If you ever wondered what a virtual power plant is, now you can consult former Arkansas Public Service Commission Chair Ted Thomas, who has landed the first client for his new Conway-based consulting firm, Energize Strategies.
That client is Recurve Analytics Inc. of Mill Valley, California, an open-source platform for virtual power plants, networks of decentralized medium-scale electricity generators like wind farms, solar arrays and networks of power storage systems and consumers willing to be flexible in their power use.
Thomas, a renewable energy proponent who crossed swords with utilities over solar power throughout his eight years leading the state’s utility regulation agency, let Whispers know about the client in an email this month. His role will be senior market adviser.
He’ll be helping Recurve, a leader in applications of smart-metering technology, identify and analyze market opportunities across the country, the company said. The firm’s experience with advanced metering infrastructure, or AMI, got Thomas’ attention.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of the Recurve team,” Thomas said.
Carmen Best, Recurve’s vice president of policy and emerging markets, said Thomas “complements our team greatly.”
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