Hirsch stepping down from HEA </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 11:45 PM on Thursday, June 18, 2009

Hirsch stepping down from HEA

Decision based on potential conflicts with new federal energy position

By Aaron Selbig
Staff Writer

Brian Hirsch, the Homer resident who has represented District 3 on the Homer Electric Association board of directors since 2007, announced June 11 that he is stepping down.

Hirsch was chosen in February to head up a new Alaska office of the federal Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a job that will soon take him to Anchorage full time. Legal advice from the NREL pointed to resignation from the HEA board as the only way to avoid potential conflicts of interest, said Hirsch.

"In order to do my Department of Energy job best, I needed to depart from my other positions," he said.

Photo provided

Brian Hirsch

Hirsch also has stepped down as president of Homer-based Deerstone Consulting, the company that is working to help the city of Homer implement its Climate Action Plan and come up with a structure to track carbon emissions in municipal buildings.

The city recently extended Deerstone's contract for that work by three months.

One of Hirsch's partners at Deerstone, Joel Cooper, will take over the city contract, aided by David Mogar and Marla McPherson.

"Joel will be taking over the contract and I will be stepping back from being involved other than volunteering some time on report writing. It's in good hands," said Hirsch.

As for his experience on the HEA board, Hirsch said it was demanding but rewarding.

"It was very intense. I knew there would be a lot of effort required but I was surprised at the demands. It was certainly fulfilling and very interesting, though, and I felt like it was a place where I could really make a big difference," he said.

HEA Board President Debbie Debnam thanked Hirsch for his service on the board.

"Brian brought a wealth of knowledge about renewable energy and its potential to the HEA board discussions. The board wishes Brian well in his position with the Department of Energy and looks forward to working with him in his new role," said Debnam.

There are many challenges facing the board, said Hirsch, including finding new sources of power before HEA's current power supply contract with Chugach Electric expires in 2013. The board would be wise not to "make too big a decision too quickly" and search for the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable power they can find, he said.

The board must now appoint an HEA member from District 3, which includes the area from Kasilof south to Seldovia, to serve until May of next year, when Hirsch's term expires. After that, the seat will be subject to the board's normal election process.

Interested applicants can apply to fill the vacant seat at www.homerelectric.com or at the HEA offices in Homer or Kenai. The deadline to submit applications is 5 p.m. July 9 and the board will start the interviewing process on July 13 at the Homer HEA office.

Hirsch will make the move to Anchorage at the end of this summer with his wife, Hope Finkelstein, who spent her last day as executive director for the Homer Council on the Arts June 12, and their two children.

"I'm certainly going to miss Homer lots and lots. We'll always have a soft spot in out hearts for Homer," said Hirsch.

Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaronselbig.@homernews.com.