commercial scale biomass gasifier is undergoing testing at the McNeil generating station in Burlington, Vermont and is expected to start commercial development in the near future.

Mr. Sterzinger also worked extensively with the Corporation for Solar Technologies and Renewable Resources to establish a solar development zone in Nevada. He conducted the feasibility study for that project and wrote the initial request for proposals (RFP) that secured an agreement with Enron to develop up to 100 MW of photovoltaic (PV) capacity and sell the output at 5.2 cents per kWh ($1995, adjusted for inflation), a price that would be competitive in todayâs power markets. At that time, an inability to look beyond short-term conditions precluded obtaining project financing.

This and other experiences with emerging technologies convinced Mr. Sterzinger that renewable energy development must rely upon more than strong research and technology development. To realize clean energyâs full potential, technology development must be closely linked to, and enabled by, education, outreach, policy analysis and hands-on project development advocacy.