Who We Are

Trident Winds team brings decades of experience in the electric power industry, offshore and onshore wind project development, offshore permitting, government relations and project financing.

  • Alla Weinstein
    Alla Weinstein is the Company Founder and CEO

    Prior to founding Trident Winds she was a founder, President and CEO of Principle Power Inc., the technology company that developed and commercialized the WindFloat floating foundation for deep-water offshore installations.  She serves as an energy appointee of Governor Jay Inslee on the Washington State Coastal Marine Advisory Council and as a C3E Ambassador to the DOE Women in Clean Technology Initiative.  Alla was the co-founder and CEO of AquaEnergy Group Ltd., a company that successfully developed a wave energy conversion technology and was the first in the U.S. to receive a FERC installation permit for a location in Makah Bay, WA within the OCNM Sanctuary.  Alla is a frequent speaker in the US and Europe on the development of renewable energy and was a founder and the first President of the European Ocean Energy Association.  Alla holds a Bachelors of Engineering in EE from Stevens Institute of Technology and an MBA from Thunderbird, School of Global Management.  She brings her experience and enthusiasm in building global engineering projects for companies like Honeywell and Boeing to developing deep water offshore wind resources around the globe.

  • Dave Belote
    Dave Belote Colonel, USAF (Retired) Managing Partner and CEO, DARE Strategies LLC

    Dave Belote is a retired Air Force colonel and, since 2017, the managing partner of DARE Strategies LLC, an energy and defense consulting firm that advises renewable energy developers on Federal and state-level siting policy and legislative strategy. He has served as commander of Nellis AFB, NV; as an energy developer, and was the founding executive director of the Department of Defense Siting Clearinghouse.  In that role, Dave published the Federal Rule allowing local officials, industry, and military leaders to assess mission compatibility of a wide range of projects. He concluded the first-ever Memorandum of Understanding between DoD and a wind developer, protecting flight training while promoting large-scale economic development; since then, he has successfully negotiated 21 similar memoranda for developers and facilitated the permitting of 36 projects comprising 9.4 gigawatts of wind power while protecting critical military capabilities. Dave has earned two Bronze Stars, two Legion of Merit awards, and recognition as a White House Champion of Change:  Veterans Advancing Clean Energy and Climate Security.  Committed to public service, he has run (albeit unsuccessfully) to represent his hometown in the Virginia State Senate, and currently serves as vice chair of the Virginia Beach Electoral Board.  He is a founding director of the Southeast chapter of Environmental Entrepreneurs, a nonpartisan community of business leaders who promote sound environmental policy to build economic prosperity, and serves on the boards of the Southeastern Wind Coalition and Eggleston, Inc (a non-profit employer of special-needs adults).   He is also a five-time Jeopardy! champion.

  • Steve Black
    Steve Black President, Steve Black Strategies

    25 years of experience as an environmental and energy lawyer and in the state and Federal governments. Steve helps public and private organizations navigate the political and public policy worlds in Washington, D.C. and in Western state capitals to achieve timely and cost-effective results with positive environmental outcomes.

    Steve served as Counselor to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, where he played a key role on almost all energy and public lands issues facing the United States. Steve led the Department’s efforts to stand up for the first time a renewable energy program, best exemplified by the western solar plan and the successful permitting of 41 utility-scale renewable energy projects and more than 1,600 miles of transmission lines on public lands.

    Steve joined the Department from Secretary Salazar’s Senate staff, where he was responsible for all of Senator Salazar’s energy, environment, and natural resources legislation, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the Renewable Energy provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Before moving to Washington, Mr. Black was Deputy Attorney General for Natural Resources and the Environment in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and prior to that he was a partner at Holland & Hart, LLP, in Denver, where he practiced environmental law.

    Steve earned his J.D. (1989) and his Bachelor of Arts Degree (1982) from the University of California at Berkeley. Steve has two adult children and lives in Boulder, Colorado.

  • Tony Parisi
    Tony Parisi Captain, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Navy (Retired) CEO, Parisi Strategies LLC

    Tony has a distinguished Navy career both in uniform and as a civilian, and now provides his expertise as a consultant on military sustainability/encroachment issues with an emphasis on wind energy.
    He started his career in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps and served for twenty-eight years, retiring as a Navy Captain. His tours of duty included the full range of facilities management with emphasis on ocean facilities and contract administration.
    Tony then spent fourteen years in a civilian position as the head of the Sustainability Office for the Naval Air Systems Command where he provided leadership and oversight on a wide range of encroachment, facilities and environmental issues, particularly renewable energy, for all the NAVAIR Ranges. He was often called upon by senior officials in the Navy and Department of Defense because of his innovative approaches and tools, many of which were adopted nationwide.
    Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Tony attended The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering. He received his post-graduate education at the University of Delaware, earning a Master of Civil Engineering degree with a specialty in Ocean Engineering. Tony is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of California and Virginia and a Fellow in the Society of American Military Engineers.

  • Laura Zagar
    Laura Zagar Partner, San Francisco, California Perkins Coie

    Laura Zagar guides clients in the development of multijurisdictional water, energy and infrastructure projects, and complex litigation. Laura plays a prominent part in innovative energy, water and infrastructure projects in the Western United States. Laura represents utilities, energy developers, public agencies, mixed use developers and others before federal, state, and local agencies. Her project experience includes numerous major electric transmission lines; renewable generation (including wind, hydropower, solar, wind and biomass); conventional generation; microgrids; and telecommunications. Laura currently serves as the lead outside counsel on proposed offshore wind projects in California, Hawaii, Washington, and the Caribbean. Laura’s other infrastructure projects include the proposed restoration of the Klamath River through removal of four dams, and SCE’s completed Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project, Terra-Gen’s Campo Wind Project, BayWa Wind’s Strauss Wind Project, and Monterey One Water’s Pure Water Monterey Project. Laura sits on the Board of Trustees of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, as well as the Board of Directors for Equality California.

  • Phil Coughlan
    Phil Coughlan Sustainable Development Practice Director, Herrera Environmental Consultants

    Phil is an environmental planner, regulatory specialist, and project manager with more than 30 years of experience bringing sustainable projects to life. He leads Herrera’s renewable energy team and has extensive experience with the BOEM leasing process and all environmental facets of offshore development. Phil has been instrumental in helping to drive development of offshore wind off the US west coast since 2012, including for the WindFloat Pacific offshore wind demonstration project in Oregon, the planned Castle Wind Morro Bay offshore wind project in California, and now the proposed Trident Olympic Wind project in Washington, among others. He understands the regulatory and stakeholder environment around offshore wind and leads Herrera’ teams of scientists, planners, and engineers to support project planning and feasibility, siting, preliminary studies and surveys, construction and operation plan development, NEPA and regulatory compliance documentation, project permitting, and technical field support. Phil also provides project management and technical guidance for Herrera’s strategic and long-range sustainability and climate resiliency efforts.

Phil Coughlan

Phil is an environmental planner, regulatory specialist, and project manager with more than 30 years of experience bringing sustainable projects to life. He leads Herrera’s renewable energy team and has extensive experience with the BOEM leasing process and all environmental facets of offshore development.

Phil has been instrumental in helping to drive development of offshore wind off the US west coast since 2012, including for the WindFloat Pacific offshore wind demonstration project in Oregon, the planned Castle Wind Morro Bay offshore wind project in California, and now the proposed Trident Olympic Wind project in Washington, among others. He understands the regulatory and stakeholder environment around offshore wind and leads Herrera’ teams of scientists, planners, and engineers to support project planning and feasibility, siting, preliminary studies and surveys, construction and operation plan development, NEPA and regulatory compliance documentation, project permitting, and technical field support. Phil also provides project management and technical guidance for Herrera’s strategic and long-range sustainability and climate resiliency efforts.

Laura Zagar

Laura Zagar guides clients in the development of multijurisdictional water, energy and infrastructure projects, and complex litigation. Laura plays a prominent part in innovative energy, water and infrastructure projects in the Western United States. Laura represents utilities, energy developers, public agencies, mixed use developers and others before federal, state, and local agencies. Her project experience includes numerous major electric transmission lines; renewable generation (including wind, hydropower, solar, wind and biomass); conventional generation; microgrids; and telecommunications.

Laura currently serves as the lead outside counsel on proposed offshore wind projects in California, Hawaii, Washington, and the Caribbean. Laura’s other infrastructure projects include the proposed restoration of the Klamath River through removal of four dams, and SCE’s completed Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project, Terra-Gen’s Campo Wind Project, BayWa Wind’s Strauss Wind Project, and Monterey One Water’s Pure Water Monterey Project. Laura sits on the Board of Trustees of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, as well as the Board of Directors for Equality California.

Tony Parisi

Tony has a distinguished Navy career both in uniform and as a civilian, and now provides his expertise as a consultant on military sustainability/encroachment issues with an emphasis on wind energy. He started his career in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps and served for twenty-eight years, retiring as a Navy Captain. His tours of duty included the full range of facilities management with emphasis on ocean facilities and contract administration. Tony then spent fourteen years in a civilian position as the head of the Sustainability Office for the Naval Air Systems Command where he provided leadership and oversight on a wide range of encroachment, facilities and environmental issues, particularly renewable energy, for all the NAVAIR Ranges. He was often called upon by senior officials in the Navy and Department of Defense because of his innovative approaches and tools, many of which were adopted nationwide.

Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Tony attended The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering. He received his post-graduate education at the University of Delaware, earning a Master of Civil Engineering degree with a specialty in Ocean Engineering. Tony is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of California and Virginia and a Fellow in the Society of American Military Engineers.

Steve Black

Steve Black has 25 years of experience as an environmental and energy lawyer and in the state and Federal governments. Steve helps public and private organizations navigate the political and public policy worlds in Washington, D.C. and in Western state capitals to achieve timely and cost-effective results with positive environmental outcomes. Steve served as Counselor to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, where he played a key role on almost all energy and public lands issues facing the United States. Steve led the Department’s efforts to stand up for the first time a renewable energy program, best exemplified by the western solar plan and the successful permitting of 41 utility-scale renewable energy projects and more than 1,600 miles of transmission lines on public lands.

Steve joined the Department from Secretary Salazar’s Senate staff, where he was responsible for all of Senator Salazar’s energy, environment, and natural resources legislation, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the Renewable Energy provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Before moving to Washington, Mr. Black was Deputy Attorney General for Natural Resources and the Environment in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and prior to that he was a partner at Holland & Hart, LLP, in Denver, where he practiced environmental law. Steve earned his J.D. (1989) and his Bachelor of Arts Degree (1982) from the University of California at Berkeley. Steve has two adult children and lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Dave Belote

Dave Belote is a retired Air Force colonel and, since 2017, the managing partner of DARE Strategies LLC, an energy and defense consulting firm that advises renewable energy developers on Federal and state-level siting policy and legislative strategy. He has served as commander of Nellis AFB, NV; as an energy developer, and was the founding executive director of the Department of Defense Siting Clearinghouse.  In that role, Dave published the Federal Rule allowing local officials, industry, and military leaders to assess mission compatibility of a wide range of projects. He concluded the first-ever Memorandum of Understanding between DoD and a wind developer, protecting flight training while promoting large-scale economic development; since then, he has successfully negotiated 21 similar memoranda for developers and facilitated the permitting of 36 projects comprising 9.4 gigawatts of wind power while protecting critical military capabilities.

Dave has earned two Bronze Stars, two Legion of Merit awards, and recognition as a White House Champion of Change:  Veterans Advancing Clean Energy and Climate Security.  Committed to public service, he has run (albeit unsuccessfully) to represent his hometown in the Virginia State Senate, and currently serves as vice chair of the Virginia Beach Electoral Board.  He is a founding director of the Southeast chapter of Environmental Entrepreneurs, a nonpartisan community of business leaders who promote sound environmental policy to build economic prosperity, and serves on the boards of the Southeastern Wind Coalition and Eggleston, Inc (a non-profit employer of special-needs adults).   He is also a five-time Jeopardy! champion.

Alla Weinstein

Alla Weinstein is a global leader in marine renewable energy development. Ms. Weinstein instigated offshore wind being proposed in California through developing the Castle Wind project in Morro Bay. She brings more than 20 years of experience in permitting marine renewables, technology development, energy markets and project financing. Ms. Weinstein is the founder and CEO of Trident Winds, a deep-water offshore wind project development company. She is also the CEO of Castle Wind, a joint venture between Trident Winds and TotalEnergies. Prior to founding Trident Winds, Ms. Weinstein founded and ran two marine renewables technology companies. Ms. Weinstein founded and served as a first President of the European Ocean Energy Association (presently named Ocean Energy Europe), an industry association providing the voice of Europe’s ocean renewable energy industry. Prior to her work in marine renewables, Ms. Weinstein managed multimillion-dollar domestic and international projects in the field of aviation working for, and with, Fortune 100 companies like Honeywell and Boeing.

She currently serves as Governor Jay Inslee’s Energy Appointee on the Washington State Coastal Marine Advisory Council. She is also a U.S. Department of Energy appointed ambassador for the U.S. Clean Energy Education and Empowerment Initiative. Ms. Weinstein is a frequent speaker in the United States and Europe on the development of renewable energy.

Ms. Weinstein earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Start typing and press Enter to search