Where the Jobs Are: Renewable Energy
Wednesday, February 25, 6-7:30 PM
Eliot 314 -- snacks provided

Join career services in welcoming a panel of four renewable energy experts -- and welcoming back two Reed alumni in the process. Together, Andy Linehan '78, Peter Mostow '87, Rachel Shimshak, and Thomas Starrs span a broad expanse of noted expertise in the field of renewable energy: wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, wave, and green power.

As always, the discussion will feature a lot of time for questions and answers. Come prepared with questions and prepared to schmooze with these leaders in the field.

Panelist bios:

Andrew Linehan ‘78
Andy Linehan is Director of Wind Energy Permitting for Iberdrola Renewables.  In that role he oversees siting and permitting efforts for Iberdrola’s wind projects across the country. He and his staff and consultants prepare land use applications, wetland permits, and comprehensive environmental review documents. He led Iberdrola’s role as a founding member of the American Wind and Wildlife Initiative and was appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to the Federal Advisory Committee on U.S Fish and Wildlife wind power guidelines.

Prior to joining Iberdrola/PPM Energy, Mr. Linehan worked for the consulting firm CH2M HILL for 16 years.  His last position was as Vice President/Area Manager for CH2M HILL’s 220-person Portland office. Before joining CH2M HILL, he worked for the U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) for 4 years. 

Andy is past president of the City Club of Portland, and has served as a director of both the Oregon Business Council and Associated Oregon Industries. He attended Deep Springs College in California, graduated with a BA in International Studies from Reed College, and earned a Master of Public Affairs degree from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. He also served in the Peace Corps in Mauritania.

Peter Mostow ‘87
Peter Mostow is a partner in the Seattle office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he represents emerging and mature companies in the fields of clean technology and renewable energy. Peter's background in energy, regulatory, natural resources, and environmental law allows him represents solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass project sponsors in site acquisition, permitting, power transmission, and offtake agreements; distributed solar power purchase agreement companies in developing their key commercial and financing agreements; and producers of new technologies in drafting and negotiating key commercial transactions. Prior to joining the firm, Peter was a partner at Stoel Rives, where he chaired the renewable energy practice.

Peter graduated from Reed College with a BA in Philosophy & Religion, attended J.W. Goethe Universität, Frankfurt, Germany as a Fulbright Scholar. He earned his J.D., degree from Yale Law School where he was also Editor of the Yale Law Journal.

J. Rachel Shimshak
Rachel Shimshak has been the Director of the Renewable Northwest Project since its inception in 1994. She is responsible for directing all aspects of the regional renewable energy advocacy organization including policy development and strategic planning, fundraising, managing staff, public presentations, Board and press relations.  On her watch, RNP has supported the implementation of more than 2,500 MW of renewables in the Northwest.

Before moving back to the Northwest, Rachel was the Policy Director for the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources where she worked on electricity, natural gas, oil, conservation, renewables, and emergency planning issues. Prior to that, she was the Legislative Director for the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group where she supervised a staff of eight lobbyists and coordinated legislative activity on consumer and environmental issues.

Rachel was recently appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski to the Oregon Energy Planning Council. She is a native Oregonian and graduated from the University of Oregon with a BA in Sociology and Economics.


Thomas J. Starrs
Thomas J. (Tom) Starrs is CEO of Solar Energy Ventures LLC, a consulting firm focused on solar energy business development, market analysis and policy advocacy. Tom has more than 25 years of renewable energy experience, with an emphasis on both distributed- and utility-scale solar technology development.

Tom previously was Managing Director of Solar Power for Iberdrola Renewables, Inc., the U.S. arm of the world’s leading renewable energy development company.  He launched and led Iberdrola’s entry into the utility-scale solar power project development in the United States, including shaping and implementing a business plan, acquiring a portfolio of high-value sites for utility-scale projects, and extending the company’s global leadership in wind power development to encompass solar power as well.

Tom holds a Ph.D. in Energy and Resources from U.C. Berkeley, and a law degree from the Boalt Hall School of Law at U.C. Berkeley.  He is 46 years old, and lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife and two children.