Speakers Series Continues: Working for a Renewable Energy Developer and a Green Technology Firm

The focus of the second in the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Speakers Series sponsored by the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program will feature two Sturm College of Law graduates speaking about their experiences working in the clean energy and technology sectors. They will be speaking in room 170 on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010.

Danny Splettstosser, who graduated with a Masters in Resource Law Studies (MRLS) degree in 2008, will discuss his role as Associate Director for enXco and EDF EN Canada. These firms are involved in developing solar and wind energy projects. In this role he is involved in critical aspects of the company's solar business unit, emerging technologies, and mergers and acquisitions. He also has a B.A. in speech communication and political science from Colorado State University. Before coming to DU he was the deputy research director for Ken Salazar's 2004 Colorado U.S. Senate campaign.

Leslie Weise, who graduated with a Masters in Environmental and Natural Resources Law (LLM) in 2008, is vice president of business development for CoolEnergy, a Boulder-based clean technology firm. CoolEnergy has developed the SolarFlow System home energy system that enables home and building owners to reduce their energy bills by as much as 75 percent while providing U.S. homeowners annual returns of 20 percent. Ms. Weise also has degrees in engineering from Boston University, and a JD and a Masters of Intellectual Property from Pierce Law Center.

Food will be available at the event.

The Environmental and Natural Resources Law Speaker Series features presentations by leaders in these sectors. The next lecture in the Speakers Series will be Nov. 9, 2010, when Kate Iverson, Associate General Counsel for the Denver metropolitan Regional Transportation District (RTD) will talk about Fastracks, the new light rail system being developed in the metro area.

LLM Alum Leslie Weise's Clean Energy Business, Cool Energy, Signs Deal With Xcel Energy to Test Heat and Power System Powered Entirely by Solar Energy

Colorado clean energy developer Cool Energy (CE) will work with Xcel Energy on CE's first pilot field installation of the SolarFlow System in a commercial building located in Boulder, Colorado.

Leise Weise, a 2006 LLM graduate of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Graduate Program at the Sturm College of Law, is vice president of CE.

According to CE, the SolarFlow System is a combined heat and power (CHP) generation system sized for residential and small commercial buildings that uses solar energy as its only input "fuel." The system has several novel features, including energy storage and a control system that maximizes customer value by optimally apportioning the system's energy output between heat and electricity depending on the season and weather conditions.

Sam Weaver, CEO and president of CE said, "We are pleased to have Xcel Energy's interest in and support for the SolarFlow System pilot. "The system will not only provide substantial financial relief for homeowners, but also offset the need for utilities to add more generation facilities that are particularly costly during peak consumption periods."

Dennis Stephens, Xcel's director of smart grid investments, said, "Xcel Energy is pleased to be involved in the benefits evaluation of Cool Energy's innovative solar thermal system. The energy industry is particularly interested in the potential to provide dispatchable power on demand at times when energy consumption is high. Cool Energy is developing innovative solutions for the energy challenges our nation is facing, including new technologies for providing power with minimal environmental impact."