UK - New Chairman Elected to UK’s Leading Renewable Energy Association

Adam Bruce, UK Chief Executive of Airtricity, has been elected Chairman of BWEA for 2007/09. He succeeds Chris Shears, Development Director at Renewable Energy Systems, who has held the post for the last two years.

Before becoming Chief Executive of Airtricity’s UK activities in 2006, Mr Bruce ran the public policy team at the UK law firm McGrigors, spending a decade working with government in London, Brussels and Edinburgh. He chaired the Scottish public affairs professional body for three years, served as a member of the Arbuthnott Commission and is a board member of the Westminster Forum, the London based policy networking group.

Mr Bruce stood for election with a call for BWEA to lead the debate on the future for onshore and offshore renewables by engaging with government and the public at every level.

Commenting on his election as Chairman, Adam Bruce said:
“By signing up to the EU’s target for 20% of Europe’s energy to be generated from renewables by 2020 the UK government has set us a significant challenge. If we are to meet this target the BWEA must ensure that public policy is developed for the sector to flourish.

BWEA is the UK’s leading advocate for renewable energy. It has to lead the debate on the future for onshore and offshore renewables. It must hold government to account in meeting long-set targets. Offshore remains a key priority and I will maintain pressure on government to address development obstacles and to promote new opportunities.

Very soon there will be a new UK Prime Minister and a new government in Westminster to add to the new governments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. I look forward to working with BWEA Chief Executive Maria McCaffery and the new Board to ensure that we effectively engage with all stakeholders to deliver our future energy strategy. “

Charles Rose, Managing Director of Hainsford Group Ltd, has taken over as Vice Chairman from Marcus Trinick of Bond Pearce Solicitors. Mr Rose brings a wealth of direct experience in the development, ownership and operation of renewables assets.

BIOGRAPHY OF ADAM BRUCE, CHAIRMAN OF BWEA
Adam Bruce has been UK Chief Executive of Airtricity since May 2006. Airtricity is a leading renewable energy company with operations in Ireland, the UK, Portugal and North America. In Britain it has a development pipeline of 2000MW, including the 500MW Clyde onshore wind farm and the 500MW Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm.

Prior to joining Airtricity Adam was Director of Public Policy at UK law firm, McGrigors. He set up that firm’s public affairs and policy practice and led it through McGrigors own transition into and out of KPMG. In that role he worked with clients in the energy, financial services, transport and infrastructure sectors, and for three years was Chairman of the Scottish public affairs industry group, ASPA.

Adam was educated at Oxford, (where he was president of the Union), and Edinburgh universities. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry and is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of the Arts. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife and son.