WILLIAM (Bill) F. HAGY III
Consultant, former Director for Alternative Energy Policy (USDA)
After 37 years of service to the United States Government in the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Bill Hagy retired at the end of 2011. His service to the Department was extensive and his dedication evident through the many awards he’s received for the work he’s done throughout his tenure. Since Mr. Hagy’s retirement from USDA, he has started a consulting business specializing in working with clients to identify and access Federal Program renewable energy and energy efficiency improvement resources.
As the Director for Alternative Energy Policy since August 2009 until his retirement, Mr. Hagy provided support to the Under Secretary for Rural Development and Secretary Vilsack on policy matters relating to alternative energy development and provided organizational leadership for various interdepartmental boards and committees including the Biomass Research and Development Board and Technical Advisory Committee. In addition, Mr. Hagy chaired the intradepartmental Energy Council Coordinating Committee which was created by Secretary Vilsack to coordinate alternative energy programs and resources within USDA.
Mr. Hagy was a key USDA group member who worked with Congress in drafting the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills. These Farm Bills each contained an Energy Title with numerous authorities to support research and development, demonstration and commercialization of renewable energy resources. Once the Farm Bill was signed into law, Mr. Hagy had the oversight responsibility for implementing these new authorities. Since October 1995 until his appointment as the Special Assistant for Alternative Energy Policy, Mr. Hagy administered a nationwide combined business loan and grant portfolio of over $6.5 billion. Mr. Hagy was appointed by Secretary Vilsack to serve as Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development from January 2009 through April 2009 during the administration transition.
Throughtout his time at USDA, Mr. Hagy received several awards indicating his level of dedication and service to USDA and rural America as a whole. These awards include Vice President Gore’s National Performance Review Hammer Award for his efforts in streamlining the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program regulation, which reduced the number of application forms and automated the application process. Mr. Hagy was also the recipient of the Secretary of Agriculture Honor Award in fiscal years 2003 and 2007 for Superior Service to the Department in the delivery of Business Programs. In addition, Mr. Hagy was the recipient of the 2007 National Rural Economic Developers Association President’s Award for recognition of his dedication, time, talent and expertise in support of Rural Development. Mr. Hagy was recognized by the Biofuels Digest in 2010 as one of the “Top 100 People in Bioenergy”
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Louise Knight
Louise A. Knight, Esq., practiced public utility law in Pennsylvania for over thirty years. During her years as a lawyer, she also worked at the Public Utility Commission, serving as Deputy Chief Counsel for Fixed Utility Services. In her private practice, she represented telecommunication, energy, water and wastewater clients, including Verizon PA, NRG Energy, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Since the end of 2008, Ms. Knight has been Chief Operating Officer of Superior Water Company, an investor-owned water utility located near Pottstown, Pennsylvania. She is currently chair of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies and has served on the NAWC’s national Board of Directors since 2012. She is also a Board member of the Water Resource Association of the Delaware River Basin,
Ms. Knight graduated from Middlebury College and the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University. In her private life, she serves as a member of the Board of the Hampden Township Sewer Authority and On Earth Peace.