DR. JAMES A. WALKER
Co-founder & President Emeritus
Dr. Walker is an internationally known energy expert and independent developer active in North America and Europe. Dr. Walker is co-founder of Princeton Energy Group and served as its President for its first 10 years of operation. Dr. Walker has over 30 years experience at senior levels in government (Office of Management and Budget, California Energy Commission) and as a principal in world-class development projects. In addition to his ongoing responsibilities with Princeton Energy Group, Dr. Walker has served as CEO of EDF Renewable Energy, a leading developer, owner, and operator of wind energy projects in North America. Dr. Walker continues to serve as its Vice-Chairman.
Among Dr. Walker’s notable international renewable energy project development work are:
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Greece: Brought Zond Corp into Greece and served as their consultant in all development, construction, operations and maintenance activities in Greece. He identified and acquired land rights for over 200 MW of wind projects and executed the first ever 10-year power purchase contract for wind parks with the Greek Public Power Company. He managed construction of two of the first wind projects completed in Greece, both on the island of Crete.
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Turkey: Dr. Walker is a principal of Turkish Wind Partners, which is developing over 40 MW of wind parks on the Cesme Peninsula in Western Turkey. The first 26 MW has executed a 20-year Implementation Agreement with the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
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Mexico: Dr. Walker executed a joint venture agreement in Mexico with Deproe, S.A. and EdF Energies Nouvelles to develop up to 2000 MW in the La Ventosa area of southern Mexico. La Ventosa is one of the best wind sites in the world.
Dr. Walker was Executive Director, Commissioner, and Vice Chairman of the California Energy Commission, twice appointed to the commission by Governor Jerry Brown. He played a leading role in the development of an institutional framework for rapid development of alternative energy in California in the 1970s and 1980s. He served as consultant and lobbyist in all state governmental forums in California for Edison Mission Energy. Dr. Walker was a principal at QED Research Inc, an energy consulting firm, and played a major role in the Merrill Lynch team that recommended to Sacramento Utility District that it abandon plans to reopen a nuclear plant in lieu of energy efficiency and alternative energy supply options.
Dr. Walker served on the board of the American Wind Energy Association from 2006 to 2010 and was named 2007 Industry Person of the Year by AWEA. He was a founding member and is current Vice Chairman of the American Wind Wildlife Institute and the Wind Energy Foundation. He has served as chair of the Peer Review Committee for the U.S. Department of Energy’s wind energy programs and budget.
Dr. Walker is also an advisor on solar and wind projects for the North American Development Bank (NADB). NADB was established in 1994 by the US and Mexican governments to finance projects in the US/Mexico border region which provide community benefits to that region. In 2012 it financed over 800 MW of solar and wind projects.
Dr. Walker was educated at Harvard University and awarded a Doctorate in Business Administration. He was awarded an AB in Physics Cum Laude from Princeton University.