James A. Hughes

Director since January 1, 2019

Managing Partner, Encap Investments, L.P.

Mr. Hughes, age 61, is a resident of Houston, Texas. Mr. Hughes is currently a Managing Partner of Encap Investments L.P., providing growth capital to independent energy companies. He formerly served as CEO and Managing Director of Prisma Energy Capital LLC, a private entity focused on investments in energy storage. He is the former CEO and director of First Solar, Inc., a NASDAQ-listed provider of comprehensive photovoltaic solar energy solutions. Mr. Hughes also served as CEO and director of AEI Services LLC, a private company that owned and operated power distribution and generation (both thermal and renewable) in emerging markets worldwide. He served as President and CEO of Prisma Energy International. Mr. Hughes also held several senior executive positions with Enron corporations, including President and Chief Operating Officer of Enron Global Assets; President and Chief Operating Officer of Enron Asia, Pacific, Africa and China; and as Assistant General Counsel of Enron International.

Mr. Hughes currently serves as a director of Alcoa Corporation, NYSE-listed global industry leader in the production of bauxite, alumina and aluminum, serving as a member of its audit committee and safety, sustainability and public issues committee. Mr. Hughes is also a director of TPI Composites Inc., a NASDAQ-listed manufacturer of composite wind blades for wind turbines and composite products, where he serves on its audit committee. 

Mr. Hughes is currently a member of the Energy Advisory Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He is the former chair of the Los Angeles Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Mr. Hughes received a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, a Certificate of Completion in international business law from Queen Mary’s College, University of London and a B.A. from Southern Methodist University.

Mr. Hughes’ qualifications to serve as a director include his extensive experience in the energy industry, particularly with respect to the renewable energy sector, which give him important financial, regulatory, sustainability and environmental insights. In addition, his previous senior leadership positions and directorships at large public energy and utility companies and service on the board of the federal reserve bank branch provide valuable business, financial, risk management, cybersecurity, regulatory, governance and operational and management expertise.

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