PRINTABLE PRESS RELEASE

Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) welcomed Brian Farnen, Tom Guerra, and Kent McCord to the CPES Board at the meeting prior to the Annual Legislative Update today at the offices of Day Pitney, LLC in Hartford.

“We are thrilled to bring on such talented and experienced energy professionals to help us fulfill our mission of generating information, sharing ideas and educating Connecticut about energy,” said Eric Johnson, CPES President and Director of External Affairs at ISO-NE.

Brian Farnen, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Connecticut Green Bank

“I am excited to join the CPES Board and look forward to furthering its energy mission in Connecticut. As a director, my primary focus is reducing the energy burden on Connecticut’s residents and businesses through the sustained growth of our clean energy economy. This impact will continue to grow thanks to CPES’ commitment to idea sharing, timely events and education.”                     – Brian Farnen

Brian Farnen brings a breadth of policy and business development experience in the clean energy marketplace through his pioneering work at Connecticut’s – and the nation’s – first “green bank.” Brian distinguished himself as a 2018 recipient of the CPES Excellence in Energy Award and we are pleased to bring him on board as a director.

As General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for the Connecticut Green Bank, the nation’s first green bank, Brian directs all legal, legislative and regulatory affairs. Brian was an attorney with the AmLaw 100 law firm Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge before accepting a position with Sikorsky Aircraft as a senior attorney. Here, Brian provided legal counsel for the majority of Sikorsky’s strategic international sales campaigns and oversaw all global environmental, health and safety legal matters. Brian’s past state government experience includes time spent as a regional director for the Department of Economic and Community Development and a judicial clerkship for the Honorable Barry Schaller of the Connecticut Appellate Court.

Brian was named a “New Leader in the Law” by the Connecticut Law Tribune in 2013. Brian taught “Law and Society” as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law, is a board member of the Renewable Energy and Efficiency Business Association and he is a former member of the CT Judicial Review Counsel.

Brian obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Connecticut. He went on to earn both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut School of Law and School of Business, respectively.

Tom Guerra, Director of Products and Services, CBIA Service Corp.

“I’m honored to join the CPES board and look forward to helping voice the impact of energy sector changes on Connecticut’s businesses and marketplace. As our state’s leading energy association, CPES is not only a critical source of information for those of us who work in the energy field, but also those impacted by our ever-changing energy climate – and that’s everybody!”                 – Tom Guerra

As a director, Tom Guerra will continue our organization’s longstanding partnership with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA). Tom’s many years of experience advising customers in the insurance and energy sectors will be an asset to CPES as we work to improve the business conditions of the energy industry in Connecticut.

Since 2000, Tom has worked to develop and manage products designed to help CBIA members run their businesses in a more efficient and effective manner. He leads the CBIA Energy Connections staff and is involved in all aspects of providing member companies with procurement solutions designed to meet their electricity and natural gas needs.

Prior to joining CBIA, Tom spent 15 years as an internal consultant in the insurance and financial services industries, focusing specifically on quality improvement, process re-engineering, and workflow management.

Kent McCord, Distributed Energy Professional, Kinsley Energy Systems

“I have participated in, and benefited from, CPES event programming for over a decade.  I am excited to contribute directly to this wonderful organization that helps Connecticut tackle the big energy problems of today and tomorrow.”                          – Kent McCord

Kent McCord’s engineering and business development experience will help strengthen our knowledge of distributed generation and co-generation systems and the needs of end-use customers for on-site power supply. Kent has long been engaged with CPES and we look forward to having him step into a director role to help guide the organization going forward.

Kent is a renewable and alternative energy industry professional with over 18 years of experience developing successful projects for commercial, industrial and municipal building owners.  Kent is currently responsible for business development for Kinsley Energy Systems, with a focus on project development and engineering for high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) systems.  Kent’s project development expertise includes all types of CHP solutions (fuel cells, microturbines, and engine-based systems), organic Rankine cycle (ORC) waste-heat-to-electricity systems, and commercial solar solutions.  Kent is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering, and holds a master’s degree in Energy Management from New York Institute of Technology.  Kent is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and has been trained in carbon accounting.