Board of Directors
The CESA Board of Directors is composed of individuals from leading energy storage companies in California, the United States, and the world.
The variety of companies on the Board reflects the wide array of energy storage applications and technologies participating in the California market and bringing value to the electric grid.
Board Chair
Renae Steichen, Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs
Renae is the Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs for REV Renewables, leading California storage policy and ISO/RTO markets policy activities. She has 15 years of experience in the clean energy industry with public and private organizations in California and across the country.
Vice Chair
David Stripling, Director of Business Development
David Stripling has 14 years of experience in the renewable energy industry plus an additional 5 years experience developing over $125M of infrastructure. Most recently he was Director of Utility Scale Development for Sunrise Energy Ventures, where he secured awards for over 165MWs of PV in 12 months. Prior to this role, he was head of Product Marketing for Stem, where he owned the offer strategy and pricing for over 150MWHs of storage. David built the core of his experience in energy storage as Director of Product Management for Storage at NEXTracker, where he developed and deployed over 50MWH of stationary storage across the US, Canada and China. In 2013, David led Corporate Development at Soligent, and launched the Solar Engine, a value-added financial services program which deployed PV in 5 States. He has an MBA from the Presidio Graduate School, where he distinguished himself as Jesse Fink Fellow, Richard M. Grey Fellow, and Hult Finalist. David also completed his BA in Classics from the University of Texas at Austin. He enjoys being outdoors, fly fishing, and playing music with his friends.
Governance Chair
Diana S. Gallegos, Director of West Governmental and Regulatory Affairs
Diana S. Gallegos is Director of West Governmental and Regulatory Affairs at Calpine Corporation. In this role, she leads regulatory strategy and engagement such as the safety of electric generating facilities, including battery energy storage systems. With over 17 years in energy regulation, she has held increasingly senior roles at Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric. Earlier, she developed markets for behavioral energy efficiency at a climate tech company and advised commissioners at the CPUC and Nevada’s Public Utilities Commission. Diana began her career representing energy clients before the CPUC and holds a JD from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.
Treasurer
Gabe Murtaugh, Director of Market Development
Gabe Murtaugh is the director of market development at Hydrostor and focuses on ensuring market readiness for deployment of long duration storage resources. Hydrostor is a leading developer of long duration storage projects, using advanced compressed air technology capable of storage durations from 8-hours to multiple days. Previously Gabe held positions at the LDES Council and the California Independent System Operator. At the Long Duration Energy Storage Council Gabe worked to accelerate pathways for decarbonization in global markets. At the California ISO Gabe was responsible for developing the early storage resource participation models.
Secretary
Stan Greschner, Policy and Business Development
Stan Greschner serves as a Policy and Business Development lead at Tesla. With nearly two decades of experience in the renewable energy sector, he has driven initiatives spanning federal, state, and local policy advocacy, strategic business development, and clean energy project execution. His work has been instrumental in advancing innovative clean energy and transportation solutions and fostering collaborative partnerships to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future.
At-Large Board Member
Paul Hayes, FPE, VP of Energy Infrastructure
Paul Hayes is a Civil and Fire Protection Engineer, licensed in over 35 states, with a career span of over 30 years. He has been a principal engineer managing unique hazard asset protection fire companies for the industrial and power markets. His expertise in risk hazard evaluation, mitigation technologies, and developing critical safety systems for Lithium-Ion battery facilities is widely recognized. Paul is a trusted Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) industry consultant. He works closely with manufacturers, integrators, utilities, independent power producers, and authorities with jurisdiction (AHJs) to establish the best fire protection and safety practices. His focus on designing cutting-edge safety systems, educating AHJs, and defining industry standards has significantly enhanced fire protection and risk mitigation strategies.
Board Member
Dan Patry, Senior Manager, State Government Affairs
Dan Patry is a legislative, regulatory and market development expert with over 14 years of experience in the energy sector developing strategies to secure positive commercial, strategic and policy outcomes. Dan currently oversees political strategy and policy development for AES Clean Energy in California.
Board Member
Ray Morquecho, Manager, Government Affairs
Ray Morquecho is the Government Affairs Manager at Arevon where he tracks and influences state policy developments, including legislative and regulatory activity, across Arevon's national portfolio. Ray earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine and has over 20 years of experience working for and with elected officials, government agencies, political campaigns, and trade associations in various roles including Chief of Staff and Senior Director of Policy.
Board Member
Aron Branam, Senior Vice President, Development
Aron leads Aypa's development of utility-scale energy storage and solar energy across the western United States. He brings over 15 years of renewable energy experience with a successful track record developing 5.5 GW of wind, solar, and energy storage projects into operation across the United States and Canada. Prior to joining Aypa, Aron served as Vice President of Development & Construction at Arevon Energy and held several development roles over the course of a decade with EDP Renewables. Aron earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Board Member
Julia Zuckerman, Senior Director, External and Market Affairs
Julia leads government and regulatory affairs in the Western states for Clearway Energy Group, one of the largest developers and owner-operators of clean energy in the United States. Julia has spent more than a decade working to advance clean energy policies, serving in leadership roles in the Large-scale Solar Association, American Clean Power Association, and other industry groups. Before joining the renewable energy industry, Julia was a Principal in Energy Finance at Climate Policy Initiative, working on research projects on clean energy finance and policy issues from the global to local scale.
Board Member
Cindy Howell
Board Member
Pedro Villegas, Executive Director, Regulatory West
Board Member
Mark Turner, Vice President – Head of Energy Storage Development
Mark is Terra-Gen’s Head of Energy Storage Development. Mark has over 30 years of experience in the electric power industry and has directly led the development of over 3.5 GW of clean power generation and storage projects that operate in the United States today. Prior to joining Terra-Gen in 2019, Mark served as Vice President – Development at Competitive Power Ventures, Inc where he led development and origination in the Western markets and PJM. Prior to joining Competitive Power Ventures in May of 2006, Mark served as Director of Development for InterGen in North America and Mexico.
Mark earned a B.A. degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento and a M.A. degree in Energy & Environmental Policy Studies from Columbia University in New York City.
Board Member
Raul Lopez, Director of Government Affairs
Raul Lopez serves as a Vistra corporate lobbyist covering Texas and California. A lover of the outdoors and avid backpacker who prefers mountains over beaches, can often be found road-tripping with my trusty dog or hiking through national parks. An old soul in a tech-driven world with a soft spot for 1950s crooners, a non-fiction reader, and a foodie who enjoys experimenting in the kitchen—with a few hits and the occasional miss.
Board Member
Colin Orloff, Energy Analyst Trader