Full Name
Michael Skelly
Job Title
Founder & CEO
Company
Grid United
Speaker Bio
Michael Skelly is the founder and CEO of Grid United, a transmission development company working to build out the US transmission grid for greater resiliency and to accommodate the evolving generation mix. Skelly was previously the founder and president of Clean Line Energy, a company that successfully permitted some of the longest transmission lines in the U.S. in the last 50 years.
Prior to Clean Line, Skelly led the growth of Horizon Wind Energy, now part of EDPR, one of the largest renewable energy companies in the US. Skelly’s other entrepreneurial ventures include founding partner and general manager of the Rain Forest Aerial Tram in the early ’90’s, where Skelly led the development, construction and operations of the first large scale canopy tourism project in the Americas.
Skelly applies his expertise in developing infrastructure projects to enhance transportation options and increase access to parks in his adopted hometown of Houston, Texas. In 2012, he led the “Parks By You” campaign, which resulted in the passage of a $150 million bond measure to fund 100 plus miles of trails along the city’s bayous, an effort in which Skelly remains deeply involved.
Skelly sits on the boards of the Houston Bike Share, the Houston Parks Board, LINK Houston, Greentown Labs in Houston, and Form Energy. Skelly is an active angel investor in the sustainability field, supporting innovating ventures in lithium production, shared mobility, and energy storage. Skelly’s public service includes working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Central America and a run for the US Congress in 2008, where he was the Democratic nominee for the 7th Congressional District of Texas. Skelly remains deeply involved in local politics.
Skelly is the principal protagonist in Superpower, a book by Wall Street Journal reporter and Pulitzer Prize finalist Russell Gold. The book chronicles the growth and development of renewable energy in the 21st century. Skelly and his wife Anne Whitlock were named among the 29 Most Influential Couples in town by the Houston Chronicle.
Skelly’s family immigrated to the United States from Ireland when he was a small child. He holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Skelly speaks fluent Spanish. Skelly and his wife of 30 years have three children in their twenties. They live in Firehouse No. 2, a 110 year old fire station which they restored in the East End of Houston. The firehouse is well known to other civically active Houstonians as Skelly and Anne host dozens of nonprofit events every year.
Prior to Clean Line, Skelly led the growth of Horizon Wind Energy, now part of EDPR, one of the largest renewable energy companies in the US. Skelly’s other entrepreneurial ventures include founding partner and general manager of the Rain Forest Aerial Tram in the early ’90’s, where Skelly led the development, construction and operations of the first large scale canopy tourism project in the Americas.
Skelly applies his expertise in developing infrastructure projects to enhance transportation options and increase access to parks in his adopted hometown of Houston, Texas. In 2012, he led the “Parks By You” campaign, which resulted in the passage of a $150 million bond measure to fund 100 plus miles of trails along the city’s bayous, an effort in which Skelly remains deeply involved.
Skelly sits on the boards of the Houston Bike Share, the Houston Parks Board, LINK Houston, Greentown Labs in Houston, and Form Energy. Skelly is an active angel investor in the sustainability field, supporting innovating ventures in lithium production, shared mobility, and energy storage. Skelly’s public service includes working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Central America and a run for the US Congress in 2008, where he was the Democratic nominee for the 7th Congressional District of Texas. Skelly remains deeply involved in local politics.
Skelly is the principal protagonist in Superpower, a book by Wall Street Journal reporter and Pulitzer Prize finalist Russell Gold. The book chronicles the growth and development of renewable energy in the 21st century. Skelly and his wife Anne Whitlock were named among the 29 Most Influential Couples in town by the Houston Chronicle.
Skelly’s family immigrated to the United States from Ireland when he was a small child. He holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Skelly speaks fluent Spanish. Skelly and his wife of 30 years have three children in their twenties. They live in Firehouse No. 2, a 110 year old fire station which they restored in the East End of Houston. The firehouse is well known to other civically active Houstonians as Skelly and Anne host dozens of nonprofit events every year.
Speaking At
