Energy Environment Experience Impact
About Thunderbolt
Eric (Ric) Redman, CEO of Thunderbolt Clean Energy, co-founded the firm in 2007 to help clean energy technology companies successfully develop, commercialize, and deploy their climate-friendly products, systems, and processes.
The firm has stayed true to its roots. Through Thunderbolt, Ric assists new energy technology companies with product development, market intelligence, positioning, strategic partnering, and project development, all with the aim of successful commercialization and widespread adoption.
Until 2014, Ric served as CEO & President of Summit Power Group. Ric led Summit’s development of climate-friendly power plants, including wind, solar, and carbon capture projects in the U.S. and abroad. In doing so, Ric has worked extensively in China with leading companies in the electric power, hydrocarbon, engineering, and finance sectors.
Before joining Summit, Ric led the Energy Practice Group and the Clean Tech Practice Group of a major international law firm, and was consistently chosen for Best Lawyers in America in energy. Through Thunderbolt, Ric now advises law firms and others on how to broaden their energy practices to include a focus on climate and thus to help clients avoid the pitfalls, reduce the risks, and grasp the opportunities that climate change and climate-related policy developments present.
Ric also works with other entities committed to the deep decarbonization of the global energy system. He serves as a Senior Policy Fellow for decarbonization studies at the School of Global Policy & Strategy (GPS) at the University of California San Diego (UCSD); and as an Advisory Board member for organizations ranging from Aligned Intermediary (helping long-term investors channel funds into climate infrastructure) to Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage, the leading UK research partnership for CCS.
Thunderbolt can also call as needed on the professional services of other leaders and experts in the energy and climate sectors. Thunderbolt provides an open platform and talent exchange to match specific experience and expertise to specific client needs.
Professional Background
- Harvard College, A.B. magna cum laude in Government, 1970
- Oxford University, B.A. 1972 with First Class Honours in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (Rhodes Scholar); M.A. 1980
- Harvard Law School, J.D. magna cum laude, 1975
- Legislative & campaign aide to U.S. Senator Warren G. Magnuson (D-WA), 1968-75 (intervals) and author of The Dance of Legislation
- Associate & partner, Preston Thorgrimson law firm (now KL Gates), 1975-82
- Partner & shareholder, Heller Ehrman law firm, 1983-2007
- CEO & President, Summit Power Group, 2007-2014
Companies
THUNDERBOLT CLEAN ENERGY, LLC
CEO & CO-FOUNDER
www.thunderboltcleanenergy.com
Consulting firm for energy, de-carbonization, and climate matters, including public policy, projects, and selected technology companies and initiatives.
WORMSER ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC
ADVISOR
www.wormserenergysolutions.com
Technology development company with patented clean energy technology for climate-friendly power generation and chemical production, both with carbon capture & sequestration
CADENZA INNOVATION, LLC
ADVISOR
Technology startup that has invented, patented, engineered, and successfully developed high-efficiency, low-cost, and safe/reliable electric power storage architecture and structures for battery-powered electric vehicles, power grid storage applications, and battery-powered tools and equipment of all types
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE
SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR, ENERGY & CLIMATE (2016-18)
www.dwt.com
Davis Wright is a full-service firm with approximately 500 lawyers in nine offices on the east and west coasts of the United States
SUMMIT POWER GROUP, LLC
FORMER CEO & PRESIDENT
www.summitpower.com
Independent developer of climate-friendly power plants, including wind, solar, state-of-the-art combined cycle natural gas, and carbon capture projects
THE GREEN TRUST
ADVISOR
Startup creating an online global marketplace and educational platform for environmental and sustainable technologies, to speed the deployment rate of technologies to protect the global environment and respond to climate change
ALIGNED INTERMEDIARY
MEMBER, INITIAL ADVISORY BOARD (2015-16)
www.alignedintermediary.org
Investment advisory group to help large scale, long-term investors (LTIs) channel significant amounts of institutional capital into climate infrastructure investments such as clean energy, water infrastructure, and waste-to-value projects
BANNERSOLAR
ADVISOR
www.bannersolar.com
Combining unique PV solar technology, advanced software, and branding to create a powerful new media platform to deliver brand messages & make communities more sustainable
SUPERCRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES
ADVISOR
supercritical.tech
Using CO2 to generate power will revolutionize how power is generated, built, and distributed
Non-Profit Organizations
GLOBAL CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE INSTITUTE
MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
www.globalccsinstitute.com
GCCSI is the world’s leading policy advocacy and technical support organization for carbon capture & sequestration as a measure to aid climate.
SCHOOL OF GLOBAL POLICY & STRATEGY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
SENIOR POLICY FELLOW
www.gps.ucsd.edu
Participant in GPS initiatives to help drive decarbonization of the global energy supply system for the benefit of world climate and oceans
SCOTTISH CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE
BOARD OF ADVISORS
www.sccs.org.uk
The UK’s largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) research group, SCCS is a partnership of the British Geological Survey, Heriot-Watt University, University of Aberdeen, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Strathclyde engaged in high-level research and projects with industry to support development and commercialization of CCS for climate mitigation
NORTHWEST AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
www.naamnw.org
NAAM serves to present and preserve the connections between the Pacific Northwest and people of African descent, and investigate and celebrate Black experiences in America, through exhibitions, programs and events
THE METHOW CONSERVANCY
BOARD OF ADVISORS
www.methowconservancy.org
A land trust and conservation organization dedicated to inspiring people to care for and conserve the Methow Valley in Washington State’s North Cascades
PHILLIPS ACADEMY, ANDOVE
ALUMNI TRUSTEE, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
www.andover.edu
Residential secondary school in Andover, Massachusetts, founded in 1778 and devoted to diversity and academic excellence in the liberal arts tradition
CERES
PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL
www.ceres.org
Non-profit organization that mobilizes a network of investors, companies and public interest groups to accelerate and expand the adoption of sustainable business practices and solutions to build a healthy and climate-friendly global economy
EARTHTALK
MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
www.earthtalk.org
EarthTalk provides content on environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation to print and electronic media outlets nationally.