Philip L. Curlett, P.E., Manager – Energy Systems Analysis
Phil has close to 40 years of experience in the energy industry with a broad background in engineering, development, and financing of generation facilities and infrastructure projects. Mr. Curlett has conducted technical performance and project financial analyses for developers, lenders, and power purchasers, as well as for utilities and government agencies. He has also developed RFPs and managed bid evaluations for purchased power and EPC solicitations. He has been active in many aspects of utility deregulation and privatization of infrastructure services in North America and several developing countries. Mr. Curlett is a leading expert in energy systems modeling and assessment. He has operated fluid flow models of natural gas pipeline systems for regional deliverability assessments and chronological power production simulation models for energy price forecasting.
Prior to joining LAI in 2000, Mr. Curlett was a Project Development Manager at Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation where he also held positions in the Heat Balance, Technical Studies, and Advanced Technologies groups. Mr. Curlett received a combined B.A. and B.S. degree in Economics and Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University. He holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell and an M.B.A. from Babson College, and is a registered professional engineer in Massachusetts.
Michael C. Lints, P.E., Ph.D., Manager – Power Technology
Mike has over 25 years of experience in energy technology assessment, operational analysis, and applying advanced modeling techniques. Dr. Lints’ expertise includes a variety of fossil power generation technologies, in particular, advanced turbine designs, waste coal, conventional coal, and biomass, as well as heat transfer, plant O&M standards, and engineering economics. Dr. Lints has formulated mathematical models to account for the price effects attributable to merchant exit, volatility, and plant optionality; has applied decision risk analysis to LAI’s litigation support services; and has applied linear programming techniques to optimize competitive power procurements. He has conducted pipeline network pressure / flow simulations and optimization analyses of regional gas pipeline delivery capability and bulk power security throughout the Northeast. Dr. Lints has submitted expert testimony before state regulatory commissions.
Prior to joining LAI in 1990, Dr. Lints was President of Rochester Engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in New York. Dr. Lints holds a B.S. and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Edward K. Tsikirayi, Managing Consultant
Ed has 22 years of bulk power planning and operations experience, including transmission-constrained reliability assessments and competitive market production simulations. He utilizes LAI’s suite of chronological simulation and transmission load flow models to conduct resource adequacy assessments, energy price forecasts, and load / optimal power flow analysis. Mr. Tsikirayi has conducted numerous multi-regional and inter-market price forecasts for LAI clients, evaluated the need for proposed transmission upgrades and their impacts on inter-zonal transfer limits, assessed transmission development and ISO/RTO market issues, and quantified capacity deliverability. He has also assisted clients in power procurement design and administration, developing Requests for Proposals, interpreting market rules, and providing on-site oversight.
Prior to joining LAI, Mr. Tsikirayi was Lead Engineer for Power Supply and Reliability Planning with ISO-NE where he performed reliability assessments, participated in ISO-NE’s Regional Transmission Expansion Planning Process, and represented ISO-NE on the NPCC CP-8 working group. Prior to ISO-NE, Mr. Tsikirayi worked as Principal Engineer for Generation Expansion Planning at the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority and was the utility’s representative on the Southern African Power Pool’s Generation Planning Working Group. Mr. Tsikirayi received his B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Moscow Power Engineering Institute.
David A. Molin, Ph.D., Managing Consultant
David has 12 years of economics and energy consulting experience. Dr. Molin is experienced in econometric and optimization modeling, wholesale electric market design, price forecasting and valuation. He has been responsible for quantitative analysis on diverse matters pertaining to wholesale competition in regional energy markets. His analyses have supported the submission of expert testimony at FERC and state regulatory commissions. Davis is an integral part of LAI’s team efforts on litigation support, renewable energy technology assessment, integrated resource planning, market power assessment and supply chain analysis.
Prior to joining LAI, Dr. Molin was an economics consultant focused on energy and competition at Compass Lexecon and Quantitative Economic Solutions. Dr. Molin received a B.A. in Math and Economics from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.
Richard J. Sweet, Executive Consultant
Richard has conducted analyses involving price effects, market power, and anti-competitive behavior, and supported expert testimony in several litigation proceedings arising from the California electricity crisis of 2000-2001. He has prepared numerous Electric Utility Market-Based Rate analyses and evaluated the competitive impacts of mergers and acquisitions on wholesale power and gas markets. Mr. Sweet has evaluated the economic viability of coal-fired power plants and provided modeling support to assist with wholesale supply procurements. He has assisted with calculating reference capacity and energy price inputs, to be integrated into a NYSERDA financial model for REC pricing.
Prior to joining LAI, Mr. Sweet worked for The Brattle Group. He received his B.A. degree in Economics and Mathematics Minor from St. Lawrence University.
Tiago V. Costa, Senior Consultant
Tiago provides research and analytic support. Mr. Costa has developed proposals and determined the scope of work, costs, and energy savings for energy conservation projects. He has worked with utility company representatives on utility incentive programs and has developed a state-of-the-art assessment to analyze performance and design, economics, externalities, and potential policies of tidal power projects.
Prior to joining LAI in 2014, Mr. Costa was an energy engineer with Guardian Energy Management Solutions. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University where his courses included Power Generation Systems. He also completed coursework in Business Administration at the Federal University of Minas Gerais.
Jeremy T. Slovin, Senior Consultant
Jeremy provides research, quantitative analysis, and modeling support for client engagements focused on electricity procurement, offshore wind issues, and natural gas market dynamics. He has experience with econometric modeling and has written programs to process and analyze large datasets in support of electric simulation models. Mr. Slovin has also drafted expert witness testimony and provided other assistance in regulatory matters. He has extensive experience with Stata, S&P Global Market Intelligence and Bloomberg Terminal.
Mr. Slovin received a B.S. in Economics and Environmental Science from Dickinson College. He also spent a semester studying abroad at the University of East Anglia.
Marcos Quispe, Senior Consultant
Marcos has experience in the areas of regulation and policy development of electricity, natural gas, and renewable energy markets / programs. Mr. Quispe conducts quantitative analysis and research to support offshore wind procurements, distributed energy assessments and integrated resource planning.
Prior to joining LAI, he worked for state regulatory commissions in Connecticut, California and Massachusetts in the area of resource planning, distributed resources, electric storage, and electric vehicles. He reviewed the cost-effectiveness and ratepayer impacts of MA’s OSW procurements, including the quantitative models and assumptions for energy, capacity, and RECs, and assessed procurement strategies and proposed tariff modifications.
