Former Massachusetts Undersecretary for Energy Mark Sylvia recently joined BlueWave Capital, the solar energy development and finance company, as Managing Director in January.
“Mark’s service to the Patrick Administration has made a difference in communities across Massachusetts and in our Commonwealth’s energy future,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “I wish him the best in his new endeavor and congratulate BlueWave for bringing on such a talented, dedicated new team member.”
“Mark will add substantial value to BlueWave’s efforts to accelerate our expansion into new markets in the United Statesand internationally as well as to build on the significant results we have achieved to date in the Commonwealth and to meaningfully contribute to the development of new initiatives the company will unveil in 2015,” said John DeVillars, BlueWave’s Managing Principal. “He has played a critical role in making Massachusetts a national leader in solar energy policy and has a well-earned reputation as a smart, effective, creative, and principled leader. We are thrilled to have Mark join the BlueWave team!”
Sylvia has been with the Patrick Administration since 2009 and has served as Green Communities Division Director as well as Department of Energy Resources Commissioner. He and his team have implemented nation-leading policies, leading to the number one ranking in energy efficiency four years in a row and surpassing the Governor’s ambitious solar goal of 250 megawatts by 2017 four years early.
Under Sylvia’s leadership, DOER launched innovative programs to support energy resiliency, electric vehicle adoption, building labeling and renewable thermal technologies. There are now 136 cities and towns that have been designated as Green Communities, representing more than half of the Commonwealth’s population. During his tenure, Sylvia chaired the Energy Facilities Sighting Board and served on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center boards.
Sylvia earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from the American University in Washington D.C. He lives with his wife, Veronique, and children, Mitchell and Scarlett, in his hometown of Fairhaven where he is the elected Town Moderator.
About BlueWave Capital
BlueWave Capital, LLC is a for-profit, mission-driven solar energy development and finance company headquartered in Boston, MA with offices located in Charleston, SC; Nassau, The Bahamas; and Cape Town, South Africa. BlueWave’s team is developing more than 500 megawatts of solar projects around the world.
BlueWave has helped Massachusetts become a national leader in solar energy deployment through its development of over 60 MW of solar projects in the state. BlueWave has executed PPA’s with more than 15 cities, towns and community colleges in the Commonwealth, is providing customers with upwards of $125 million in electricity savings, and is reducing CO2 emissions by 34,000 metric tons annually. These results led the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to select BlueWave Capital as the preferred solar developer for the Council’s Regional Solar Initiative. Through this initiative, BlueWave is enabling 17 cities and towns in the Greater Boston Area to realize the economic and environmental benefits provided by solar energy.
BlueWave has an experienced team of 35 solar development professionals with expertise in finance, real estate, engineering and public policy. The company has a demonstrated and long-standing commitment to progressive environmental and energy policy and believes in using solar as not only a means of reducing electricity costs but also as leverage to achieve community and economic development goals.