David Olsen, who until last month served as chair of the CAISO Board of Governors, plans to retire Nov. 30, the ISO said Wednesday.
A clean energy leader and former head of outdoor-gear maker Patagonia, Olsen joined the board more than eight years ago and served as its chair from February 2018 to Oct. 1. He led the ISO during a time of great change, as California moved to phase out carbon-emitting resources and adopt renewable energy and storage.
He was also instrumental in the creation of the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM), which by 2022 is scheduled to include 22 participants in states across the West.
“I’ll be 75 years old soon, and have been on the CAISO board for almost nine years. That’s long enough on both fronts,” Olsen said in an email, explaining his decision to retire more than a year before the end of his term.
“Dave Olsen has been a pioneer in the development of the renewable energy industry,” CAISO CEO Elliot Mainzer said in a statement. His knowledge, vision and operating experience with highly reliable, low-carbon microgrids helped CAISO embrace the broader opportunities offered by new resources. His life’s work in the fields of clean energy and corporate sustainability initiatives is reflected in thousands of megawatts of clean energy projects and progressive policies adopted across the country.
“All of us at the ISO thank him for his service and wish him the very best,” Mainzer said.
The search for Olsen’s replacement has begun, the ISO said.
California Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Olsen to the board in 2012, and Gov. Gavin Newsom reappointed him in January 2019 to a term that expires at the end of 2021.
Olsen served as managing director of Western Grid Group from 2003 to 2013, leading an organization of former Western state energy officials who advocated for grid modernization, a transition to a clean energy economy and the creation of the EIM, according to his CAISO biography.
In the business world, Olsen led development of wind, solar, hydroelectric and geothermal power projects in more than 20 countries as president of Clipper Windpower (2001-2003), founder and president of Peak Power (1988-1995), vice president of Magma Power (1993-1995) and CEO of Northern Power Systems (1984-1988), the ISO said.
From 1996 to 1999 he served as president and CEO of Patagonia, leading the company’s carbon-reduction efforts and making it the first U.S. corporation to get its electricity from wind and solar power.
“I’m extremely grateful to Dave for his commitment to the ISO and California’s decarbonization goals,” said Angelina Galiteva, who took over as board chair last month. “He is a thoughtful, innovative and collaborative leader and leaves a legacy of championing the transition to 100% renewable energy while safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all Californians. His dedication, deep knowledge and tireless enthusiasm for building the grid of the future will be difficult to replicate.”
Olsen said in the statement he was privileged to have worked with such “excellent board colleagues and outstanding management and staff.”
“Together, we’ve steadily improved the organization’s capabilities and made it an internationally recognized leader in the transition to a low-carbon future,” he said. “I’m leaving CAISO in very good hands.”