Gordon L. Deane, the President of Palmer, has been leading Palmer’s energy efforts since 1981. During this time, Gordon has been involved in all aspects of developing, financing, and managing non-conventional energy projects for Palmer involving over $2.6 billion of financing and ranging from Maine to Hawaii. He has also provided consulting services to the US Department of Commerce on energy project development and financing in several foreign countries.
Prior to joining Palmer, Gordon served as a consultant to the US EPA and several state environmental organizations. He was also the manager of a 6-state alternative energy program sponsored by the New England Regional Commission and the US Department of Energy. Gordon is the current Chair of the Board of NTBG and also sits on the boards of other non-profit and for-profit entities.
Gordon has a BA with Honors in Physics from Oberlin College and an MS in Environmental Science from Harvard University.
Sumul Shah is a partner at Palmer overseeing the design, engineering and construction teams for renewable energy projects. Sumul has been involved in the installation of over 86 MW of community-scale energy resources and has overseen hundreds of energy efficiency projects.
Prior to joining Palmer, Sumul founded several companies including Solaya Energy, a renewable energy development company, and Lumus Construction, a general construction company. In 2009, President Obama awarded Sumul the “Small Business Person of the Year” for Massachusetts and 1st Runner Up nationally.
Sumul has a BS in Civil Engineering from Brown University and an MS in Construction Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was a Schoettler Fellow.
Thomas Linden joined the firm in 1992 and acts as internal legal counsel to Palmer and its affiliated entities. Previously, he was a partner at the Chicago law firm of Sonnenschein Nath Rosenthal where he served as general corporate counsel to Palmer for over 10 years. In addition to advising Palmer, Tom worked on a broad range of corporate/securities matters including acquisitions, LBO’s, reorganizations, equity and debt financings, syndications and international transactions. He is admitted to practice as an attorney in New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania and has a BA and an LLB (with honors) from the University of Sydney, Australia, as well as an LLM from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a Fulbright scholar.
A. Robert Russell III is the Treasurer and Controller for each of the Palmer affiliated companies. Bob supervises the day-to-day financial, accounting and tax matters for all of Palmer’s projects, including periodic reporting to investors and lenders and preparation of financial statements and tax returns. He assists in the preparation of, and is responsible for, monitoring annual project budgets and manages annual audits by Palmer’s independent accountants. He is an Enrolled Agent, licensed by the US Treasury to practice before the IRS. Bob has a BS in Business Administration specializing in Finance from the University of Vermont.
Scott Kaplan leads Palmer’s business development and acquisition activities with a focus on solar. Scott has led the structuring for ground mounted and rooftop solar projects. He works with municipalities, states, landowners, and large corporations to evaluate, design, permit, finance and construct projects. Scott is actively working on projects on the distribution and transmission level in New England, Utah, and Virginia.
Previously, Scott helped Palmer develop and acquire landfill gas-to-energy and waste coal assets, including an investment portfolio of over $90 MM in landfill gas with GE Capital, over 145 MW of landfill gas generation, and numerous “synthetic” coal projects.
Besides the renewable energy industry Scott has served in municipal government and banking.
He holds a BA from Connecticut College and an MBA from the F. W. Olin Graduate School at Babson College.
Lindsay Deane-Mayer specializes in the development and financing of alternative energy projects. She serves as a manager for project companies controlled by Palmer and leads wind energy developments and operations. She has managed and financed approximately $100 MM of community-wind assets, including securing and placing over $10 MM of federally subsidized bonds. She leads originating and negotiating PPAs, Turbine Supply, and Operating and Maintenance Agreements for Palmer’s wind developments.
Prior to Palmer, Lindsay was a Teach for America Corps Member in Oakland, California, where she taught secondary school level mathematics.
Lindsay has a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College where she Double Majored in Environmental Studies and Engineering modified with Studio Art. She also holds a Master of Arts in Education from Alliant International University.
Arnav Porkharkar brings a keen passion for sustainable energy. He plays a crucial role in assessing the technical and financial feasibility of various projects. Leveraging his expertise, he utilizes cutting-edge software such as PV-CAD, PV Syst, and Helioscope to design utility and commercial & industrial (C&I) projects across diverse locations, including New England, Virginia, and Puerto Rico.
Arnav's journey in the renewable energy sector began in India, where he gained invaluable experience working on utility and C&I solar projects. Equipped with a master's degree in Energy Systems from Northeastern University, Boston, Arnav possesses a strong academic foundation that complements his practical experience in the field. His academic pursuits have nurtured a comprehensive understanding of energy systems, enabling him to develop innovative and efficient solutions to complex challenges.
With a forward-thinking approach, Arnav strives to bridge the gap between renewable energy technology and economic viability. He envisions a world where renewable energy sources play a central role in meeting our energy needs, and he actively works towards making this vision a reality.