Vice President,
Environmental Affairs
Dave Cowan oversees environmental assessment, permitting, and compliance for the development and operation of First Wind's utility-scale wind energy development projects throughout North America.
Mr. Cowan has over 25 years of experience in project management, environmental assessment, regulatory, permitting, and mitigation services for major utility, transportation, and renewable energy projects throughout the U.S.
His previous experience includes Project Manager and Senior Scientist positions with Devine, Tarbell & Associates; Duke Engineering & Services; and Normandeau Associates offices in Maine and New Hampshire. Prior to entering the environmental consulting field, he was a Research Associate with the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology.
Among his wind energy career highlights, Mr. Cowan served as Senior Scientist on the team that successfully permitted the first utility-scale wind energy project in New England in 1994—the 640-turbine New England Wind Energy Station in Maine’s Western Boundary Mountains. More recently he was the Project Manager for permitting of Evergreen Wind Power's 50 MW Mars Hill wind farm project in Northern Maine.
In addition, Mr. Cowan led the development of the first Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for a wind energy project in the U.S. (Maui's Kaheawa Wind project) and oversaw environmental permitting for the Sheffield Wind project in Vermont.
As Vice President of Environmental Affairs, Mr. Cowan and his team are involved in projects from their earliest inception, screening for feasibility and flaws, identifying potential environmental concerns, and developing plans to avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts, often in cooperation with regulatory resource agencies and project stakeholders. In addition, he advises the President and CEO on each project’s potential permitting risks/opportunities and secures the necessary documentation for financing.
Mr. Cowan represents First Wind before environmental and energy siting boards, and participates in regional and national environmental forums on behalf of the industry, actively shaping environmental regulations and wind power policy.
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