# Matthew Kozey

> Matthew Kozey is the co-founder and CEO of Arena Renewables, a developer of community and distributed solar and battery-storage projects. An attorney by training, he moved through federal energy work, nonprofit research, utility regulation and solar-market advocacy before launching Arena in 2023 with Geoff Johnson and Patrick Grumley. Arena sold its first 40 MW Illinois portfolio in 2025 and, in April 2026, was acquired by Headwater Energy with a near-1 GW pipeline and its leadership team continuing to operate the business.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Arena Renewables
- **Organizations:** Arena Renewables, Headwater Energy, Cypress Creek Renewables, Pepco Holdings, NORC at the University of Chicago, U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Duane Morris LLP
- **Education:** B.A. in Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Juris Doctor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- **Known for:** Co-founded Arena Renewables in 2023., Helped build Arena’s distributed solar and storage pipeline to nearly 1 GW by April 2026., Led Arena through the sale of a six-project, 40 MW Illinois solar portfolio in 2025.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2013** — Worked as an energy industry analyst at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a summer associate in the energy practice of Duane Morris, a legal fellow on a U.S. House Foreign Affairs subcommittee staff, and an analyst and project manager at NORC.
- **2013** — Joined Pepco Holdings as Regulatory Strategy Policy Lead.
- **2016-2018** — Served as Manager of Regulatory Affairs for the District of Columbia at Pepco Holdings.
- **2018-2020** — Served as Pepco Holdings Communications Manager.
- **2020** — Joined Cypress Creek Renewables as Director for Community-Scale Markets, focused on policy development and advocacy.
- **2023** — Was named a Senior Director at Cypress Creek Renewables and co-founded Arena Renewables as CEO.
- **2024** — Arena announced a development partnership with CleanCapital supporting distributed solar projects.
- **2025** — Arena completed its first portfolio sale: six Illinois solar projects totaling 40 MW to Summit Ridge Energy.
- **2026** — Headwater Energy acquired Arena Renewables; Arena’s leadership team continued to operate the business with a near-1 GW pipeline.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Arena Renewables in 2023.
- Helped build Arena’s distributed solar and storage pipeline to nearly 1 GW by April 2026.
- Led Arena through the sale of a six-project, 40 MW Illinois solar portfolio in 2025.
- Led Arena through its acquisition by Headwater Energy in April 2026 while retaining the operating leadership team.
- Provided formal testimony in California’s community renewable energy proceeding while at Cypress Creek Renewables.
- Was admitted to the Maryland bar.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Headwater Energy completed its acquisition of Arena Renewables. Kozey and Arena’s leadership team continued operating the business.
- **2025-05** — Arena completed the sale of six Illinois solar projects totaling 40 MW to Summit Ridge Energy.
- **2024-08** — Arena announced a development partnership with CleanCapital to support community-solar growth.

## Links

- Website: https://arenarenewables.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewkozey

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/matthew-kozey
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-26