WHETSTONE POWER
Providing Expertise, Project Development and Capital to help close more renewable energy projects
Whetstone Power brings years of experience and leadership in the energy sector to drive success in all facets of sustainable energy project development from concept through commercial operation.We particularly thrive in solving the complex to bring unique solutions to successfully reach financial close and achieve our primary objective, more sustainable and economic power for North America.
Advisory – helping municipalities, utilities and others structure and develop renewable projects directly in the most cost effective manner to best meet long term goals.
Project Development – development of sustainable energy projects from concept to final commercial operation
Project Financing – aligning projects to best funding source to include equity, debt and tax equity financing at scale
Project Operations – site management and operations services to ensure the results promised are achieved
MEET OUR TEAM
COLLIN FRANCESCHI
Managing Partner and Founder
Collin has over 20 years of experience in commercial roles in the energy and power generation industry. This includes co-founding of Blackstone portfolio company ClearGen and leadership roles in the successful startup two utility scale renewable energy development firms. In addition, Collin has held leadership positions with Cogentrix and Duke Energy developing and managing utility scale and distributed generation across North America totaling over 4,000 MWs of power generating assets resulting in over $2B in capital transactions in the sector.
Collin has a BS in Engineering from North Carolina State University, Master in Business Administration from Clemson University and post MBA Executive Education from Wake Forest University.
JAMES KOULOVATOS
Partner, Structuring and Finance
Formerly VP of Finance at Ameresco where he led the financing for over $2 B in energy efficiency and renewables projects in North America for 19 years. Jim has extensive experience negotiating power purchase and other off-take agreements, structuring non-recourse project debt, project deal structure development, and risk analysis
CHRIS ESPINOZA
General Manager of Operations
Chris has over a decade of experience managing, operating, and maintaining utility scale solar power generation facilities. In his current capacity as the General Manager of Operations, Chris is responsible for the operations staff of Whetstone Power Operations. He previously held roles as a solar technician, control room operations, solar facility construction/refurbishment and is a qualified high voltage electrician.
BILL FLYE
Origination
With over 35 years of high-level sales success, Bill spearheads the Whetstone origination effort by serving as the customer advocate throughout the process. By helping the customer navigate the structuring of complex systems while maintaining financial and operational goals, his experience is paramount. Bill has started two companies and recently spent 11 years with Duke Energy, triggering numerous managed service and sustainable projects throughout the US.
Bill has a BA in Economics and Communications from the University of Richmond, where he also has been inducted into the UR Hall of Fame for his basketball achievements.