Ryan Pletka has joined US utilities provider Pacific Gas and Electric to head up its Innovation Accelerator programme for cleantech ventures.
Ryan Pletka, photo courtesy of LinkedIn
Ryan Pletka has joined the US utility Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), to run its Innovation Accelerator programme.
He previously worked for Black and Veatch, a US multinational engineering and construction company, where he was the VP of innovation. He joined the company in 1998 and had been leading innovation since 2016. He left the role in January.
During his time there, he oversaw the IgniteX accelerator for Black and Veatch, which launched in 2019. It provides startups with mentorship and access to potential industry partners, as well as grant funding and equity investments of between $50k to $100k.
PG&E supplies electricity and natural gas to households in northern California. As head of the Innovation Accelerator, Pletka will liaise across the company to put the accelerator’s technology to use in the business.
The accelerator is run in partnership with the venture building consultant firm Mach49. It will focus on technologies that will contribute to the energy transition, which can decarbonise PG&E’s operations.
