Meet the keynote speakers

Julie Blunden
Vice President for Public Policy and Corporate Communications
SunPower Corporation

With more than a decade of experience in renewable resources, Julie Blunden manages public policy and market development, public relations, and investor relations at SunPower, an international designer and manufacturer of solar technology solutions for residential, business, government, and utility customers. Prior to joining SunPower in 2005, Blunden served as a consultant at KEMA-XENERGY on energy markets, renewable resources, and policy to industry, utilities, and state and federal governments. In this capacity in 2004, she supported the Schwarzenegger administration in developing the Million Solar Homes Initiative. In 1997, Blunden co-founded Green Mountain Energy Company, a national retail electric supplier of renewable power.

Earlier in her career, Blunden served at the AES Corporation, a Fortune 500 global power company with a diverse portfolio of generation and distribution businesses, where she was responsible for power-plant development and acquisitions in the independent power-generation business.

Blunden received an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College, majoring in engineering, modified with environmental studies. She serves on the board of directors at the Center for Resource Solutions and on the board of advisors for Vote Solar.

Jeffery D. Wolfe, P.E.
Co-founder, CEO, and Chairman
groSolar

A recognized leader in the solar energy industry and a leading voice on solar energy policy throughout the U.S., Jeff Wolfe is co-founder, CEO, and Chairman of groSolar, North America's premier distributor, installer, and integrator of solar energy solutions for residential and commercial installations. Under his direction, groSolar has become the fourth-largest residential installer in the country, the largest 100% U.S.-owned distributor of solar equipment and systems, and a large commercial systems provider.

Wolfe is the elected chair of the PV Division of the Solar Electric Industry Association (SEIA), the country's leading PV trade organization. He also serves on the Union of Concerned Scientists National Advisory Board and is one of 1,000 people in the U.S. trained to present Al Gore's climate change presentation. He is a founding board member and former president of the Sustainable Energy Resource Group. He was a founding board member and former chair of Renewable Energy Vermont, and founding board member and former vice chair of the New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Association. Wolfe frequently speaks on policy and workforce-development issues in solar energy.

Under Wolfe's leadership, groSolar has experienced rapid growth and has been instrumental in accelerating residential and commercial markets through innovative distribution and direct-sale practices. Venture investment also has contributed to the firm's strong growth rates.

Wolfe was instrumental in getting the first state-legislated feed-in tariff passed in the U.S., in Vermont. Also known as the Vermont Energy Act of 2009, the approach is meant to encourage individuals and businesses to install their own grid-connected renewable energy systems. It allows owners of small renewable energy facilities to sign long-term contracts for the sale of power they produce.

Prior to forming groSolar, Wolfe was a professional engineer consulting on over $1 billion of design, construction, and renovation projects. He also started and grew two engineering offices as a partner in a national engineering firm.

Wolfe earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University.