About Us

Our vision: we believe improving people’s lives means more clean, efficient and, affordable energy technologies for the world.

Our mission: to be climate change leaders by offering market-leading performance technologies within its areas of application, reinventing the design, materials and execution of these technologies.

Roland Risser provides technical consulting services to a wide range of government and non-government organizations in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable power, grid modernization, and demand management. He currently serves on the Energy Trust of Oregon board, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping utility customers benefit from saving energy and generating renewable power.

Mr. Risser started his career in energy efficiency, renewable power, and demand management at Pacific Gas and Electric Company where he was responsible for developing and implementing energy efficiency research projects, and leading the company’s energy efficiency programs, including development of strategies that support delivery of energy savings, new construction approaches to Zero Net Energy, and achievement of greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Mr. Risser joined the US Department of Energy in 2010 as Director of the Building Technologies Office, where he was responsible for U.S. appliance and equipment minimum energy efficiency standards, building-related technology research and development, and residential and commercial "technology to market" programs that increase the speed and scale of market adoption of new energy saving opportunities. He was subsequently the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Power, responsible for the four DOE offices developing and advancing geothermal, solar, wind and water renewable power technologies, as well as co-leading DOE’s Grid Modernization Initiative. He retired from DOE in 2017.

Mr. Risser was elected to chair the ISO Technical Committee on Energy Management (ISO 50001), a position he holds today, and he has been on the board of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy and was chairman of the board of the Consortium of Energy Efficiency.

Jim Saber is President & CEO at NextEnergy. Saber previously lead the business and technology development and demonstration activities to support commercialization and business growth of NextEnergy’s advanced energy clients and stakeholders. Saber’s experience includes the development of over $150 million in technology development and demonstration programs within e-mobility, smart grid, buildings and infrastructure, microgrids, energy storage, renewable energy, and alternative fuels.

Mr. Saber has lead NextEnergy’s work in establishing new technology development and demonstration platforms within next generation energy efficiency and transportation applications. Prior to joining NextEnergy, Saber spent more than a decade in the energy storage industry where he held product and business development positions with Fortune 500 and startup companies. He serves on the boards of TechTown, Detroit 2030 District, Michigan Institute for Energy Innovation, and the external advisory board of the University of Michigan Energy Institute.

Mr. Saber holds a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Lawrence Technological University.