Summit Power appoints new CEO

Summit Power has appointed Jason Crew as chief executive officer and member of the board of directors effective Oct. 6, 2014. Current Summit CEO Eric Redman will assume the role of co-chairman of the board of directors, continuing to focus on the Texas Clean Energy Project (TCEP) and other large priority projects.

The appointment of Crew, a leading energy technology executive, signals a clear investment in the growth of Summit and its low-carbon business. Summit Power's legacy includes the successful development of more than 9,250 megawatts of projects, and the development of the TCEP, a 400 MW power / polygeneration project that will capture 90 percent of the CO2 from the coal feedstock for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the West Texas Permian Basin. Summit also specializes in high-efficiency natural gas-fired power projects, and utility-scale photovoltaic solar and wind power projects, among other leading cleaner energy technologies.

Crew said:

"Summit is one of the world's premier developers of low-carbon, large-scale power and industrial energy facilities, and a frequent early-adopter of proven, advanced technologies. The company has a strong track record of deploying high-tech projects which generate strong returns on investment. I look forward to working with the company's uniquely experienced development team to build innovative projects, solve tough challenges, and unlock new business models for low-emission energy production in markets around the world."

Crew comes to Summit from General Electric (GE), where most recently he was responsible for the GE Distributed Power Specialty Fuels business segment, focusing on launching technologies for distributed biomass gasification-to-power, integrated systems, and the production of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery. From 2011 to 2013, Crew led GE's global Gasification & IGCC business from Shanghai, China. Crew joined GE in 2005 and has led efforts for many of GE's most critical technology platforms for the production of power and valuable products from coal, refinery byproducts, and biomass in the U.S., Asia, and around the world.

Co-chairman Eric "Ric" Redman stated:

"Jason is a well-known, visionary leader, an expert in advanced low-carbon energy technologies, and one of the industry's most exciting strategists. He is the right leader at the right time for Summit, and I look forward to working with him to expand and accelerate Summit's game-changing project pipeline."

Earl Gjelde, Chairman of the Summit Board of Directors, said:

"Seamless execution of Summit's project pipeline during this transition is critical. We are grateful for Ric's continued leadership during this important period."

Don Hodel, founder and Chairman Emeritus of Summit, and former U.S. Secretary of Energy and U.S. Secretary of the Interior, said:

"A key goal of Summit from our beginning a quarter century ago was to implement leading-edge technologies to enhance environmental sustainability, economic health and security worldwide. When abundant low-cost fuels throughout the world like coal can be used in a truly clean way, everyone benefits. Jason's strong track record in our target markets and depth in a wide range of advanced energy technologies for the production of power makes him the ideal steward for Summit. His appointment represents a key investment in the continued growth of our company during this time of enormous opportunity."