Michael (Mike) Bendewald
Mike’s role is to work directly with the President to help State entities, schools, cities, universities, and others benefit from the highly competitive and innovative Texas electricity marketplace.
Prior to Texas Energy Aggregation, Mike was at Rocky Mountain Institute, which is a non-profit working on business-led solutions for the new energy era. He worked on business and finance solutions for implementing efficiency and solar in private and public facilities, consulting for Fortune 500 companies, the US General Services Administration, the State of Connecticut, and others. At Rocky Mountain Institute he co-launched an initiative to deliver near zero carbon emissions development in the world's biggest construction market, China, now operated out of RMI's Beijing office. He also co-managed the RMI Shine Program, which aggregates rural co-op and university buyers to achieve low solar prices on 1–10 MW solar arrays through a competitive procurement process.
Often asked to speak and facilitate discussions on clean energy, Mike stays abreast of the national and Texas trends in energy markets, the transition to clean energy, and how Texas electricity buyers can benefit. Mike has spoken and published for organizations including Urban Land Institute, CoreNet Global, US Green Building Council, Henry M. Paulson Institute, and Association of Climate Change Officers.
Mike studied honors philosophy and physics as an undergraduate at Saint John’s University (MN) and received a MS in Architectural Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, with a focus on energy efficiency and solar energy.
A newcomer to Texas, Mike is originally from South Dakota and moved to Colorado where he met his wife, a Texas native. Together they have two young daughters.
Prior to Texas Energy Aggregation, Mike was at Rocky Mountain Institute, which is a non-profit working on business-led solutions for the new energy era. He worked on business and finance solutions for implementing efficiency and solar in private and public facilities, consulting for Fortune 500 companies, the US General Services Administration, the State of Connecticut, and others. At Rocky Mountain Institute he co-launched an initiative to deliver near zero carbon emissions development in the world's biggest construction market, China, now operated out of RMI's Beijing office. He also co-managed the RMI Shine Program, which aggregates rural co-op and university buyers to achieve low solar prices on 1–10 MW solar arrays through a competitive procurement process.
Often asked to speak and facilitate discussions on clean energy, Mike stays abreast of the national and Texas trends in energy markets, the transition to clean energy, and how Texas electricity buyers can benefit. Mike has spoken and published for organizations including Urban Land Institute, CoreNet Global, US Green Building Council, Henry M. Paulson Institute, and Association of Climate Change Officers.
Mike studied honors philosophy and physics as an undergraduate at Saint John’s University (MN) and received a MS in Architectural Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, with a focus on energy efficiency and solar energy.
A newcomer to Texas, Mike is originally from South Dakota and moved to Colorado where he met his wife, a Texas native. Together they have two young daughters.