Mr. Sam M. Swanson
Background
Mr. Sam Swanson has more then 20 years experience directing integrated resource planning, energy efficiency programs and environmental regulation to achieve balanced economic and environmental goals. Mr. Swanson's experience extends to a wide range of utility regulation functions, including renewable resource assessment and planning, efficiency program planning and evaluation, the environmental impacts of utility operations, load management and energy research and development policy, utility planning, management audits of utility demand side management programs and rate regulation. He has served as a senior policy advisor to the New York Public Service Commission and has presented testimony in proceedings before the New York, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and Michigan regulatory commissions. Mr. Swanson has been a principal contributor to the development of energy conservation and renewable energy policy nationwide through his leadership on the Energy Conservation Staff Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Mr. Swanson now serves as a Senior Policy Advisor to the Pace Energy Project, and since July 1996, has been directing the US DOE funded Renewable Energy Technology Analysis Project.
Mr. Swanson received his BA in Economics from State University of New York at Stony Brook and his Master of Public and International Affairs in Economic and Social Development, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.
Selected Experience
Energy Efficiency & Productivity - Developed the NYS PSC electricity demand side management (DSM) program and policies from a $4-5 million research and evaluation program in 1982 to full scale implementation of cost-effective DSM programs by New York's seven investor-owned electric utilities with annual statewide budgets approaching $200 million in 1994. These programs will produce net bill savings for New York consumers of more than $1.5 billion.
Utility Resource Planning - Served as the first chairman of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Energy Conservation Staff Committee, leading the development of nationwide standard practices for effective DSM impact evaluation and the treatment of energy efficiency and load management in utility resource planning.
Performance Based Regulatory Incentives - Collaborated on the conduct of studies of comprehensive performance based regulatory incentives eventually tested by the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation with NYS PSC approval.
Renewable Resource Analysis and Planning - Director of the Renewable Energy Technology Project, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop photovoltaic technology education and analysis support to organizations nationwide that represent environmental protection interests.
Environmental Impact of Assessment - Served as Deputy Director of the NYS PSC Office responsible for the site evaluation and licensing of transmission lines and electric generating facilities.
