BrightSource Energy, Inc. designs, develops and sells solar thermal power systems that deliver reliable clean energy to utilities and industrial companies.
BrightSource Energy, Inc., a leading solar thermal technology company, announced that John Woolard, CEO of BrightSource Energy, has been awarded the 2011 San Francisco Business Times Cleantech & Sustainability Award for Entrepreneurship. The award was presented at a ceremony in San Francisco on June 16, 2011.
The annual San Francisco Business Times Cleantech & Sustainability Awards recognize leaders and entrepreneurs in green business, cleantech, energy conservation, and alternative energy for their contributions to the development of green and sustainable business practices. In particular, the Entrepreneurship award honors one individual who has demonstrated particular leadership in these areas.
"The Bay Area is home to some of the most dedicated cleantech entrepreneurs in the world and I’m humbled to be recognized among them for this prestigious award," said John Woolard, President and CEO of BrightSource Energy. "I am fortunate to work with a world-class team at BrightSource – some of the most dedicated minds and innovators in the energy field – with whom I share this recognition."
Mr. Woolard brings more than two decades of experience in the energy technology sector as an executive, entrepreneur and investor. In his role as President and CEO of BrightSource Energy, he has led the company through a number of milestones, including raising more than $530 million from blue chip investors such as VantagePoint Capital Partners, Alstom, Morgan Stanley, Chevron Technology Ventures and Google.org, among others; the commencement of construction on the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System; securing 2,600 megawatts of solar power purchase agreements with utilities Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, and developing key domestic and international partnerships.
Prior to joining BrightSource Energy, Mr. Woolard co-founded Silicon Energy, one of the first successful clean tech companies, and served as its president, CEO and chairman of the board from 1997-2003. He joined the executive team at Itron, Inc. in 2003 following its acquisition of Silicon Energy. At Itron, Mr. Woolard served as vice president of software solutions and subsequently vice president of strategy and business development. He has also previously held positions with VantagePoint Venture Partner’s CleanTech Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, and Pacific Gas & Electric Company.
Mr. Woolard is a Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and currently serves on the advisory boards of the Tuolumne River Preservation Trust and U.C. Berkeley’s Haas School of Business Energy Institute and Lester Center for Entrepreneurship. John is also a member of the Oakland Zoo’s East Bay Zoological Society Board of Trustees.
BrightSource Energy, Inc. designs, develops and sells solar thermal power systems that deliver reliable clean energy to utilities and industrial companies. The company has contracted to sell approximately 2.6 gigawatts of power to be generated using its proprietary solar thermal technology.
