Managing Directors

Mr. Gardner is a Managing Director based in Los Angeles. Mr. Gardner has 14 years of business development and project development experience in the energy sector. Over his career, he has worked on renewable energy projects in biomass, solar thermal, wind, geothermal, municipal solid waste gasification, landfill gas and hydroelectric. Prior to USRG, Mr. Gardner was a Vice President with TRC Companies, Inc., advising major energy companies on new business opportunities. Prior to TRC, he served as Vice President of Business Development for AES Corporation's ("AES") ("NYSE: AES) North America West group. AES is one of the world's largest global power companies. In his 12-year career with AES, Mr. Gardner held various roles in business development, project development, and business restructuring. Highlights of his time at AES include serving on the Chairman's restructuring task force in 2003, leading the company's acquisition of Thermo Ecotek Corporation in 2001, and from 1998 - 2002, serving as Project Director of natural gas combined cycle developments in South San Francisco, Denver, and Calgary, Alberta.

Mr. Gardner is active in the management of USRG Niagara Biomass, LLC and Thermal Energy Development Partnership, LP. Mr. Gardner holds an MBA in Finance from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and an AB with honors in engineering and environmental studies from Dartmouth College.