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Mr. Osborn is a founder, President and Chairman of Spectrum Energy Development, Inc. (SEDI). His responsibilities include management of overall corporate strategy, project management, business development coordination, consulting management, and corporate policy. Before founding Spectrum, Mr. Osborn headed the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Solar Program for 12 years and was the Superintendent of Renewable Generation for SMUD, where he led a staff of twenty professionals implementing the SMUD photovoltaics program as well as wind energy, distributed generation, and research and development programs. Under his leadership SMUD became the world’s leading utility in the use of photovoltaics and as of 2002, SMUD had over half of all grid-connected PV in the US and led the way for the eventual commercialization of PV. Besides numerous honors and recognitions, Don and the SMUD team were awarded the 2001 World Energy Globe Award.
One of the most respected professionals in the Solar Industry; he is an engineer with over 30 years of experience in the solar field. Mr. Osborn was the Director of the University of Arizona Solar & Energy Research Facility where he directed and conducted RD&D programs in photovoltaics and other areas of solar energy development. He is the author of more than 120 technical reports and publications in the solar field. He also previously served as Associate Director of the State of Arizona Solar Energy Commission directing and implementing solar related legislation, regulations and consumer protection programs, later being appointed by the Arizona Governor the Chairman of the Commission.
He has been the lead instructor for numerous national PV design and installation workshops including for Solar Power International. Osborn served as Chairman and Board member of the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA, formerly the Utility PhotoVoltaic Group) and as a Director of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). He has served numerous terms as a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Policy Committee of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). Osborn was awarded in 2000 the Charles Greeley Abbot Award, the most prestigious honor given by ASES.