As the saying goes, if you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go as a team.
If you want to go far, go as a team.
I have surrounded myself with the best team. We all believe in taking solar energy and using its pure power to produce energy. We know that the SolarCharge Utility Owned Battery and the SolarCharge EV is a win win for both the consumer and the local Utility Companies. With the help of our supporters below we can and will change the world.
As the saying goes, if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go as a team. Up until this point, the utility owned battery project, now called ChareStar, was primarily a solo effort by James White, Eng.Dr.. Dr. White has spent an enormous amount of his own time and money designing, building, and testing the prototypes that became one of the successful entries in Round 1 of the American Made Solar Prize competition. To help get this concept adopted buy other utilities, he has received the support of Chelan PUD and his team of coworkers that he has been working with for the past 21 years.
Steve Johnson, Public Utility Liaison – Steve is an electric utility industry innovator with a record of achievement in enhancing the ability of utilities and communities to provide renewable and energy efficient power systems. He currently works with these organizations to bring about clean, sustainable and self-sufficient energy systems. He is also the former Executive Director, Washington Public Utility Districts Association from 1986-2010.
- Established the Conservation and Renewable Energy System (CARES) Joint Operating Agency that financed over $30 million in conservation measures, backed by the Bonneville Power Administration.
- Participated in the creation of RePower Bainbridge Island, an innovative energy efficiency and solar grant funded community energy project.
- Established the Transmission Improvements Group (later Columbia Grid) as an alternative Northwest planning mechanism to a FERC controlled “Grid West.”
- Represented the Washington PUDs in Portland at the Public Power Council, Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.
- Built the first US Green Building Council “Platinum Level” building in the state in 2008, the PUD Association’s headquarters in Olympia.
- American Public Power Association’s Personal Service Award for 2000.
- Led the passage in 2000 of legislation giving PUDs authority to provide wholesale broadband telecommunication service.
Susan Gillin, Marketing Specialist – Susan is the energy efficiency marketing strategist for Chelan County PUD, handling social media, advertising and outreach for the utility’s conservation, solar, and electric vehicle programs. Her community relations campaigns have won numerous awards from the Public Relations Society of America, International Association of Business Communicators, American Public Power Association and Northwest Public Power Association. Her 22-year-career at the PUD has included work in Communications, Customer Service, and Energy Efficiency. In her previous career as a journalist, Susan’s work as an investigative and “beat” reporter was recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists and with a C.B. Blethen Memorial Award. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Washington’s Honors English program.