Matt Cheney oversees the strategic direction of the firm. He is the former CEO of Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, the United States based wholly-owned subsidiary of Fotowatio, a global solar Independent Power Producer. In 2009 Mr. Cheney helped to manage the acquisition by Fotowatio of MMA Renewable Ventures, where he was the current CEO. MMA Renewable Ventures (MMA RV) focused on the development, ownership and operation of a multi-million dollar portfolio of large and distributed scale solar, wind, biomass and energy efficiency project investments, and was the first independent syndicator of Solar Tax Equity funds in the US. MMA RV syndicated 50 renewable energy projects in five separate funds during Mr. Cheney’s tenure. Prior to MMA RV, Mr. Cheney was the CEO of NUON Renewable Ventures USA, LLC, while he served as Director of North American Business Development for NUON NV in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In that role, he developed and implemented NUON’s North American renewable energy investment strategy. In addition, Mr. Cheney managed U.S. mergers and acquisitions as a member of NUON’s global M&A team. Mr. Cheney himself took NUON Renewable Ventures private in 2004 under the name of Renewable Ventures LLC. Mr. Cheney has more than twenty-five years in the fields of civil engineering, energy, and environment, including experience with the U.S. Agency for International Development in South America, the National Rural electric Co-op Association’s International programs, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Utility PhotoVoltaic Group, now the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA). Mr. Cheney has a Bachelor’s from the American University and a Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, both in Washington D. C.
Karin Berardo brings over 20 years of experience in structured finance, fund management, organizational management and policy. She formerly led the investor relations and fund management team at Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), where she also served as a lead originator and deal structurer in Acquisitions working on both utility scale and commercial scale projects. Prior to FRV, Ms. Berardo managed New Business Development and Client Relations at MuniMae, an affordable housing finance company, and through its subsidiary MMA Renewable Ventures, a clean energy finance company. At MMA she structured and implemented new investment opportunities, developed operational best practices to ensure fiduciary compliance, and served as liaison to advisory clients and investors. During nearly 10 years at MuniMae, she was instrumental in closing over $500 million in institutional investment funds for the company’s various business lines, while working in Structured Finance, Financial Risk Management, and Corporate Planning and Administration. Ms. Berardo has extensive experience in the development and policy arena in the Brazilian Amazon authoring major reports used by the Ford Foundation, Brazil, and the World Bank Pilot Project on the Amazon; as well as emerging markets experience in Africa and the Middle East. Ms. Berardo holds a Masters in Public Policy, an International Masters of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies, all from the University of Chicago.
Mr. Amirault focuses on project development and acquisitions in the western US for CleanPath. Mr. Amirault most recently worked with the utility and power plants group at SunPower Corporation developing and acquiring large utility scale projects in North America. Prior to SunPower, he worked on the corporate development and structured finance team at EPS Corporation focusing on energy efficiency and clean generation projects. Earlier in his career, Mr. Amirault spent several years in investment banking focusing on M&A and capital raising for cleantech, alternative energy, internet, digital media and biotech companies. Mr. Amirault earned his MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley and B.A. in Economics from Colby College.
Tom Price heads the policy and market strategies development for CleanPath, focusing on speeding the adoption of distributed consumption (commonly known as Community Solar), and on removing barriers to the adoption of renewable energy. Recent work including helping draft and pass legislation exempting solar from property tax in Nevada, as well as legislation allowing 3rd party renewables ownership. Prior to joining CleanPath, Mr. Price founded and led a non-profit which built over 1MW of PV for schools, hospitals, and other community entities. He spent seven years as a freelance journalist covering environmental issues, and almost a decade as an environmental advocate in Washington, DC. He served as Chairman of the Environmental Advisory Committee to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. He has a BA in Political Science from the University of Utah, and lives with his wife and daughter in Berkeley.