Green Development appoints new CEO

NORTH KINGSTOWN – Green Development LLC, the renewable-energy company formerly known as Wind Energy Development, announced the appointment last week of Al Bucknam as the company’s new CEO.

Bucknam replaces former CEO Mark DePasquale, who remains founder and chairman of Green Development. The switch-up marks Green Development’s transition from a wind-energy company to a comprehensive renewable-energy solutions company, according to a release about the change.

“I am so pleased to welcome Al to our team,” said DePasquale in a statement. “Al’s extensive experience in new-energy solutions will help transition the company from a focus on wind energy to the implementation of large-scale, comprehensive energy solutions in wind, solar, biomass and energy storage.”

Bucknam brings more than 20 years of experience to his new role, including his prior role as president and CEO of REC Solar in California, where he helped triple the company’s revenue and established a $225 million fund for project capital from a national utility.

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Bucknam has also served as CEO of SunDurance Energy in New Jersey, listed at No. 38 on Inc. magazine’s list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the United States.

“It’s amazing what the Green Development team has accomplished in just a short amount of time,” said Bucknam of his new role. “Mark DePasquale has built a highly entrepreneurial team with a reputation for execution excellence; I look forward to taking this company to the next level through expanded services and offerings.”

Green Development has helped diversify and reduce costs of Rhode Island’s energy portfolio through the installation of 18 megawatts of new capacity in the last two years, enough power to run more than 2,600 homes. The company now manages more than 100 megawatts of renewable-energy projects in development, with an estimated 12 megawatts projected to go online by the end of this year.

“We see a clear opportunity to bring great value and benefit to the public and private sectors through innovative energy solutions,” said DePasquale. “Al’s experience in leading-edge environmental markets like California and New Jersey will further bolster our plan for transformative energy solutions in Rhode Island.”

DePasquale added that the company’s progress is on track to Gov. Gina M. Raimondo’s goal of 1,000 megawatts of renewable-energy projects in the state by 2020.

Green Development was created in 2009 as Wind Energy Development. The company currently has wind turbines deployed in Portsmouth, North Kingstown and Coventry, with additional turbines as well as solar and biomass projects under development statewide.

For more information, visit www.green-ri.com.

Galen Auer is a PBN contributing writer. Email galen.auer@gmail.com or follow on Twitter at @PBNAuer.