Key Management
Many of the things that make Golden State Energy unique today are direct reflections of the man who founded the company. Known for his creativity, energy, and enthusiasm, Tom Damberger gave us more than the company name - he gave us his vision and a legacy to follow.
Today, the company delivers services to clients nationwide through its partnerships. For over quarter of a century, Mr. Damberger has applied our legacy of insight, innovation, and integrity to advance our customers' core business objectives of reducing operational costs.
Thomas Damberger is the President and CEO at Golden State Energy. He is recognized internationally as a leader in fuel cells and energy generation. Dr. Damberger is also recognized for his work in plasma energy for the conversion of medical and hazardous waste into a hydrogen-rich gas and glassy slag.
Dr. Damberger is aggressively deploying distributed generation, cogeneration and imbedded site server with iNET gateway technologies at client facilities. The iNET gateway allows participation in programs such as the Demand Response, and 20/20 Programs, and real time pricing. Other technologies include ultra-low emission natural-gas turbines, microturbines as VFD's, flywheel energy storage, fuel cells (PEM, Phosphoric Acid, & Molten Carbonate), chilled water storage, and photovoltaic arrays. He has been responsible for project development of distributed generation assets of 250 million square feet nationwide of high-rise buildings, PowerParks, grocery chains, and governmental agencies.
Education
- Ph.D. Applied Management and Decision Sciences—Walden University, 2003
- Master of Public Administration—California State University and Colleges, 1978
- Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration—San Diego State University, 1975
Professional Positions
- Vice-President, RealEnergy, Inc—Sacramento, Los Angeles
- Manager, Project Development—DGS, Energy Assessments, Sacramento
- President and COO, HI Companies—Indianapolis
- Energy Specialist, Southern California Kaiser Permanente
- President, Consortium of Alternate Energies, San Diego
Accomplishments
- Life Teaching Credentials in Fire Science and Public Administration
- Installed fleet of fuel cells at medical centers saving 8-million pounds of annual pollution
- Managed $42 million energy budget for 16 million square feet of medical care facilities
- Obtained first permit to build a plasma energy system to treat medical waste in residential area
- Obtained first permit to build a commercial plasma energy system to treat hazardous waste
- Developed a comprehensive project tracking system for DGS
- Installed Flexible Fuel Building at medical centers
- Saved $1,800 a day on a lighting project reducing over 8.5 million pounds of annual pollution
Awards
- Outstanding Corporate Environmental Achievement Award—National Environmental Development Association, 1993
- Energy Manager of the Year—Association of Professional Energy Managers and Association of Energy Engineers—1992 & 1993
- Energy Engineer of the Year—Association of Energy Engineers—1994
- Clean Air Award, Model Community Achievement – South Coast Air Quality Management District—1994
- Energy Efficient Building Award for Energy and the Environment – Energy User News—1994
- Environmental Sustainability – Renew America—1995 & 1996
- Clean Air Award, Environmental Stewardship – South Coast Air Quality Management District—1996
- Special Recognition for Outstanding Contribution in Promoting an Environmentally Sustainable Energy Future—United States Department of Energy—1996
- Excellence in Technology Transfer—United States Department of Energy 2012
Selected Published Papers
- University Retirement Community at Davis; a Combined Heat & Power Case Study, World Energy Engineering Congress 2004
- Fuel Cells for Hospitals; Electrons by Pipe, West Coast Energy Congress 1998, Chapter 15, (April 1998)
- Fuel Cells for Hospitals, Journal of Power Sources, Volume 71, Nos. 1,2, page 45 (September 1997)
- A Prescription For Quality Lighting In Hospitals, Vision 2001: Energy & Environmental Engineering, 421 (November 1995)
- Fuel Cell Development at Kaiser Permanente, Cogeneration and Competitive Power Journal, 37, (Fall 1993)
- Strategies for Coping Without CFC's, White Paper, (March 1992)
- Fuel Cells For Energy Generation At Medical Centers, T. Damberger, and V. Prue, Energy & Pollution Control Opportunities to the Year 2000, 219, (October 1993); Strategic Gas Forum, Chapter 8, (June 1996), Chapter 15; West Coast Energy Management Congress '98, (April 1998)
- Plasma Pyrolysis Of Medical Waste, Power Quality '91, 457, (September 1991); World Environmental Engineering Congress 1991
- Energy, the Environment, and the Kaiser Plan, Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 32, (Fall 1991)
- Propane Option is Key to Flexible Fuel Building, T. Damberger, and V. Prue, Energy User News, 15 (July 1991)
- Flexible Fuels Buildings: A Fuels Management Tool, Energy & Environmental Strategies for the 1990's, 397, (October 1990)
- The Balun---Editor of Quarterly Kaiser Amateur Radio Newsletter 1990-1997
- Produced Video: Energy, The Environment And The Kaiser Plan (1993)
- Outsourced Commodities for School Districts; A Commissioned Study for Agua Fria Union High School District, Phoenix, Arizona 2004
- University Retirement Community at Davis; a Combined Heat & Power Case Study, World Energy Engineering Congress, Chapter 98, (September, 2004)
Published Quotations
- Building Operating Management, Lighting the Path to Productivity
August 1996 page 45 by Barbara L. Vergetis Lundin, Assistant Editor
"Light can have a positive effect on our behavior, productivity and health," says Prue and Damberger's report. "It influences our health, how we feel, think, learn and work. Light is used beneficially in the treatment of disease and disorders and may even influence recovery times for patients."
- Waste Age, High-Tech Waste Treatments Set To Take Off
March 1992, page 79 by Michael G. Malloy
"A plasma arc (plasma is the so-called "fourth state of matter," besides solids, liquids, and gases) is produced by running an electric current through a gas."
- Business Week, How To Build A Clean Machine
May 27, 1996, page 90 by William C. Symonds in Vancouver, B.C., with Peter Coy in South Windsor, Conn., Keith Naughton in Detroit, and bureau reports
"Kaiser Permanente, for example, has installed four 200-kilowatt units from IFC in three of its California hospitals. One has run continuously for more than a year with no maintenance. And fuel-cell emissions "are cleaner than the ambient air in Los Angeles," says Kaiser energy specialist Thomas A. Damberger."
- Energy Users News, Med Center Takes Honors with Fuel Cells That Save Energy, Cut Pollution
December 1994, by Jennifer A. Gordon
"at the 536,106 square-foot hospital is the largest application of the technology in the health care industry to date, according to Thomas Damberger, energy specialist for Kaiser's Energy Department. Fuel cells generate electricity through electrochemical reactions, he explained."
- Health Facilities Management. Utilities and companies offer energy-management options
May 1993, page 24, by Ellen Weisman
"Kaiser's 14 San Diego health facilities received approximately $540,000 through a San Diego Gas & Electric Co. demand-side management (DSM) program to help subsidize a $1.6 million lighting-retrofit project that involved 1.7 million square feet. After a two-year payback period, Damberger expects the project to save $500,000 (or 3.7 million kilowatt hours) annually."
- Building Operating Management. Energy 1994 Management
January 1994 page 20, by Edward Sullivan, managing editor
"The pairing of two Space Age technologies -- a high-temperature plasma arc waste disposal system and a fuel cell -- could produce "a virtually zero-emission facility: Nothing going to the landfills, almost nothing going to the air."
- GRID -- Gas Research Institute Digest. The Battery That Never Needs Recharging
Spring 1992, page 13, by Rebecca L. Busby, former Editor of GRID, and now a Detroit-area freelance writer
"fuel cell would be able to provide the hospital with close to 100 percent of its thermal and electrical needs," says Tom Damberger, Kaiser Energy Specialist."
- Business Week. WILL THE 21ST CENTURY BE BATTERY-OPERATED?
December 24, 1990, page 40 by Elisabeth Kirschner in New York
"SoCal (Gas) has placed 10 IFC units, three at Kaiser Permanente hospitals, where energy specialist Tom Damberger expects to save up to $4 million over a 20-year contract."
- Hart's Natural Gas Focus. A Healthy Approach
April 1996 Vol. 4, No.3 page 34, by Richard Nemec
"and a certified energy manager, his title as energy specialist understates his talents and responsibilities." "Reliability and flexibility are the concepts Damberger returns to again and again when he discusses energy management of a health care, not-for-profit organization."
- Hart's Natural Gas Focus. The Fuel-Cell Future
April 1996 Vol. 4, No.3 page 40, by Richard Nemec
"Damberger says each of the fuel cells will have a 20-year contract with Enron and will provide approximately $1 million in savings over the contract life at each of the facilities."
- California Hospitals. Plasma Pyrolysis for Clean Medical Waste Treatment
September/October 1991 page 41. A portion of this article was reprinted from The Professional Energy Manager, May/June 1991
"This is not a combustion process since it operates in the absence of air." says Thomas Damberger, energy specialist in Kaiser's Southern California Region. The material is converted into basic elements that recombine into simple gasses and a glassy slag."
- Regional Reporter a Kaiser Permanente bi-weekly publication for Regional Services Staff
July 5, 1991
"Under this pilot project, the fuel cells will provide approximately 10 percent of the electrical needs at each of our two facilities," said Kaiser Permanente Energy Specialist Tom Damberger."
- Regional Reporter a Kaiser Permanente bi-weekly publication for Regional Services Staff
December 18, 1992
"Damberger is credited with developing an innovative nine-point plan called "Energy, The Environment and the Kaiser Plan. Implementation of this plan increases energy efficiency while reducing environmental pollution and operating costs."
- The Professional Energy Manager. Damberger Writes Kaiser Permanente an Energy Prescription Volume 9, Number 3
May/June 1991
"APEM member, Thomas Damberger is one of the people that helps Kaiser Permanente control energy costs." "Damberger's list of progressive technologies has attracted interest and funding from government agencies and energy utilities."
- Energy in a Whole New Light Energy Savings Are Healthy at Kaiser Permanente Volume II, No. 5
September/October 1992 Published by SDG&E for its commercial, industrial and governmental customers
"It should come as no surprise that Kaiser Permanente's energy savings plan -- one of the most comprehensive in all of Southern California -- is contributing to a healthier environment."
- Energy User News. Propane Option is key to Flexible Fuel Building
July 1991 page 15. By Thomas A. Damberger, CEM and Virginia W. Prue, CEM
"To comply with the Clean Air Act and other pending legislation, Kaiser Permanente of Southern California has selected propane as the alternate fuel of choice for our boilers, chillers, emergency generators and automotive fleet."
- E Source Product Profile. The ONSI PC25 C Fuel Cell Power Plant
March 1996 page 12. By Gerald L. Cler.
"As of early 1996, Kaiser Permanente operates four PC25 fuel cells and is installing two more units at its corporate offices in Pasadena, California."
- Coverage. Award-winning plan makes Region a leader in energy, environmental awareness
December 1993 page 12. By Julie Griffith
"conserving water and electricity may not be the first thing on people's minds when they visit a medical facility, but they do think about the cost of their care," says Energy Specialist Tom Damberger. "This program has saved millions of dollars, and we can pass along some of those savings to our 2.3 million members in Southern California."
