Tributes to Glenn Schleede: A Long Energy Policy Career That History Will Judge Sustainable

Background

Glenn R. Schleede

Schleede is the author of many papers and reports on energy matters.  Since 2001, Schleede has analyzed and written about wind energy.

From 1992 until September 2003, Schleede maintained a consulting practice, Energy Market and Policy Analysis, Inc. (EMPA), providing analysis of energy markets and policies.

Prior to forming EMPA, Schleede was Vice President of New England Electric System (NEES), Westborough, MA, and President of its fuels subsidiary, New England Energy Incorporated. Previously, Schleede was Executive Associate Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (1981), Senior VP of the National Coal Association in Washington (1977) and Associate Director (Energy and Science) of the White House Domestic Council (1973). He also held career service positions in the U.S. OMB and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

His papers (1971–74) are held at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library where he was Glenn R. Schleede served as a Staff Assistant, Domestic Council to Michael Raoul-Duval. At the Domestic Council, Schleede provided policy formulation and coordination in his areas of responsibility, which included energy, clean air, nuclear energy, science and space, and organization for energy and natural resources activities.

and at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library (1973–75) where he was Domestic Council Assistant Director for Natural Resources;  Domestic Council Associate Director for Energy and Science.

He has a BA degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MA from the University of Minnesota.  He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

1933 Glenn R. Schleede born, Lyons, New York

1950 Graduated from Brockport High School, Brockport, New York

1950-1952, 1958-1959 Attended Brockport State Teachers College, Brockport, New York

June 1952-June 1956 U.S. Air Force

1956-1960 B.A. Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota

1961 University of Minnesota, Summer School

June 1968 M.A. Industrial Relations, University of Minnesota

1962-1965 Industrial Relations Officer, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission

September 1965-March 1972 Bureau of the Budget [BOB], Science and Technology, Natural Resources Environmental Branch [On July 1, 1970, BOB became Office of Management and Budget]

September 1965-January 1966 Detail, White House Task Force on Manpower for State and Local Governments

March 1972-March 1973 U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Division of Environmental Affairs

March 1973-May 1974 Appointed to Domestic Council, assistant to Michael Raoul-Duval, associate director for natural resources

May 1974-January 1977 Assistant Director, Domestic Council

1981 Member of Reagan administration transition team, Associate Director of Office of Management and Budget

RICHARD M. FAIRBANKS, III

February 1941 Richard M. Fairbanks, III born, Indianapolis, Indiana

1962 B.A. Yale University

1969 J.D. Columbia University Law School

1961-January 1971 Employed with Arnold and Porter, Washington, D.C.

January-July 1971 Special Assistant to the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency

July 1971 Appointed to Domestic Council, assistant to John C. Whitaker

May 1973-May 1974 Associate Director of the Domestic Council

1974-1981 Law partner, Beveridge, Fairbanks and Diamond, Washington, D.C.

1981- Served Reagan administration as member of transition team, State Department official, and special Mid-East negotiator

Some tributes follow.

Jon Boone Tribute

Glenn is a gentleman in the finest sense. He speaks softly, has a nuanced sense of humor, and is greatly respected by his peers. With any luck, his professional career would have profoundly affected energy policy for the better. But then Jimmy Carter eeked in and–what a mess since then, Ronald Reagan’s removal of those solar panels from the White House roof notwithstanding….
Fifteen years have passed since I first encountered what I came to call the wind mess and, as a lifelong environmentalist, I went through all the initial opposition phases: concern for viewshed and wildlife protection; noise and shadow flicker abatement; false claims of local tax contributions and jobs–everything except the fundamental issue. Do the damn things actually work as advertised in providing “good, clean, green energy from the wind,” in the process justifying the “sacrifice” of things environmentalists should hold dear.

Glenn patiently gave me the material and advice that guided my understanding of how we get electricity–and why wind is so inimical to the process. He demanded I think critically. He introduced me to Tom Hewson, who explained the difference between energy and capacity. He was instrumental in my seminal paper, Less for More, which I, following Glenn’s lead, shared with thousands of people across the world, hoping that others would bootstrap their knowledge about electricity production much more quickly than I had done. Glenn also was responsible for my trip to Palermo, where I gave a major presentation to many European leaders, including the president of Italy and a former president of France.

He remains, along with Tom Tanton, a mentor first among equals. And he’s the most decent man I know.

Glenn could have quietly settled into life after his government service, which is what his family wanted him to do. His compromise was to work mostly under the radar, writing letters, op ed pieces, and the occasional scholarly essay, while advising people around the world, many of whom have little knowledge of grid mechanics.

All of us are better because of Glenn’s informed, compassionate tutelage.

“A Man for the People” (by Mary Kay Barton)

I first became aware of who Glenn Schleede was in 2004, after my home town and county in Western New York State was targeted by the ‘Green Blob‘ that is the industrial wind industry – whose original greed-driven plans would’ve blighted our county with over 2,000 industrial wind turbines. I could not stand by and allow that kind of civil and environmental devastation to happen to our beautiful region without a fight.
As a novice when it came to both political activism and energy issues, I had a LOT to learn!  Glenn Schleede, though retired after a life-long stellar career in the energy field, made himself available through many email exchanges, over many years, to answer the onslaught of questions that many of us had after finding ourselves embroiled in a fight to protect our rural heritage against the ‘Green Blob’ – aka: Big Money, Big Corporate financial interests.
In one of our earliest exchanges, Glenn informed me that he was originally from Western New York State, with relatives still living in Brockport, New York.  Though one might think that was part of his motivation in being so helpful to all of us here in Western New York State, Glenn’s work was geared at helping everyone in our nation.

Glenn Schleede despises the waste, fraud and abuse that occur when the government is allowed to pick and choose the winners and losers in the energy marketplace.  Glenn Schleede understands the importance of maintaining  free markets in order to supply reliable, affordable electricity to everyone in our nation. Glenn Schleede has always been on the side of consumers – an exceedingly rare commodity today indeed.

Glenn took the time – time he could’ve chose to spend out on the golf course, to put together papers which served as tutorials to help all of us understand the complex terminologies and issues we would have to become familiar with if we were to be successful at deterring the industrialization of our respective regions via the industrial wind scam.  Glenn continued to answer questions, write Representatives, and submit articles as his health would allow as the years passed.

I could never thank Glenn Schleede enough for all that he has done to help all of us over the years! If there were more men of integrity who were truly interested in the welfare of ALL of the people in our nation today – men like Glenn Schleede – we wouldn’t be stuck dealing with the destructive consumer fraud that is industrial wind, as we still are today.

Glenn Schleede is a HERO in my book – a true man for the people! I consider myself to be truly blessed to be able to call him a friend.

For all of your efforts Glenn, I will be forever grateful!  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! (And a huge thank you is also due to your wife for allowing you to spend so much time helping all of us.)

God bless you Glenn Schleede!!!

With my highest regards,

Mary Kay Barton  Silver Lake, Western New York State