New Venture in Energy and Innovation

The blogger at Cleangridview and the entire team here at QGA Public Affairs today announced the creation of 38 North Solutions LLC, to launch in July 2012, which will focus on government relations, strategic communications, and public policy advocacy.

The group, previously part of QGA Public Affairs, will maintain a strategic partnership with QGA Chairman Jack Quinn and President John Feehery.

With decades of experience working in a range of fields – including the federal government, politics, utility, finance, and clean energy sectors – the team has been working together over the past two years to serve clients in the clean technology and innovation space. They have developed a robust practice by combining technology and business acumen with a keen understanding of Washington, D.C., policy and politics, resulting in significant legislative and strategic gains for clients.

“We are thrilled to launch 38 North Solutions – the shared latitude of Washington, D.C., and the San Francisco Bay area – which represents our unique ability to connect public policy to one of the leading hubs of innovation,” said Von Bargen, former Chief of Staff to Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), and a trusted policy advisor among Silicon Valley’s venture capital and entrepreneurial community.

“I encouraged Patrick and this exceptional team to form their own enterprise and I am greatly excited at the opportunities we will have to continue to collaborate in the clean tech space while enabling QGA to sharpen its focus on the traditional areas of our practice. This is a natural evolution for Patrick and his team as they delve deeper into the energy and innovation space. I look forward to our strategic partnership as 38 North establishes itself as the gold standard in this space,” said Quinn.

“We take a unique approach to our work by forming a partnership with our clients and building on their innovative strengths, to tell their story in a way that is understandable, comprehensive, and compelling to decision-makers,” said Hamilton, a current director at QGA Public Affairs, former President of the GridWise Alliance, and experienced technologist in the utility and renewable energy sectors.

Allyson Groff and Jeff Cramer of QGA Public Affairs will also serve as founding partners in the new venture. Groff is an experienced writer and public affairs consultant and former communications director and spokesperson for the House Natural Resources Committee. Cramer is a former clean energy and innovation industry analyst, and experienced political organizer on the local, state, and federal levels.

“I look forward to continuing to work closely with the team at 38 North as they start this new chapter. I am confident that their deep knowledge of the issues, entrepreneurial work ethic, and ability to work with Members and offices on both sides of the aisle will allow them to continue their success in this space,” said Feehery.

The team currently serves a variety of clean energy companies and trade associations from around the globe in the wind, solar, energy storage, recycling, bio-based chemical, electric vehicle, venture capital, and green building sectors.