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FREPA Board of Directors
J. Allison DeFoor, II, EarthBalance
J. Allison DeFoor, II is a seventh-generation Floridian. He lives in Wakulla Springs, Florida with his wife Terry, a librarian, and 3 children. He is State Coordinator for EarthBalance, a statewide environmental restoration firm.
EarthBalance believes the unmet need in the market is for technology and implementation skills to protect, restore and manage the Earth's natural ecosystems. The company was founded in 1985 as Florida Environmental, Inc., providing environmental consulting services; by 1987 added ecosystem restoration services for selected clients, primarily to fulfill their wetland mitigation requirements. In 2002 the company changed its name to EarthBalance to better reflect a global perspective, and established a Tallahassee office under DeFoor's leadership. DeFoor had served as Governor Bush’s Everglades Czar and Environmental Policy Coordinator during 1999 and 2000 to lead the Governor’s efforts to finalize the plan, and build legislative commitment for the giant Everglades restoration project.
Often described as a "Renaissance" guy, DeFoor is a well-known conservationist, a businessman, Florida historian, a seminary-trained lawyer, former county and circuit judge, Sheriff of Monroe County, and was the Republican nominee for Lt. Governor in 1990 (as running-mate to Gov. Bob Martinez). He was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in America in 1985.DeFoor received his BA (Geography) and MA (Criminology) from the University of South Florida, a law degree from Stetson University, and a Master of Divinity from the South Florida Center for Theological Studies, where he is completing a doctorate in ministry.
As a conservationist, he was President of the Florida Keys Land & Sea Trust and also President of the Florida Land Trust Association. He served as a director of the Florida Audubon Society and was recipient of its "Chairman's Award" in 1999.
He was part of the group that cleaned up the government and related smuggling in the Florida Keys in the 1980s. There he served as an Assistant State Attorney and director of the narcotics task force. He was elected as a county judge at 28, later served as a circuit judge, then as Sheriff. He served on the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar and is an "AV" rated lawyer.
DeFoor has been active in business, and served on the boards of numerous corporations and a bank. He serves as a Governor of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
He has authored 10 books and numerous journal articles, including many on Florida history. He has taught at numerous colleges, including 15 years at UM Law School, FAMU, and has lectured most recently at Yale and Penn. He has been a trustee of two colleges.
Jerome "Jerry" Foster, Energy Integration Group, LLC (EIG)
Foster has been a renewable energy developer since the 1980s. He was president of Pentech Energy until he sold the company in 2001. He is also a former corporate executive for Caterpillar, Inc., working in the energy division. A native Floridian, Hill received an MBA from New York University.
Energy Integration Group, LLC (EIG) was formerly referred to as Biorenewable Projects. EIG currently has renewable projects throughout the US including a recent agreement for a 20 Megawatt biomass plant in Imperial Valley, Calif.
BioRenewable Energy Projects was founded in 2003 and is based in San Diego. In 2007, its core projects were moved to parent company Energy Integration Group. It is privately funded and has projected revenues of $15 million, with 20 to 30 percent projected growth by 2011.
The company creates renewable energy technology for electricity, using natural resources of the client's geographic location. These resources include solar, wind and cow dung.
In California's Imperial Valley, 400,000 heads of cattle create an abundant supply of waste. This causes environmental issues because of the methane gas released. But EIG's project company Imperial Valley Biopower is building a facility that harnesses this natural resource, turning the methane into electricity. The facility, the largest of its kind in the nation, will use cow poop and old frying oil to create methane, which drives the turbine to produce electricity.
While other facilities also use cow dung, Foster said that EIG formerly referred to as BioRenewable is able to generate four times more energy, by including oil collected from fast food joints and restaurants. "We're adding a higher energy content by adding fat and grease," said Foster. "There's a magic to how you put it together and the amounts and the temperature."
The $36 million methane facility in Imperial Valley will generate 14 megawatts of electricity - enough to power 98,000 homes. The electricity will be sold to Imperial Irrigation District starting in 2008.
Energy Integration Group is also bidding to supply solar electricity to a Southern California utility company, transmitting from Imperial Valley to San Diego in 2008.
They also has projects elsewhere in Southern California that harness the area's abundant supply of sun and wind. In Florida, where wood waste is prevalent, the company is working on a wood waste facility to generate electricity. The company is also exploring projects in Arizona and Nevada that will use solar energy.
David "Ted" Hill, CQ Inc.
As President of CQ Specialty Materials Group, Hill is recognized as a successful manager with an extensive background in the power generation, independent power production, cogeneration, waste-to-energy, renewable energy and recycling arenas. Regarded as an innovative, hands-on entrepreneur, motivator and facilitator, he is skilled in all areas of project and business development. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Bristol College of Technology in Bristol, England.
Hill is responsible for all facets of project and business development in the energy sector for CQ Inc. with a primary focus on the renewable energy arena. Additional duties include the oversight, operation and fiduciary management of Telogia Power, LLC, a Florida-based 14 megawatt biomass-to-energy that was acquired from DG Energy Solutions, LLC, along with managing the day-to-day operation of CQ Specialty Materials Group, a multi purpose fuels acquisition and materials brokering organization responsible for the stewardship of some 300,000 tons of materials commodities annually.
In 2007 CQ Inc.'s Telogia Power signed a 15-year renewable energy contract with Seminole Electric Cooperative. Under the terms of the contract, Telogia Power will construct and operate a power plant to provide electricity of about 20 megawatts to Seminole Electric for 15 years. The power plant will use waste wood, paper-making byproducts, agricultural byproducts and other fibrous materials as fuel.
The new power plant will increase the company's employment in Florida, utilize materials that would otherwise have been destined for landfills, and will provide electricity to a growing market in parts of Florida served by Seminole Electric. And, these goals will all be achieved with lower environmental impacts than other alternatives, including coal.
Peggy Matthews, Agri-Source Fuels, Inc.
Peggy Mathews, a native Floridian with a BS in Marine Biology, has an extensive background in natural resource management. She has 20 years experience working with state and federal environmental agencies in research, resource protection and regulation.
Mathews represents Agri-Source Fuels on the Florida Energy Council, the Florida Renewable Energy Producers Association, the Florida Renewable Energy Coalition and the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association.
Agri-Source Fuels, Inc., is the largest biodiesel facility in the world.
The company’s Dade City plant is producing 40 million gallons of biodiesel per year, and has a production capacity of 120 million gallons per year. Agri-Source Fuels also plans to open an 18 million gallon per year plant in Pensacola, Florida.
Sean Stafford, Florida Crystal, Inc.
Sean C. Stafford has 12 years’ experience in lobbying the legislature and executive agencies, representing clients on government affairs matters. He is an experienced advocate in a broad range of subject areas including agribusiness; renewable energy and biomass; forestry management; everglades farming issues; community association management; economic development; tax incentives financial services; securities and broker-dealer issues; tort reform; telemarketing; boxing promotion; property and casualty and life and long-term care insurance; workers’ compensation; consumer privacy; credit life insurance; telemedicine; state agency rulemaking; chapter 120 state agency authority; state contracts and bidding; technology; licensing; printer cartridge reuse; eminent domain; tobacco settlements; and state and local taxation.
Doug Thigpen, The Weitz Company
The Florida Division of The Weitz Company was established in 1978 and has grown to become one of the largest and most reputable builders in the state. Since entering the Florida marketplace, the business unit has completed more than $3.5 billion of diverse project types that have ranged in both size and complexity.
Weitz Co.'s diverse portfolio includes commercial office and warehouse facilities, hotels and resorts, mid and high-rise structures, retirement communities, multi-family residences, health and educational facilities, retail establishments, congregation halls and private golf clubs, among others.
Based in Columbia, South Carolina and with an office in Live Oak, Florida, East Coast Ethanol plans to construct and operate four 110 million gallon corn-ethanol plants in the southeast region of the United States.
Jay Lyles, FREPA Conservation Advisory Board Chair
