Laidlaw Energy's business objective is to build and manage a profitable portfolio of renewable energy facilities through development, acquisition, conversion of existing facilities, and though partnering with manufacturing businesses that have significant energy needs. In so doing, Laidlaw Energy intends to become the leading provider of biomass power in the U.S.

History

Our business was founded on the philosophy of making something meaningful to improve people's lives and to change the world for the better by promoting the development of cleaner energy through renewable resources.

Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc. (LLEG) was founded in 2002 with the objective of pursuing development and acquisition opportunities in the renewable energy and distributed power generation sector. Laidlaw Energy founder and CEO, Michael Bartoszek, owned and operated a predecessor company engaged in owning and operating natural gas fired power assets and a related hardwood lumber business. After selling his holdings in that business in late 2002, Mr. Bartoszek altered the focus of the company to pursue opportunities involving renewable energy, and particularly biomass energy, a fuel source abundant in the Northeastern United States where the Company operates. 

Rather than developing Greenfield sites for the installation of new power generation plants, Laidlaw Energy has developed and is actively pursuing a "retooling" strategy, whereby the Company seeks to convert idled power plants and power-related assets to modern, environmentally advanced biomass-energy and combined heat and power facilities. 

Management and Employees

The principals of Laidlaw Energy have substantial experience in the development, acquisition, financing and operations of power generation facilities.

Michael B. Bartoszek

Founder, President and CEO - Michael Bartoszek cofounded Laidlaw Energy in 1999 and initially owned and operated natural gas fired generation assets and related entities. In 2003 he sold his natural gas holdings and began focusing exclusively on renewable energy. Mr Bartoszek has led the team that has successfully developed the approximately 70 MW biomass energy project located in Berlin, NH. Prior to founding Laidlaw Energy, Mr. Bartoszek spent over 10 years in the securities industry with a number of top investment firms, including Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns and Oppenheimer & Co. and served as President & CEO of W.R. Lazard. Later in his career in the securities industry, Mr. Bartoszek founded a successful boutique project finance advisory group that was engaged in advising energy and independent power companies in connection with acquisitions and financing.

Louis T. Bravakis

Executive Vice President - For the past 10 years Mr. Bravakis has been involved as a developer and project manager for numerous successful biomass energy and combined heat and power projects throughout the Northeast. Prior to that he was the founder and served as President of a company that manufactured and installed over 100 biomass gasification systems.  Mr. Bravakis worked together with Mr. Bartoszek to successfully lead the development of the 75 MW biomass-energy facility located in Berlin, NH. He holds a degree economics and has over 30 years experience in the biomass energy field.

Edward Meyers

Vice President of Investor Relations - Mr. Meyers career on Wall Street spans over 35 years, nearly 20 of which were spent at Kidder Peabody Co., where he was an equity holder. Prior to joining Laidlaw, Mr. Meyers was a senior executive with Core Pacific Securities, one of Asia's largest financial services firms.

Alex Bravakis

Vice President of Project Development - Mr. Bravakis takes the lead on identifying and analyzing new development opportunities as they become available to the company. He also manages and coordinates the involvement of all project contributors. Before joining Laidlaw Mr. Bravakis worked for a real estate investment firm that specialized in the development and financing of affordable housing projects throughout New York City's five boroughs. 

Darwin Cusack

Darwin Cusack is Laidlaw Energy's Political and Public Relations Advisor. Mr. Cusack served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Charles Bass (R-NH) for 10-years. In that capacity, he was the principal policy and political advisor to the Congressman, and was responsible for managing 16 staff members in 5 offices and an annual budget exceeding $1 million. Mr. Cusack helped guide the Congressman through 6 successful re-election campaigns, as well as through stints on the House Energy and Commerce, Intelligence, Budget, Transportation, and Government Oversight Committees. During this time, he played a key role in obtaining funding for critical, transportation, land conservation and municipal projects as well as for New Hampshire defense contractors. He also helped obtain House passage for legislation to promote renewable energy sources, and create a major protected wilderness area in New Hampshire. Mr. Cusack along with Mr. Bass played an integral role in the local and state public relations campaign for the Berlin Project. 

Gregory R. Blair

Laidlaw Project Manager & President of National Public Energy, Inc. Mr. Blair has over 30 years experience in the financing, development and management of large-scale energy and waste management projects. Mr. Blair has established an impressive track record as a problem solver and turnaround specialist through his work at National Public Energy, Inc. ("NPE"), which he founded in 1990. From 1991 to present, NPE has managed Biofmass One L.P., a privately held, twin stoker-grate boiler, 30MW (net) biomass energy project with over $60 million in assets and $24 million in annual revenues. In this capacity, Mr. Blair led Biomass One from $8.5 million of losses to profitability in the first eighteen months of NPE's involvement the the project. This was accomplished through the development and initiation of comprehensive plans for overall business managefment; including fuel acquisition strategies, commodities arbitrage techniques, new business development and O&M decision-making. NPE is Managing General Partner of Biomass One. While simultaneously maintaining his responsibilities with NPE, Mr. Blair was a Vice President at Enron International from 1997 to 1999, where he led the Company's efforts in south India. From 1999-2001, he was a Vice President at Enron North America, specializing in asset acquisitions, project restructurings and risk management services. Mr. Blair began his career with National Westminster Bank USA, where he founded the Project Finance department. From 1984-1990 he closed non-recourse credit facilities totaling over $430 million for seven waste-to-energy ventures and one cogeneration project.