WASHINGTON – January 16, 2025 – The American Biogas Council (ABC) announced today the results of its annual board election. Richard Cooper, Vice President of Business Development at NW Natural Renewables, was voted in as the board’s newest member, adding a fifth board member affiliated with a U.S. natural gas utility. In addition, six board members were re-elected.
“As the American Biogas Council grows to serve a growing industry, we’re pleased that our membership has again voted in an extremely talented group from companies that help ensure our leadership represents the entire biogas supply chain,” said the ABC’s Executive Director Patrick Serfass. “Together, we will lead the way to a better future by maximizing all the positive environmental and economic impacts biogas systems offer when they recycle organic material into renewable energy and soil products.”
Elected Directors include:
- Ivor Castelino leads Bloom Energy’s waste-to-energy and carbon capture business development efforts. He was instrumental in the deployment of the first-ever fuel cell projects running on landfill gas and dairy biogas.
- Donald Chahbazpour is National Grid’s Director of Policy and Regulatory Strategy-Future of Heat, leading the company’s efforts to implement gas decarbonization and reduce methane emissions through policy, strategy and technology. The group is also responsible for engaging stakeholders to raise awareness regarding the potential of renewable natural gas and hydrogen, and how the gas network can enable the energy transition.
- Richard Cooper leads business development activities at NW Natural Renewables (NWNR), part of the Northwest Natural Holding Company, which is investing in renewable energy and the transition to a decarbonized future, through the production and supply of low-carbon fuels such as renewable natural gas. Prior to joining NWNR, Cooper spent 20 years at DTE Vantage in a variety of roles, including developing dairy and landfill-based RNG projects.
- Craig Frear, PhD., is Director of Research and Technology for Regenis, a Washington state company specializing in anaerobic digestion and nutrient/water treatment of dairy manure and co-digestion substrates, providing EPC, construction management, O&M, and consulting services to projects. Prior to his Regenis position, Craig was an Assistant Professor at Washington State University, managing a team that provides research on the environmentally beneficial use of manure and other organic waste streams. In addition to his research, Dr. Frear is the co-author of 100 peer-reviewed publications and holds five patents.
- Thomas Murray serves as the Vice President of Decarbonization Technology for Vermont Gas Systems, overseeing the company’s efforts to procure and develop renewable natural gas (RNG) supply. Tom has been a forerunner in the RNG industry, leading the company’s RNG initiatives, which include becoming the first gas utility in the nation to offer a voluntary RNG program and to blend RNG into its base supply.
- Brad Pleima is the President of EcoEngineers, a consulting, auditing, and advisory firm with an exclusive focus on the energy transition. Brad sets the strategic goals for the company, using his expertise from more than 20 years of leadership in the renewable emerging and engineering industry, including supporting the construction of more than $4 billion in anaerobic digester and renewable natural gas (RNG) projects nationwide.
- Lauren Toretta is President/CEO and a Partner of CH4 Biogas, a leader in bringing proven, clean energy biogas and renewable natural gas solutions to the United States. At CH4, Lauren has a wide range of responsibilities, including managing corporate strategy and operations and leads the company’s focus on working with the agricultural and food & beverages sectors to provide environmental waste and renewable energy solutions.
To learn more about the board of directors and read full biographies, visit AmericanBiogasCouncil.org.
###