FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:
October 26, 2015
CONTACT:
Brian Rounds
Board of Directors, President
Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System
605-773-5480
[email protected]
Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS)Selects Energy Attorney Benjamin Gerber to Lead Organization
Former Director of Energy and Labor/Management Policy at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce brings diverse energy experience to new role.
MINNEAPOLIS – October 26, 2015 – Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, Inc. (M-RETS) has named Ben Gerber as the nonprofit’s new Executive Director. Gerber brings energy policy, regulatory and legal experience, and leadership to M-RETS. Gerber replaces previous Executive Director, Amy Fredregill, who is now Resource Planning and Strategy Manager at Xcel Energy.
“I’m excited to welcome Ben to our team,” said M-RETS board President Brian Rounds. “During this dynamic time in energy policy, Ben’s passion, experience, and legal acumen will help M-RETS continue to build its reputation and position as the premier energy tracking system in our region.”
Prior to his appointment as Executive Director of M-RETS, Gerber served as Director of Energy and Labor/Management Policy at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. He joined that organization in January 2012, representing the Chamber’s energy interests at both the Legislature and the Public Utilities Commission. Prior to that, he was an oil and gas attorney and handled Fredrikson & Byron’s government relations operation in North Dakota, focusing on mining, energy and tax legislation. His Minnesota experience includes time spent at a Minneapolis government relations office, and public policy and legal work for National Wind, LLC, a large-scale community wind developer.
He also owned an asphalt maintenance company while attending college at the University of Michigan where he graduated with a degree in political science in 2005. He graduated from William Mitchell College of law cum laude in 2010 and is admitted to the Minnesota State Bar Association. Ben also serves on the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.
About M-RETS
The Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS) tracks renewable energy generation in participating States and Provinces and assists in verifying compliance with individual state/provincial or voluntary Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and objectives. M-RETS is an important tool to keep track of all relevant information about renewable energy produced and delivered in the region.
Currently M-RETS® tracks renewable energy in the following states and province of Canada: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Manitoba, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Wisconsin. These states and province have policies in place requiring or strongly encouraging utility development of renewable resources. M-RETS uses verifiable production data for all participating generators and creates a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) in the form of a tradable digital certificate for each MWh.
The M-RETS system is administered by APX which was awarded a contract by Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, Inc., a 501(c) 4 non-profit, to operate and administer the program.
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Editor’s note: Ben Gerber is a resident of Minneapolis, Minn.