Association expands global and legislative reach
1985–2009
This section’s focus is 1985-2009, a time of burgeoning
district cooling development in North America and around the
world, rising energy prices, and increased importance and aware-
ness of the U.S. energy and environmental legislative agenda.
Since 2000 the association has grown rapidly and set its sights on
being a major part of the solution to energy and environmental
challenges.
Year President/Chair (chair as of 2000)
1985 Steve Banyacski, Spence Engineering Co., Walden, N. Y.
1986 Carl E. Avers, Catalyst Thermal Energy Corp., Youngstown, Ohio
1987 Ishai Oliker, Burns and Roe, Oradell, N.J.
1988 Robert O. Couch, Intergy Inc., Brecksville, Ohio
1989 John F. Kattner, Kattner Marketing Management, Minneapolis, Minn.
1990 Hans O. Nyman, District Energy St. Paul, St. Paul, Minn.
1991 John A. Gray, Dearborn Chemical, Toronto, Ont., Canada
1992 Richard A. Mayer, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Francisco, Calif.
1993 Thomas R. Casten, Trigen Energy Corp., White Plains, N. Y.
1994 Michael E. McKay, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.
1995 Joette Woodard-Yauk, Lansing Board of Water and Light, Lansing, Mich.
1996 Stephen K. Swinson, Trigen Kansas City, Kansas City, Mo.
1997 Stephen K. Swinson, Trigen Kansas City, Kansas City, Mo.
1998 Robert P. Thornton, Northwind Boston, Boston, Mass.
1999 Robert P. Thornton, Northwind Boston, Boston, Mass.
2000 Raymond E. DuBose, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2001 Raymond E. DuBose, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2002 Todd Johnson, Energy Systems Co., Omaha, Neb.
2003 Joel Greene, Energy Advocates LLP, Washington, D.C.
2004 Anders Rydaker, District Energy St. Paul, St. Paul, Minn.
2005 Cheryl Gomez, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
2006 Gary Rugel, EVAPCO, Baltimore, Md.
2007 Robert D. Smith, RMF Engineering, Baltimore, Md.
2008 Dennis Fotinos, Enwave Energy Corp., Toronto, Ont., Canada
2009 Juan Ontiveros, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas (chairman-elect)
IDHCA/IDEA 1985-2009: The Fourth 25 Years
Annual conference location
Minneapolis, Minn.
Asheville, N.C.
Baltimore, Md.
Chautauqua, N. Y.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Toronto, Ont., Canada
San Francisco, Calif.
Danvers, Mass.
Harrisburg, Pa.
Seattle, Wash.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Washington, D.C.
San Diego, Calif.
San Antonio, Texas
Boston, Mass.
Montreal, Que., Canada
Las Vegas, Nev.
Baltimore, Md.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Seattle, Wash.
St. Paul, Minn.
Nashville, Tenn.
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Orlando, Fla.
Washington, D.C.
In 1985 IDHCA made its first
move back to a major city
(Minneapolis) for the annual
conference since 1951, introducing district energy system
tours and reinstating the trade
show. Organizers were concerned about holding the conference in a city setting – and
about going to Minnesota. So
they started to rally attendees
right after the 1984 conference
(when the association was still
known as IDHA), sending this
mailer to members along with
tourist information about the
area. Attendance held steady,
with no drop-off in participation, so to this day the association continues to visit cities
where systems are in operation.
Previously known as the International District
Heating Association, the association officially began
using its new name – International District
Heating and Cooling Association – in 1985. In
1994 it became the International District Energy
Association using the current logo to reflect increased
interest in combined heat and power systems.
Reverse osmosis water treatment systems gained in
popularity in the 1980s since they remove most of
the dissolved mineral solids in a raw makeup water
but not discharge any undesirable spent regenerants
into the environment. (Source: First Quarter 1991
District Heating and Cooling magazine.)
New workshop and conferences debut.
IDHCA’s first annual marketing workshop held sepa-
rately from the annual conference was in October
1986 in St. Louis, Mo. The workshop spun off of the
marketing group’s initial meeting during the 1985
annual conference in Minneapolis, Minn. The group
was comprised of a public relations and communica-
tions committee, a business development committee,
a customer service committee and a committee
responsible for liaison with local and regional chap-
ters and affiliated associations. In 1986 IDHCA also
conducted its first district cooling conference. In
1987 the first College/University/ Physical Plant
Conference – now known as the Campus Energy
