Wednesday, July 23, 2014

USA, Idaho:

Profits Heat Up at U.S. Geothermal (The Idaho Statesman)

Interview with GRC Board Member Dennis Gilles


U.S. Geothermal's CEO Dennis Gilles 
Six months of retirement was enough for Dennis Gilles.

He took overseas trips he'd had no time for in 23 years as an executive at California energy company Calpine Corp. He tinkered with his 1967 Ford Mustang at his home in Sonoma County. But drinks by the pool got old. He was bored.

So Gilles accepted a position in 2011 on the board at U.S. Geothermal, a tiny company in Boise, Idaho.

"I was still antsy, still feeling I had a lot to contribute," he said. "I was well known and well connected in the geothermal world. I wasn't done by any means."

Less than two years later, Gilles succeeded founder Daniel Kunz as U.S. Geothermal's CEO.

The groundwork was already laid for the company to turn its first profit in 11 years when Gilles took over in 2013. Now, Gilles says he plans to build U.S. Geothermal into a large-scale power company.

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