Convergent is thrilled to welcome Russ Laplante to the team! Russ brings over a decade of experience in the energy sector and a data-driven approach to his role as Chief Financial Officer.
Russ brings a strong track record driving financial excellence and leading strategic initiatives across the renewable energy landscape. We caught up with Russ within his first few months at Convergent to dive into his career journey, current role, insights on the clean energy industry, and more.
[The following Q&A has been edited for clarity and brevity]
Q: Could you elaborate on the career journey that led you to Convergent?
I began my career in 2005 at an investment bank, where I quickly noticed a fundamental dynamic in the economic system: a vast supply of capital constantly seeking the right balance between risk and return. At the same time, the renewable energy sector was emerging—capital-intensive, high-risk to develop and commercialize, yet offering stable cash flows once projects were built. That intersection fascinated me. I decided I wanted to spend my career helping to bridge the gap between investors looking for returns and renewable energy projects in need of capital, which would allow me to contribute to one of the most urgent challenges of our time: decarbonization.
After leaving Goldman Sachs, I was fortunate to be a founding member of OwnEnergy, where we developed mid-sized utility-scale wind projects. It was a hands-on experience where I learned the ins and outs of development, project finance, and construction with a small, scrappy team. After eight years, the company was acquired, and I briefly joined a distributed generation firm before moving to Tradewind Energy.
At Tradewind, I focused on finding long-term owners for our solar projects and leading the sales processes. Eventually, the solar business spun out to form Savion, where I joined the executive team and helped transition the company from a “develop and sell” model to a true independent power producer focused on developing, building, financing, and owning utility-scale projects.
After nearly two decades in utility-scale renewables, I saw the landscape shifting. Permitting is tougher, interconnection timelines are longer, and competition is driving returns down. Meanwhile, distributed generation—especially solar and storage—offers faster development cycles and stronger project-level returns. The challenge is doing it efficiently and cost-effectively.
When I was introduced to Convergent, I was immediately impressed by the company’s focus and programmatic approach. The niche Convergent is targeting is compelling, and I’m excited to help this amazing team take the business to the next level.
Q: What are you focused on now as you fully onboard?
Right now, I’m focused on empowering the teams I lead, which include accounting, tax, FP&A, capital markets, corporate development, and analytics. There’s a tremendous amount of talent at Convergent and a strong pipeline of projects. The company has been in hyper-growth mode, and while that momentum needs to continue, this is a pivotal moment for us and any energy development company. Why? Because when the capital needs of the growth engine (the risky part) begin to be met by the cash flow from the operational business (the stable part). Getting that balance right is critical.
Q: We’ll get back to your role and the energy sector momentarily, but first, we’d love to know how you like spending your time outside of the office.
You’ll often find me at the playground with my 3-year-old son, Cam, or trying to learn Spanish with my wife. We love to travel—she’s from Argentina and gravitates toward warm places like Costa Rica and Miami. I enjoy those too, but I’m also a big fan of ski trips. And I’m a lifelong sports enthusiast, especially football.
Q: Tell us some fun facts about yourself?
I was born in New Hampshire but grew up in New Jersey. I went to Bates College in Maine and spent a semester abroad in Australia, where I learned to surf (!), though I’ve definitely lost that skill over the years. Aside from shorter stints in Boston, Philly, and Kansas City, I’ve spent most of my adult life in New York City and New Jersey.
I got engaged earlier this year and recently married and we’re planning a wedding celebration in Argentina next year. My son Cam is my best friend and sidekick. This picture from Halloween a few years ago pretty much sums us up.
Q: How do you think about the growth of the energy storage and clean energy industries?
Wind and solar have grown exponentially over the past two decades and will remain essential, especially as we power massive investments in data centers. But now it’s energy storage’s time to shine. Our electric grid needs more flexibility and better support for renewable integration, both in front of and behind the meter. Storage is the key to unlocking that next phase.
Q: In your opinion, why is the clean energy transition of utmost importance?
We need to decarbonize—full stop. Climate change is real, and the science shows that human activity since the industrial revolution is a major contributor. But beyond the environmental imperative, we’re entering a new era of technological advancement. AI, for example, is poised to drive quantum leaps in economic growth, but it comes with massive power demands.
Traditional power sources can’t scale fast enough to meet that demand. Clean energy—including battery storage—can be deployed quickly, at scale, and cost-effectively. So we quite literally can’t afford to fail.
Is Energy Storage Right for You?
Please contact us if you would like to learn more about how energy storage, with or without solar PV, can benefit your business or community.
