Gregg led successful efforts to have the power-plant project approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) and the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO).
Gregg recently retired from a career in Canada’s forest products industry that spanned 44 years, 33 of which were spent at Edmonton-based Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. Gregg started his career working at two different mills in BC. He then joined Millar Western, which was in the process of building a pulp mill in Whitecourt, AB. Gregg assumed the role of Technical Superintendent and, as part of the mill’s management team, was heavily involved in hiring and training staff and preparing the mill for Startup.
After earning his MBA, Gregg transferred to Millar Western’s head office in Edmonton, where he stepped into the position of Manager, Pulp Sales Administration. He was responsible the sales administration department, which coordinated product shipments to international customers. He was made Divisional Controller, Pulp, and then Controller, Pulp and Energy, a role in which he used his extensive financial experience. Gregg also served as a senior member on a number of boards, including the management board of a five-company syndicate that had purchased one of the original PPAs, which were made available when the Alberta government deregulated its electricity market. For many years, Gregg also sat on the board of Alberta Direct Connect (ADC), a group that represents and advocates on behalf of large electrical consumers who are directly connected to the transmission grid.
Gregg’s expertise extends into the area of sustainable energy. In the early 2010s, he was involved in Millar Western’s exploration and ultimate installation of a large bio-energy facility, which uses effluent-based biogas to generate up to 5.2 MWs of electrical power. Gregg’s responsibilities with respect to the project included financial modeling, applying for provincial and federal government funding, and fulfilling associated reporting requirements. As well, he led successful efforts to have the power-plant project approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) and the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO). Gregg was also responsible for managing the company’s carbon-credit portfolio.