Glick, former OHA official, to take charge of Energy Office

Clean-energy veteran Mark Glick will lead the state Energy Office, replacing an acting administrator who had filled the position since January, state officials announced Monday.

Glick, who joined the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism in July 2010, previously managed the agency’s $9.5 million Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. He also advised the Hawaii Economic Development Task Force.

"Mark’s pioneering work in clean-energy policy and project management, environmental stewardship, finance and federal and state grant acquisition will be invaluable in building a clean-energy economy for Hawaii," said DBEDT Director Richard Lim.

Glick replaces Estrella Seese, who stepped in on an acting basis Jan. 12 when then-Administrator Ted Peck left for a job in the private sector. Peck became president of Kuokoa, a startup company that has proposed acquiring HEI Industries Inc., the parent of Hawaiian Electric Co. Kuokoa officials want to accelerate HECO’s transition into renewable energy.

Before joining DBEDT, Glick headed operations and economic development for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, where he was the architect of changes to increase the productivity of the agency’s 17-year-old low-interest financing program. Glick also led efforts to help Hawaii businesses secure more federal and state contracts with the establishment of the Hawaii Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

Before coming to Hawaii Glick was a senior adviser to the Texas Land Commissioner from 1987 to 1991 where he was at the forefront of establishing alternative fuel policies and programs. He also played a decisive role in passage of landmark amendments to the Texas Clean Air Act and similar amendments to the federal Clean Air Act, according to DBEDT.

Glick also owned a small business focused on reducing air pollution in urban areas, and securing contracts and grants for clean fuel and emissions reductions projects from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Gas Research Institute, Southern California Gas Co., Pacific Gas & Electric and the New York City Department of Transportation in Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco and New York City.