Michael Skelly

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Michael Peter Skelly (born 1961), Houston renewable energy businessman, is the Democratic candidate for Texas’s 7th congressional district (map) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district takes in large portions of western Houston and surrounding Harris County.

Skelly moved from Ireland to the United States with his family when he was just two years old. His parents settled in Roanoke, Virginia where Skelly attended public schools. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Harvard Business School, Skelly has worked in the Peace Corps, in ecotourism, and in energy firms.^[1] He most recently served as the chief development officer for Horizon Wind Energy, the third largest wind company in the United States.

[edit] Family

Skelly and Anne Whitlock, his wife of sixteen years, have three children: 2 boys and 1 girl of ages 15, 13, and 11. Anne earned a degree in Business Finance from the University of Massachusetts where she competed on the swim team, and she earned a degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Anne has worked at the Baker Institute at Rice University. ^[2]

[edit] Career

Until he ran for Congress, Skelly served as the chief development officer for Horizon Wind Energy. Skelly joined Horizon Wind in 1999 when it was a two-person operation. In 2005, investment bank Goldman Sachs bought Horizon, then a privately held company known as Zilkha Renewables. ^[3] Goldman Sachs recently sold Horizon which had grown to the third largest wind company in the United States for $2.2 billion^[4] for a reported gain of nearly $1 billion.^[5] Horizon Wind now employs 200 people and provides power to almost half a million homes.^[6] In 2006, the Houston Business Journal quoted Skelly as saying "Houston is the center of energy, and as renewable energy, including wind, plays a bigger role. There is an opportunity for Houston to be involved in the growth for that segment."^[7]

Prior to his time at Horizon Wind, Skelly worked at Energia Global and New World Power, both focused on energy projects in Latin America. Prior to working in the energy sector, Skelly served as a founding partner and manager for Rain Forest Aerial Tram in Costa Rica.

[edit] 2008 Campaign

Skelly will face three-term incumbent John Culberson in the November 2008 election. Culberson has been one of President Bush's staunchest allies regarding the war in Iraq. As of May 31, 2008, Culberson's campaign had $270,726 cash on hand. As of the same date, Michael Skelly has raised $853,294 and has $666,505 cash on hand.

[edit] Other Activities

Skelly serves on Mayor Bill White's Green Building Advisory Committee ^[8] and is a member of the board of the American Wind Energy Association. Skelly is also a co-founder of the Houston Renewable Energy Network.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Michael Skelly for U.S. Congress official campaign site
• Energy exec Skelly vies to unseat Culberson
• Behold the power of Texas wind!
• Skelly Announces Candidacy for 7th Congressional District
• John Culberson for U.S. Congress Culberson’s official campaign site