Gulf Coast Power Association Honors John Stauffacher With The 2013 Pat Wood Power Star Award
John Stauffacher:
2013 GCPA Power Star Award Recipient
John Stauffacher, retired Executive Director of Gulf Coast Power Association, was the recipient of the 2013 annual Pat Wood Power Star Award in recognition of his significant contributions towards the advancement of competitive energy markets in Texas.
“John Stauffacher has been a true leader in the development and transformation of competitive power markets in Texas throughout his career. In more recent years, John also nobly guided the GCPA in assuming its role as a leading forum where all sides of issues important to the contemporary power market are welcomed,” said Tom Foreman, GCPA Executive Director.
During his nine year tenure as Executive Director of GCPA, Stauffacher led the organization through a period of substantial growth in both membership and programs. Corporate membership increased from less than 30 companies to over 100, and attendance at the two GCPA annual conferences grew to record numbers. New programs including scholarships to students expressing an interest in the power industry and a series of timely special briefings addressing emerging high profile issues were also added. During his tenure, GCPA’s role was solidified as a leading and highly respected regional organization focused on providing a platform for all sides of the many issues facing the regional power industry. Stauffacher spent nearly 30 years of his career as an advocate for opening the electric power industry to new participants and competitive forces. While his work was based on various positions he held with industrial power producers, independent power producers and marketers, Stauffacher’s efforts as an advocate were largely conducted through regional and national industry trade groups.
After graduating with a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1963 and serving four years in the U.S. Navy, Stauffacher began his career working for The Dow Chemical Company as a process engineer. While at Dow, he initially worked in manufacturing before transferring to Texas to focus on power plant support in the regulatory area in 1984. Initial work in this area included avoided cost rules, interconnection procedures and transmission arrangements for industrial power producers. Stauffacher served in leadership roles in regional and national trade groups that advocated for opening the power generation business to new non-utility entrants. During his nearly 30 years of experience in various segments of the industry, John testified before numerous state and federal agencies on power market issues. On the industrial consumer side, he represented The Dow Chemical Company in its role as a major industrial consumer and co-generator. While Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for independent power producer Destec Energy, he assumed a leadership role in numerous regional and national trade groups that advocate competitive energy market structures.
Later as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Dynegy Inc., Stauffacher was elected to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Board of Directors (1999-2002) where he represented independent generators and chaired both the Board Governance committee and By-laws committee. He also served as the ERCOT representative on the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) Board of Directors. In these various roles, Stauffacher provided a strong voice for competitive solutions to emerging market structures.