Meet Our Team
William S. Fowler
President
Mr. Fowler is the president and co-founder of Sigma Consultants Inc. and a vice-chair of NEPOOL Markets Committee. He represents the interests of generation and supplier clients in the NEPOOL stakeholder processes. Since the opening of markets in New England in 1998, he has participated in market design, reliability review, planning and rule development through all of the major NEPOOL committees. In addition to stakeholder activities, he has managed the interconnection process for over 3,000 MW of new generation within New England. Mr. Fowler has 35 years of experience with deregulated markets and independent power production. Prior to work within NEPOOL, he managed development, interconnection and compliance activities for new gas-fired and hydroelectric power facilities. Mr. Fowler holds an S.B in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Michael G. Larow
Vice President
Mr. LaRow is the vice president and co-founder of Sigma Consultants Inc., in which capacity he represents the interests of energy and natural resource clients for the environmental and social aspects of the project development process. His responsibilities typically include managing the environmental and social approvals required for project financing of large projects such as hydroelectric retrofits in the US as well as new hydro projects in the Philippines and South America; a utility-scale solar project in the southwestern US; an integrated bauxite mine, alumina refinery, and port facility in Guinea; and oil palm projects in West Africa. He has also managed large, multi-state environmental programs for US utilities and assisted with mine closure planning in Papua New Guinea. Mr. LaRow has 26 years of experience with project development and holds an S.B in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Peter P. Burnell
SENIOR PRINCIPAL
Mr. Burnell’s role as senior project manager encompasses management and oversight of environmental, construction and regulatory projects. Those efforts typically include identification of environmental liabilities, formulation of the response, and interface with regulatory agencies. Mr. Burnell’s areas of engineering expertise include project management, construction oversight, regulatory responses, site assessment, remedial responses, petroleum-based product storage and releases, hazardous wastes, water quality and site remediation. Mr. Burnell received his Associates degree in Engineering at Erie Community College in New York State and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Resource/Forestry Engineering with concentrations in soil structures and hydrology at the Environmental Science and Forestry School at Syracuse University. Mr. Burnell is a Massachusetts’ License Site Professional, is a Certified Veeder Root Technician, Confined Space-Lock Out/Tag Out and Respiratory Certified, is a Massachusetts Certified 3rd Party Inspector and is an ICC Class A & B UST System Operator.
William E. Nichols
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER - COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS
Mr. Nichols’ role as Senior Project Manager encompasses the development of technological solutions to support Sigma’s activities related to management of complex regulatory, environmental and safety compliance programs. His specialization is applying the most current information technology solutions in the management of projects where potentially significant regulatory compliance liabilities exist. Mr. Nichols has managed the development and implementation of solutions that are used to track regulatory events, develop financial models and provide the client with “real time” financial and regulatory data. He provides supporting capabilities with regulatory compliance, financial modeling and computer-related technical support.
Mr. Nichols has over 30 years of experience in delivering information technology solutions. During that time he has successfully managed the development and implementation of enterprise level web based applications for the telecommunication, utility and logistics industries.
These applications include systems to manage regulatory activities associated with site remediation compliance, SARA chemical inventory, petroleum storage tank compliance, OSHA work related injuries and illnesses, Department of Transportation regulated drivers, and hazardous material disposal.
Other projects include management of EPCRA and OSHA compliance reporting for more than 25,000 facilities and 300,000 employees. He has worked on projects in the United States, Great Britain, Philippines and Pakistan. Mr. Nichols received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1990.
