Transition completes succession plan for Ken Smith, who served as president and CEO of District Energy and Ever-Green Energy for more than a decade
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – District Energy St. Paul today announced that current Ever-Green Energy President and CEO Luke Gaalswyk will also become its next president and CEO. District Energy St. Paul is Ever-Green Energy’s parent company. District Energy St. Paul currently heats over 200 buildings and 300 single-family homes and cools more than 120 buildings in and adjacent to downtown Saint Paul. Ever-Green Energy works across sectors to advance and operate energy systems with a deep commitment to financial and environmental stewardship.
Gaalswyk was brought on as president of Ever-Green Energy in September 2022 after a national search as the first step in outgoing President and CEO Ken Smith’s succession plan. He will assume the additional role of president and CEO of District Energy St. Paul effective Oct. 1. Smith, who has served as president and CEO of both organizations for more than a decade, will stay on as a senior adviser through fall 2025.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead these two incredible organizations, and I could not be more excited for Ever-Green and District Energy’s futures,” said Smith. “I look forward to watching the continued success that I know Luke will lead both companies through in the coming years.”
Smith joined Ever-Green Energy in 2006 and became president and CEO of both companies in 2010. He has assembled a team of experts that have helped to advance both organizations. District Energy significantly reduced its carbon emissions under Smith’s leadership, officially eliminating the use of coal in 2019 while implementing system advancements and maintaining stability throughout. Ever-Green Energy also saw significant growth during his time at the helm, nearly tripling its number of employees, conducting energy projects in more than 40 cities across North America, and operating 11 district energy-related businesses and counting.
Smith is a globally recognized trailblazer in community-scale energy systems and is a dedicated community leader who has invested in the wellbeing and economic growth of Saint Paul throughout his career. In 2022, he was awarded the International District Energy Association’s highest honor with the Norman R. Taylor Award for his leadership and lifelong commitment to energy efficiency and sustainable energy solutions. A Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment, he cofounded the highly acclaimed Climate Smart Municipalities program in 2016, which was awarded the National Sustainability Society’s 2024 Achievement Award in recognition of its ability to connect diverse stakeholders in Germany and Minnesota to share expertise and accelerate the transition to climate-friendly solutions in communities in both countries.
“Ken’s transparent and collaborative leadership style and his ability to innovate have been key drivers for our growth over the last decade,” said Heidi Conrad, board chair of District Energy St. Paul and board member of Ever-Green Energy. “The transition to new leadership has been elegant, and we are thrilled to have Luke take the helm, who brings that same drive and vision to our missions.”
Prior to his time at Ever-Green Energy and now District Energy, Gaalswyk served in leadership roles in power generation and district energy industries with Xcel Energy and NRG Thermal (now Cordia). He holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy. Prior to transitioning into the energy industry, Gaalswyk served on active duty in the United States Air Force as a developmental engineer and is currently serving as an aircraft maintenance officer and drill status guardsman in the Minnesota Air National Guard. Since joining Ever-Green Energy, Gaalswyk has hit the ground running, helping to grow Ever-Green’s operations footprint in the Twin Cities and expanding capacity to develop innovative approaches to sustainable building heating and cooling, including networked geothermal and waste heat recycling solutions from data centers and wastewater treatment facilities.
“It has been a great experience getting to know District Energy St. Paul and Ever-Green Energy and the people we serve,” said Gaalswyk. “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead these innovative and resilient organizations that are making a difference for our clients and for our communities with the important work that we do. It is an honor.”
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About District Energy St. Paul
District Energy St. Paul is a leader in community energy, providing Saint Paul with reliable service, stable rates, and sustainable heating and cooling services. As a mission-driven organization, District Energy has an ongoing commitment to advance its system through innovation, serve as environmental stewards, and to be good community partners.
District Energy St. Paul currently heats over 200 buildings and 300 single-family homes and cools more than 120 buildings in downtown Saint Paul and adjacent areas. The customer base includes local and state government, arts, entertainment, hospitality, Fortune 500 companies, start-ups and landmark small businesses that thrive with the support of District Energy’s stable and reliable heating and cooling services.
About Ever-Green Energy
Ever-Green Energy works across sectors to advance and operate energy systems with a deep commitment to financial and environmental stewardship. Ever-Green is one of the only firms in North America whose portfolio and services include utility ownership, operations and management, engineering, business planning, and community engagement. The Ever-Green Energy team applies its depth of knowledge through every step of a system’s development and advancement, working collaboratively to implement viable solutions that make energy systems more resilient. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Ever-Green Energy operates and manages energy and water systems in California, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.