Constellation Energy, a major power company based in Baltimore and headed by Mayo Shattuck, announced the appointment of James Connaughton to serve as executive vice president of corporate affairs, public, and environmental policy.
Connaughton will oversee Constellation Energy’s environmental and energy policy matters. As the person in charge of environmental policy, Connaughton will spearhead a comprehensive public and enivornmental policy to expand its low-emitting merchant fleet, renewable energy portfolio and energy efficiency services, and continue Constellation Energy’s research in emission-free nuclear energy.
“Jim has an extraordinary track record as a visionary environmental and energy policy leader,” said Mayo Shattuck, president and CEO of Constellation Energy. “He brings a well-earned reputation as a bipartisan problem-solver, who can manage the complexities of critical business, economic and policy matters from the strategy phase through implementation. To be an energy leader, our company must be an environmental leader. They are one in the same, and that’s the commitment we make to all of our stakeholders.”
Mayo Shattuck continued to stress the importance of clean and renewable energy. “The issues driving every element of our business strategy, from new nuclear and climate change to renewable energy and energy efficiency, are shaped and influenced by a myriad of policy considerations at every level of government, and by the needs and interests of our customers, shareholders and the communities we serve,” said Shattuck. “Ultimately, our business legacy will be our environmental legacy.”
Connaughton served as chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality from 2001-2009. In this role, he served on President Bush’s senior staff as senior environment, energy and natural resources advisor and as director of the White House Office of Environmental Policy. Connaughton worked to develop and implement climate change, air pollution and energy security policies. His work led to a series of new mandatory programs, incentives, technology initiatives and public-private partnerships that led to bipartisan energy legislation in 2005 and 2007, as well as nearly $90 billion for clean energy technology research and incentives for low-carbon technologies such as plug-in hybrid vehicles, renewable fuels, nuclear, solar, wind, and carbon capture and storage from coal power generation.
Constellation Energy is a leading supplier of energy products and services to wholesale and retail electric and natural gas customers. It owns a diversified fleet of generating units located throughout the United States, totaling approximately 9,000 megawatts of generating capacity. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE). Mayo Shattuck has been the CEO of Constellation Energy since 2001.