James Sahagian

James Sahagian is vice president of Commercial Development for Sempra Generation, which operates power plants for the competitive market in North America.

Sempra Generation is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity, natural gas and value-added products and services. The Sempra Energy companies’ 13,600 employees serve more than 24 million consumers worldwide.

In his current position, Sahagian is responsible for the commercial development of new, renewable-generation investment opportunities.

Prior to this role, Sahagian served as vice president of Corporate Development for Sempra Energy where he focused on the long-term direction of the company and was responsible for identifying and developing new market opportunities.

Previously, he held the position of vice president of Commercial Development for Sempra LNG, a company subsidiary that leads Sempra Energy’s efforts to develop, build and operate liquefied natural gas (LNG) receipt terminals.  In that position, Sahagian secured the commercial capacity contracts necessary for growth of the company’s LNG business. 

Before joining Sempra LNG, Sahagian served as vice president of Planning & Analysis for Sempra Generation where he spearheaded the launch of Sempra Generation’s business along the U.S Gulf Coast.

Prior to joining Sempra Energy, Sahagian was president of American Consumer Industries, a privately held company that owned and operated a number of independent power projects across the United States as well as a San Francisco Bay Area photovoltaic manufacturing company. Sahagian was one of the founders of Pyropower Corporation, a San Diego based energy generation equipment manufacturing and energy project development firm. Prior to that, he held management positions at Lurgi Corporation, an international engineering and construction company focusing on synthetic fuel plant design, and at Envirotech Corporation, a leading manufacturer of water and air pollution control equipment.

Sahagian holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Connecticut.