Richard Polich

Rich has more than 30 years’ experience as an energy industry engineer, manager, and leader, combining his business and technical expertise in the management of governmental, industrial and utility projects. He has worked extensively in nuclear, coal, IGCC, natural gas, green/renewable generation. Rich has developed generation projects in wind, solar, and biomass in Australia, Canada, Caribbean, South American and United States locales. His generation experience includes engineering of systems and providing engineering support of plant operations. Notable projects include the Midland Nuclear Project and its conversion to natural gas combined cycle, start-up testing support for Consumers’ coal-fired Campbell 3, Palisades nuclear steam generator replacement support, Covert Generating Station feasibility evaluation, and a Lake Erie offshore wind project. He also has extensive experience in utility rates and regulation, having managed Consumers Energy’s rates group for a number of years. In that function his responsibilities included load and revenue forecasting, overseeing the design of gas and electric rates and testifying in regulatory proceedings. Rich has testified in over thirty regulatory and legislative proceedings.

Rich has managed the development of over 2,000 MW of integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC) projects, 1,200 MW of natural gas combined cycle projects, 1,800 MW of wind generation projects and 3,000 MW of solar energy projects. In each case Rich was responsible for developing project costs, assessing project economics, purchasing components, obtaining engineering, procurement and construction contracts, and securing project financing.