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Administration

Kevin R. Young
President

Kevin Young HeadshotMr. Kevin Young is president of YES, an innovative company that specializes in the environmental review and permitting of renewable energy projects including hydro, solar, and wind. Mr. Young has over 30 years experience in the siting, permitting, and licensing of energy related projects throughout the United States and Canada and the review of energy projects around the world. Mr. Young was a former Senior Vice President and Partner within The Louis Berger Group, Inc. heading their Energy Services Division. Mr. Young was instrumental in developing the Energy Division within Louis Berger and growing it into a multi-million dollar business unit with a staff of over 40. For 12 years Mr. Young managed an engineering and environmental support contract with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): Office of Energy Projects. While at Berger Mr. Young initiated their Green Energy Services and Solutions Program that covered a wide range of services including, but not limited to, energy efficiency, energy master plans, energy conservation, carbon footprint analysis, and carbon management plans. Mr. Young is knowledgeable in the renewable energy sectors that include hydro, solar, wind, biomass (waste-to-energy) technology options, as well as both state and federal incentives around such projects.

Mr. Young is an expert in the licensing of conventional hydro, pumped storage, and hydrokinetic projects that require licensing by the FERC. Mr. Young is also an expert in other aspects of FERC hydro regulation, such as in the development and review of Shoreline Management Plans, Recreation Management Plans, and developing applications and Environmental Assessments associated with applications for Non-Project Use of Project Lands. In the Southeast, either directly for licensees or through the FERC contract, Mr. Young has been involved with the Duke’s Catawba-Wateree, Keowee-Toxaway, and Nantahala projects, ALCOA’s Yadkin and Tapoco projects, Alabama Power’s Coosa project, Progress Energy’s Lake Tillery project, AEP’s Smith Mountain project, SCE&G’s Saluda project, and others.

Recently Mr. Young has been directly involved with conducting Recreation Use FERC Form 80 studies for various utilities in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, as well as assisting in the licensing and shoreline management assessment of a new proposed hydro project in Colorado.

Mr. Young is also experienced in the study, licensing, and review of gas fired generating stations, gas pipeline, and gas storage projects.  Mr. Young has had extensive involvement in agency consultation, public interaction, and liaison with project engineers. Mr. Young has been involved with International Utilities and lending agencies. In Africa Mr. Young worked in Liberia through USAID/Winrock International on a small hydro project as well as with the African Development Bank in the development of review guidelines for energy projects and Mr. Young has participated in environmental training programs in Thailand and the Ivory Coast. 

Over the past 30 years, Mr. Young has been involved with the National Hydropower Association (NHA), the Michigan/Wisconsin Hydropower User Group (HUG), the Northwest Hydropower Association (NWHA), and Northeast Energy and Commerce Association (NECA). Currently Mr. Young serves on the Advisory Board for Tula International, serves as Director of Hydro Licensing for Gridflex Energy, LLC, and is an Associate of SC&A, Inc. Mr. Young has negotiated Master Service Agreements with Dominion Power, Progress Energy, Brookfield Power, and TransCanada. Mr. Young has negotiated direct contracts with American Electric Power (AEP), Appalachian Power Company, Duke Power, Northeast Utilities, Public Service of New Hampshire, RiverBank Power, AmerenUE, Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), First Energy, Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL), VELCO, TrAIL Co, Avista, and Safe Harbor.

Mr. Young was recently a contributing author of a new report entitled New Pathways for Hydropower: Getting Hydropower Built – What Does It Take?”  The report identifies 31 technological ideas, with several of the ideas addressing the need to nurture Hydropower-specific innovation and education. Although the main focus of this report is new small hydropower, many of the ideas presented are applicable to hydropower development in general.

The ideas are grouped into eight categories:

      1. Improved Tools for Siting, Prequalification, and Feasibility Determination
      2. New and Improved Design Tools-Guidelines and Standards
      3. Improved Access to Design-related Information, Online Toolboxes, and Databases
      4. New Hydropower-Specific Education, Training, and Outreach
      5. Advanced and Improved Technology, Materials, and Manufacturing
      6. Standardized and Modular Designs
      7. New and Improved Electrical Standards and Practices
      8. Tools for Commissioning, Operation, and Maintenance

This report was a compilation of ideas from an experienced group of well-regarded industry professionals.

 

Brad Kovach
Director of Regulatory Compliance

Brad Kovach ImageMr. Brad Kovach is the Director of Regulatory Compliance for YES and is an expert in providing leadership for the pursuit and analysis of environmental compliance findings related to hydroelectric projects and other forms of renewable energies. Mr. Kovach has nearly 30 years of experience in energy facility siting and permitting services, with distinct focus on NEPA, the development and operation of hydropower facilities, facility licensing, and water quality permitting and certification. With respect to biological services, Mr. Kovach has comprehensive experience in executing studies and providing regulatory compliance consulting related to aquatic ecology, fisheries, mussels, and threatened and endangered species. Mr. Kovach has been involved in the licensing and environmental compliance for multiple FERC regulated projects, including the provision of data, permits, and clearances for natural gas pipeline facilities; Form 80 filings and shoreline management plans; maintenance and expansion projects for compliance with NEPA; construction stormwater permitting; National Historic Preservation Act compliance; Endangered Species Act compliance; wetland mapping, planning and permitting; natural resource management planning, inventory, and administration; water quality, aquatic resources, and invasive aquatic species research and compliance.

 

Staff

Research and Regulatory Compliance

Kelly L. Saylor
Research Manager/Regulatory Planner/Document Development and Technical Editing

Kelly Saylor has over 10 years of experience in the research and development of scientific documents, reports, and manuals. Ms. Saylor brings extensive editing capabilities to the YES team and will assist in the preparation of all deliverables and licensing documents. Ms. Saylor has experience in the review of the FERC database, licensing activities, and compliance rulings as contained in the FERC eLibrary with a focus on the licensing and compliance of hydro projects, and has successfully researched projects and incorporated the technical information within industry reports.

 

Hydraulics

Gary M. Franc
Senior Hydraulics Engineer

Gary Franc managed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing activities for potential development of hydro projects on the Upper Mississippi River and on the Allegheny River.  Mr. Franc evaluated targeted pumped storage development opportunities located in California and the Pacific Northwest.  Mr. Franc developed software applications for hydro plants throughout New York State to satisfy reporting requirements mandated by the State’s Independent System Operator (NYISO) and instructed Water Resources Managers in the use of hydro optimization software. Mr. Franc has extensive knowledge of hydrologic, hydraulic, and environmental studies (i.e. Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) and Inflow Design Flood (IDF) Studies; Energy Potential Studies; Rainfall/Runoff Studies throughout New York State; Reservoir Simulation and Dam Break Studies, Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) Studies; Financial Analyses Studies.  Additionally, Mr. Franc was involved with the creation of reservoir simulation models for use in Negotiated Settlements.

 

Agency Outreach

Thomas Plante
State-Federal Agency Coordinator

Thomas Plante has over 40 years of experience in all phases of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydro licensing/relicensing processes, hydro safety operations, permitting, negotiation, Shoreline Management Plans, Recreation Management Plans, as well as researching other FERC licensed projects, and providing research and analysis reports.

 

Urban Planning

Dan Lispi

Senior Project Development Manager

Dan Lispi provides consulting services to clients to assist in all phases of project development activity including development, grants and loans, financing, permitting, construction and operation. While the manager of the licensing division of the New York Power Authority Mr. Lispi managed project development activities for small hydroelectric projects including economic feasibility studies, coordinating the flow of information for inter agency and public relations, and the licensing and permits effort. Projects successfully licensed include the Vischer Ferry, Crescent, Delta, and Waterford Hydroelectric Projects. Mr. Lispi also served as the New York Power Authority's representative on the New York State Small Hydropower Task Force. Mr. Lispi directed the activities of the Harrisburg Energy Office including an intergovernmental agreement for joint purchasing of natural gas, electricity, and energy conservation, resulting in energy cost savings at government owned facilities. Mr. Lispi led the development, permitting, and installation of a 190kW mini-hydro turbine generator at New York City’s water filtration plant to generate renewable energy for in-house use.

Kyle Sitzman
Urban Planning and Field Services

Kyle Sitzman has a degree in Geography, Urban and Regional Planning, and is experienced in agency outreach, project management and planning, energy analytics, landscape architecture, and leadership.  Mr. Sitzman's responsibilities include Urban Planning, and he is an integral part of the field services team.

 

Aquatic and Environmental Resources

John Homa, Jr.

Senior Fisheries Biologist

John Homa has directed aquatic and terrestrial research throughout the northeastern United States, the upper Midwest, and Pacific coast states. Studies resulted in environmental protection and enhancement opportunities while also allowing the project to operate in an economical and efficient manner. A very important aspect of these studies has been collaboration with technical teams to examine alternatives for resource restoration and to select methods that balance the most positive ecological results with energy production. A key aspect in negotiating agreements has been a close working relationship with the power producer and regulatory agencies, non-governmental agencies (NGO’s), and thorough knowledge of issues on the federal, state, and local level. Mr. Homa has directed studies concerning: fisheries; fish entrainment/impingement, passage, and protection; water quality; water temperature monitoring and modeling; instream flow habitat modeling; system-wide white water recreation, reservoir fluctuation including time series habitat evaluation models, wetlands; and rare species. Mr. Homa has prepared materials for FERC Licensing of Hydroelectric Projects, Environmental Assessments (EA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), formal responses to resource agencies, and affidavits concerning aquatic resources.

Jeremy A. Dietrich
Ecology and Environmental Field Services

Jeremy Dietrich has over 12 years experience in the fields of ecology and environmental science, with concentrations in aquatic entomology, fisheries, and hydrologic modeling.  Mr. Dietrich's primary research and professional focus is on population dynamics of aquatic macroinvertebrates in response to disturbances, as well as fisheries surveys and habitat impact assessments. Mr. Dietrich's primary field responsibilities include: establishment of aquatic macroinvertebrate biomonitoring protocols and subsequent collection and identification of macroinvertebrates; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) compliance issues, that include: minimum flow, water temperature, and in-stream flow habitat/sediment assessments; freshwater mussel population surveys; stream flow gaging and stream channel morphology and sediment classification studies; fish population sampling using various methods, including: seining, gill-netting, electrofishing, and boat collections; and operation and maintenance of watercraft up to 20ft.  Mr. Dietrich has performed technical and specialized taxonomic duties on a number of Cornell University research projects, including the Lake Ontario Biocomplexity Study, Hudson River Estuary and Upper River SAV Beds Field Sampling, and investigated the aquatic impacts of invasive plants.

Cristy Boyd
Senior Environmental Scientist

Christy Boyd is a Senior Environmental Scientist with 22 years of experience in the development and supervision of environmental projects for various government and private sector clients. Responsibilities have included the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), and environmental permit applications for projects in accordance with federal laws including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and applicable state environmental laws. Ms. Boyd's primary responsibilities have included coordination with client and agency representatives, engineers, planners, landscape architects, etc.; preparing permit applications, mitigation plans, and monitoring permit compliance. Additionally, Ms. Boyd has managed numerous pre-purchase site feasibility studies, habitat/biological assessments, bio-community mapping, wetland delineations, and listed species surveys. As part of the NEPA process, Ms. Boyd has routinely organized and conducted public scoping meetings and public hearings. During facility construction, Ms. Boyd has conducted environmental compliance inspections, mitigation monitoring activities, and environmental training programs to educate construction personnel regarding environmentally sensitive resources.

 

Civil Engineering

Charles W. Streicher, P.E.
Senior Civil Engineer

Charles Streicher has experience in engineering and management and has served on a variety of civil engineering projects and construction projects as Project Manager, Construction Manager, Project Engineer, and Design Engineer. 

William Guey-Lee
Senior Civil Engineer

William. Guey-Lee has over 34 years experience in all phases of civil engineering for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydro licensing/relicensing processes, permitting, negotiation, as well as researching other FERC licensed projects and providing research and analysis reports.

 

Geodata

Paul J. Phillips
GIS/CAD Manager

Paul Phillips is an experienced design professional with more than 20 years of expertise in electronic and manual mapping systems. Mr. Phillips has mastered utilizing AutoCAD and GIS technologies since their inception in various engineering and regulatory environments. Mr. Phillips has a wealth of experience with raster and vector data formats from DWG, GeoTIFF, to complex geodatabases. Mr. Phillips provides analytical and technical skill sets as a company resource for the creation of solutions to move project work forward in an accurate and timely manner.

 

Power Production and Generation Review

Frank Simms
Power Production Review

Frank Simms currently serves, as the Power Production Reviewer for YES, and was the former Manager of Hydro Operations for AEP, where he was responsible for the operation of seventeen AEP hydroelectric facilities located in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Mr. Simms also directed the process for the federal relicensing of AEP’s two large hydro projects in Virginia; Smith Mountain Lake and Claytor Lake. Mr. Simms has been with AEP for 30 years and has been directly involved with local, state, regional and federal agencies in addition to community groups and other stakeholders. Mr. Simms brings extensive experience to the YES Project team.

 

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

George C. Belev
QA/QC Manager

George Belev has 38 years experience in the design, manufacturing, and procurement engineering, contract management, and quality assurance for the fabrication, testing, delivery, installation, and field support of high quality nuclear power plant components for installation in submarines and aircraft carriers.  Mr. Belev’s experience also includes the development and preparation of technical specifications, quality surveillance plans, and other procurement documents.  Mr. Belev has developed and taught requirements identification and management and quality assurance training programs, in-house and at select subcontractors.  Mr. Belev has experience in subcontractor development and management (e.g., Mentor-Protégé).  Mr. Belev is an expert in interpreting and administering federal government general provisions.