Zane serves as an Energy Analyst at ZGlobal, where he supports renewable energy development through detailed fatal flaw analysis, feasibility assessments, and long-term market forecasting. He brings diverse experience evaluating renewable project viability where environmental constraints intersect with economic and transmission considerations.
Zane analyzes California’s evolving energy landscape, incorporating the impacts of SB 100 and SB 350 legislation on the state’s energy mix. He performs hourly long-term wholesale energy price forecasts, including gathering, processing, analyzing, and presenting results to support project development and strategic decision-making.
Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, Zane utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS), ArcGIS, and AutoCAD software to evaluate land characteristics and assess development potential for greenfield projects as well as expansion opportunities. He also assists in developing scale solar panel layouts for specific land sites and determining buildable areas for renewable generation based on environmental findings and physical survey data.
His environmental screening integrates data from the National Aerial Imagery Program (NAIP), aerial photography, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps, National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), National Wetlands Inventory (NWI), and NRCS hydric soils datasets to assess waters of the United States, wetlands, and other constraints. This analysis supports accurate calculation of buildable acreage and corresponding MW capacity consistent with environmental regulations and client development goals.
Recent Accomplishments
- Applied wholesale energy price forecasting to a proposed 250 MW renewable project in Southern California, calculating potential energy revenue across multiple solar and energy storage configurations and developing an optimized dispatch profile.
- Performed fatal flaw and feasibility analysis for more than 1,870 MW of renewable projects across the Western, ERCOT, and SPP markets.
- Identified right-of-way opportunities, land options, and easement alternatives supporting development of approximately 320 MW of standalone battery storage projects for multiple clients.
Education & Certifications
Zane holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography with minors in Public Planning & Policy Management and History from the University of Oregon, Eugene.
He is a Certified GIS Specialist from the University of California, San Diego.