REAP’s new board member representatives are high-achieving professionals leaving their mark on the world of renewable energy. Through their respective organizations, they will be able to leverage greater insight and ideas to make a successful clean energy future all the more possible.
Frances Ball is the Operations and Outreach Director for Launch Alaska. Launch Alaska is a deployment accelerator based in Anchorage that pairs startups with decision makers to validate technologies and scope projects. Through Launch Alaska, startups work with investors, policymakers, and customers in a collaborative and structured 8-month program to get solutions to the companies and communities who need them. “As our portfolio companies develop projects in Alaska, understanding Alaska’s policy framework is paramount,” Frances shares.
Launch Alaska’s work complements REAP’s mission to increase adoption of renewable energy across Alaska. Many of their portfolio companies are directly impacted by the policies REAP is advocating for, with clear implications for the rate of renewable energy penetration in Alaska. REAP and Launch Alaska are also partners in the Alaska Regional Collaboration for Innovation and Commercialization Program.
Launch Alaska has been a REAP member since REAP’s inception in 2016. Frances is passionate about the work REAP is doing, and believes there is an opportunity for Launch Alaska to make a larger impact in the renewable energy ecosystem in Alaska through serving as a representative from Launch Alaska for the Board of Directors.
Jamie Hansen is the Principal Consultant of Information Insights—a woman-owned research and management consulting firm based in Fairbanks. Information Insights asserts that information is everywhere; insight is not. Information Insights has worked on projects across Alaska for over 20 years, focusing on the energy sector for a decade. “Much of our energy work has been in rural Alaska on regional energy planning, accessing resources to move projects along, and encouraging clean energy technology adoption,” Jamie says.
Jamie Hansen is an economist by training whose recent energy work has focused on designing and standing-up clean energy campaigns, solarize, and thermalize efforts. In the energy realm, Jamie has engaged in planning, management, and advocacy. “Though Information Insights is a relatively ‘young’ member of REAP, we deeply value the initiatives, partnerships, and ideas that REAP brings to the table,” Jamie shares.