CEO leaves firm selected to build R.I. wind farm
5:28 PM Fri, Dec 05, 2008 | Permalink
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By Timothy C. Barmann The chief executive of Deepwater Wind, the company selected by Rhode Island to construct a $1.5 billion wind farm off the coast of the state, has left the company. Chris Brown, who stood with Governor Carcieri in September, when the state's selection was announced, departed the company about three weeks ago, according to a company spokesman. State officials insisted that Brown's departure will have no impact on the wind project, which is to be privately financed, built and operated by Deepwater. But it comes at a critical time, just as the company and state officials are negotiating a final agreement for the project. Duffy & Shanley, the Providence public relations firm the represents Deepwater, gave little details about the circumstances surrounding Brown's departure. Asked whether Brown was fired, spokesman Stephen Hourahan said that he wasn't. "It was a mutual understanding," Hourahan said. Hourahan provided a statement, attributed to Tony Meggs, chairman of the board of Deepwater Wind. "Chris Brown is no longer affiliated with Deepwater Wind and is pursuing other opportunities," Meggs said in the statement. "The Board is currently in the process of selecting a new chief executive officer for the company. We hope to conclude that process in the coming months." Meggs said that Chris Wissemann, the company's chief operating officer, will be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the company, until a new CEO is found. Wissemann earned an engineering degree in Energy Studies at Brown University, the company Web site says. Meggs will continue to oversee the strategic direction of Deepwater, he said. "Deepwater Wind maintains its commitment to developing utility-scaled offshore wind power in the United States, and in Rhode Island in particular. The state is fully aware of this situation and we are currently in negotiation with them over a joint development agreement for the development of our proposed project in the waters near Rhode Island. We are hopeful that in the coming weeks we will be able to announce the signing of that agreement." Andrew Dzykewicz, the governor's energy adviser, said Brown's departure was a surprise. He said he found out about a week ago through a call from the company. "Honestly, it's not that big of a deal," Dzykewicz said. "The [energy] industry is pretty vibrant and people move around a lot." Dzykewicz said he wasn't at all troubled by the management change, even though Brown was the key person the state had been dealing with. Brown left Deepwater at a crucial time for the company and for the state. In September, Governor Carcieri announced that Deepwater Wind was to be the state's "selected partner" to build an offshore wind farm that would be large enough to supply 15 percent of the state's electricity needs. That designation allows the company the exclusive rights to develop a wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island, Dzykewicz has said. The state has also agreed to help streamline the permitting process. Deepwater, a three-year-old company, beat out six other wind farm developers who had submitted proposals. Its plan was the only one to suggest using anchoring technology that would allow wind turbines to be erected far from shore, perhaps 15 to 20 miles. At that distance, the wind turbines practically invisible from shore. But the site of the wind farm has not been decided. The site will be chosen based on the results of a two-year state project to map a large swath of ocean that is now underway. The company is facing a Dec. 24 deadline to complete negotiations with state officials on a final development agreement. Dyzkewicz said that negotiations haven't been affected by Brown's departure. "They're going pretty well," he said. "We're meeting with these guys on Monday and Tuesday to do what we think are the final negotiations." 
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