We Are A Group Of Thoughtful And Committed People

Thomas Byrne

Jon Powers

Jon Powers, President of CleanCapital, is a transformative leader with a deep-rooted commitment to advancing clean energy solutions. His journey began with the U.S. Army, where he witnessed firsthand the crucial role of clean energy in safeguarding national security. As Special Adviser for Energy, Jon pioneered initiatives that revolutionized the Army’s energy program, later assuming the role of Director of Outreach for the Energy Initiatives Task Force. 

Appointed Federal Chief Sustainability Officer by President Obama, Jon played a pivotal role in shaping energy and climate policies across the Federal Government. Drawing from his extensive experience, Jon co-founded CleanCapital with a mission to attract investment to clean energy solutions that advance the energy transition. CleanCapital is now among the leading developers and owners of middle market solar and storage in the U.S. with more than $1 billion invested to date. A graduate of John Carroll University and Johns Hopkins University, Jon’s visionary leadership continues to drive innovation and impact in the clean energy sector. 

Julia Bell

Julia oversees acquisitions, investments, and underwriting for CleanCapital. She also strategically manages the company’s portfolio growth and revenue strategies while overseeing CleanCapital’s corporate ESG initiatives.

Julia began her career in policy with the New York City Mayor’s Office as a policy advisor before transitioning to practicing law as an energy and project finance attorney with global law firm White & Case LLP in New York City and Mexico City. Julia graduated from the University of Chicago and NYU School of Law. 

Melinda Baglio

Melinda oversees all aspects of CleanCapital’s legal affairs, including structuring, negotiating, and implementing the company’s investment strategies, as well as the structuring and execution of capital markets transactions.

She began her career in the non-profit sector, advocating for clean energy legislation with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). In 2008, she switched gears to practice law; first as an attorney at Chadbourne & Parke and later at global law firm White & Case. Her extensive legal experience has centered on representing investors and developers in energy financing transactions, including several award-winning and innovative deals. Melinda is a graduate of Colgate University and Fordham Law School.

Zoe Berkery

Zoe is responsible for the management and optimization of CleanCapital’s growing fleet of clean energy assets; she also oversees corporate operations. Zoe and her team manage the full scope of asset management services to ensure optimal performance. The team thinks creatively on how to add value to each project and to grow our assets under management in the most sustainable and efficient way.

Prior to CleanCapital, Zoe’s passion for clean energy took her to Washington, D.C. to focus on public policy. At the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), a clean energy trade association, Zoe managed the federal clean air program and assisted with the international programs at United Nations climate conferences. Prior to BCSE, Zoe worked at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in the Office of Federal Sustainability. She is a Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) Fellow and a Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) committee Co-Chair. Zoe has lived and studied in Dakar, Senegal and is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Brendan Canavan

Brendan Canavan serves as Chief Development Officer at CleanCapital where he leads the company’s development team, executing on an aggressive strategy to establish CleanCapital as a leader in DG solar and energy storage.

With almost two decades of experience in the renewable energy industry, he has held key leadership roles at industry-leading IPPs, most recently with Navisun (acquired by OMERS) and Safari Energy (acquired by PPL and later Aspen Power). Prior to those roles, Brendan worked at Advanced Solar Products, one of the longest-serving developers and EPC contractors in the country.

Brendan earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Brendan currently resides with his family in Morristown, NJ.

Carly Battin

Carly is responsible for developing and executing CleanCapital’s business strategy, as well as enabling the company’s continued growth through marketing, advertising, and public relations.

In past professional roles, Carly worked as Director of Communications at Bak USA, a computer manufacturer with a strong social mission; Executive Director of the Elmwood Village Association, a community development non-profit; and Marketing Manager for The Buffalo News. She received her M.B.A. from the University at Buffalo.

Winston Chen

Winston is involved in all aspects of the investment process, including origination, structuring, and closing of transactions, and is separately responsible for the firm’s capital markets strategy.

Prior to joining CleanCapital, Winston was a Vice President at Silverpeak, a multi-strategy private equity firm where he worked exclusively on investments in utility-scale wind, solar, and battery energy storage projects. Earlier, Winston was a Senior Associate at Fisher Lynch Capital, a private equity firm with $7.5 billion in AUM focused on direct equity co-investments in leveraged buyout and select infrastructure transactions. Winston began his career as a management consultant with L.E.K. Consulting.

Winston earned his BS in International Economics from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and his MBA in Finance and Energy & Environment from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.