Solar Austin is pleased to have Austin Energy’s new General Manager LARRY WEIS as its “Solar Happy Hour” speaker on November 10.
To celebrate the occasion, and accommodate our growing, happy solar crowd, we will be at a new venue in downtown Austin: Shoal Creek Saloon at 9th & Lamar. Austin’s home of the New Orleans Saints (shoalcreeksaloon.com) has plenty of food, drink and parking. If we can just solarize the giant “Saints” helmet on their roof, this could become solar happy hour nirvana.
Please plan on joining us.
Mike Sloan
Solar Austin, Head Speaker-Arranger Guy
Talk: The Larry Weis Vision for Solar Power in Austin
Time: Wednesday, November 10 • 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Shoal Creek Saloon. 909 N. Lamar, Austin
Parking: http://www.shoalcreeksaloon.com/scmap.jpg
There’s a new sheriff in town. Larry Weis is his name, electricity is his game.
The last utility Larry ran in California (Turlock Irrigation District) may have started its solar programs well after Austin committed to becoming a Solar Power leader, but by 2009, his old utility was outperforming Austin, with cumulative solar installations per customer (19 W/customer) that were 3X that of Austin Energy (6 W/customer).
As Larry takes over the helm of all things Austin Energy — ranging from immediate budget challenges, a renewable energy intensive generation plan, Austin’s first rate case in more than 16 years, and overhauling the utility’s business model — he will also be steering a course toward much greater levels of solar power. Come hear of his vision to achieve Austin’s aspirations for Solar Power and nurturing a vibrant local solar industry.
Can Larry Weis do for Solar in Austin what Drew Brees did for Football in New Orleans? We have the perfect event and place for you to find out…
Larry Weis, the former General Manager and CEO of the Turlock Irrigation District (TID) in Turlock California, began his tenure on September 27, 2010 as General Manager of Austin Energy. Weis brings more than 29 years experience in the electric and water utility industries and was chosen following a national search and an extensive selection process.
Austin City Manager Marc Ott, in naming Weis, said the utility executive has the experience, the record and the management style needed to continue the success enjoyed by the City’s progressive electric utility. “We need a creative thinker that clearly values what it means to be the best managed public utility in the country,” Ott said. “Someone with a track record of embracing challenges, pressing for innovation, ensuring full transparency and welcoming involvement from the community. We heard all of those things about Larry in visiting with community leaders in Turlock and his record reflects the full range of those qualities.”
Weis began his electric utility career in 1981 in Washington state, where he oversaw a huge buildup of a nationally prominent energy efficiency and conservation program, worked with commercial and industrial customers, and strengthened system reliability with additional transmission and stepped up maintenance and planning. At TID, Weis led the planning, financing and construction of natural gas power plants and the acquisition of a 137 MW wind project to meet renewable energy targets.
Weis was born in Seattle, has degrees in Music and Engineering, and spent his early career working for Boeing on the 747 and 767 programs.