The power generation industry is in the midst of a rapid transformation. Competitive Power Ventures (CPV), a developer, owner, and operator of thermal and renewable generation projects, with headquarters in Maryland and offices in Massachusetts and Texas, lauded CEO Sherman Knight for his leadership skills. The company nominated Knight for POWER’s Executive Leadership Award, saying he stands as a transformative leader in the power sector, as the industry faces increasing demand for electricity that is far outpacing availability.
Knight has held various roles with CPV since joining the company more than 20 years ago, including being responsible for commercial strategy, commodity marketing, and trading activities for the company’s managed portfolio. The group said that in each discipline, “Knight combined strategic foresight, methodical execution, and operational excellence to strengthen CPV’s national footprint and deliver infrastructure that enhances grid reliability, advances clean energy integration, and drives economic growth.”
“I am honored to be named a finalist for POWER’s 2026 Executive Leadership Award,” Knight told POWER. “While I am grateful to serve as CPV’s CEO, I view this recognition as a reflection of our entire team. None of CPV’s accomplishments over the past 26 years would have been possible without the dedication, experience, and expertise of our people—and particularly our senior leadership team. Their unwavering commitment to safety, accountability, and continuous improvement has been fundamental to CPV’s success.”
Knight, asked about what it takes to be a strong leader, joked, “A lot of squats and deadlifts.” He continued, though, “More seriously, strong leadership means working with the senior team to set ambitious but achievable goals, ensuring they have the resources and support to execute, and then—most importantly—giving them the room to lead. Once you have the right leaders in place, you have to trust and empower them. No leader succeeds alone; sustained success requires a strong team with diverse expertise and perspectives—one that can solve complex problems, challenge conventional thinking, and continually raise the bar.
“That is particularly important at CPV during this pivotal moment for the energy industry,” said Knight. “We are well positioned to help meet growing electricity demand by bringing new, highly efficient natural gas and renewable generation online while navigating significant market volatility. Our business requires deep expertise across an unusually broad range of disciplines—from engineering and commodity markets to financial structuring, permitting, and local stakeholder engagement. No single person can master all of them. Strong leadership is about assembling the right expertise and creating the trust, processes, and shared sense of purpose that allow those individuals to succeed together.
Knight said CPV stands out among energy companies today. “The U.S. energy sector is experiencing unprecedented energy demand driven by economic growth, electrification, onshoring of manufacturing, extreme weather, and the ever-expanding footprint of datacenters. Meeting this growth while addressing an aging infrastructure, supply chain constraints and carbon emissions will require technological innovation with an eye on affordability. thoughtful investment, and an “all-of-the-above” approach to generation. Competitive Power Ventures is well positioned to navigate a responsible energy transition for our customers. Our track record of securing capital to build our generation projects allows us to keep the risk on us and our investors instead of the ratepayers which is critical to maintaining an affordable power system.”
Knight took over as CEO in 2025, and the company said his leadership “has been defined by decisive action and measurable results. He has ensured CPV not only adapts but continues to help lead the energy industry at a time when markets face intensifying demand growth, reliability pressures, and policy shifts.”
CPV under Knight’s direction advanced the 1,350-MW CPV Basin Ranch Energy Center into construction. The project featured CPV securing a $1.12-billion loan from the Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) to finance the project. CPV Basin Ranch remains the largest project selected for TxEF funding; the gas-fired power plant represents more than 10% of the program’s 10-GW target.
CPV Basin Ranch, which was featured earlier this year in POWER’s “Groundbreakers Special Report,” represents more than new generation capacity, according to the company, which said the project “demonstrates CPV’s ability to deliver modern, high-efficiency infrastructure exactly when markets demand reliability and performance. It was Knight’s steady leadership and strategic oversight that were instrumental in achieving this company and industry milestone – reinforcing CPV’s reputation as a company that delivers on its commitments.”
CPV has embraced an all-of-the-above approach to power generation. Knight and CPV in late 2025 celebrated commercial operation of the 160-MW Backbone Solar project in Maryland, that state’s largest solar array. It marked CPV’s second operational project situated on a reclaimed, decommissioned coal mine. The project “has been touted for the engineering feat and demonstrates how brownfield redevelopment, innovative engineering, and strategic partnerships can meet complex project challenges and deliver new generation,” according to CPV. The company told POWER that Knight’s strategic range is demonstrated by bringing both Basin Ranch (a major thermal power plant) and Backbone Solar (a model for renewable energy) forward at the same time.
The company said of Knight: “He understands that energy leadership today demands balance: reliability and sustainability, innovation and discipline, growth, and accountability. His ability to position CPV competitively across technologies and markets distinguishes him within the industry.” CPV added, “Knight’s industry influence extends beyond individual projects. He leads with a clear understanding that power generation is foundational to domestic economic competitiveness and community vitality. He promotes an approach that emphasizes responsible development, stakeholder engagement, and long-term partnerships with host communities. By fostering transparency and collaboration, he helps to ensure that CPV projects are not only technically sound but broadly supported and economically beneficial. Knight’s achievements over the past year occurred amid ongoing market volatility, supply chain constraints, inflationary pressures, and heightened regulatory scrutiny across the energy sector.
“Sherman Knight exemplifies executive leadership at its highest level. He combines technical depth with strategic vision, operational rigor with entrepreneurial drive,” said the company, adding, “Through sustained performance, industry influence, and transformative results, Sherman Knight continues to elevate Competitive Power Ventures and set a standard for excellence in energy leadership.”
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
