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Global energy giant Suez, with a Franco-Belgium parent, is edging closer to the United States wind market. By November, Houston-based Suez Energy North America (SENA) had named Paul Cavicchi to head its new Suez Renewable Energy North America (SRENA) division and John Douglas, former CEO of Toronto wind company Ventus (bought by Suez last summer), to head SRENA's wind division. Douglas will build out SRENA's Canadian portfolio and lead the entry into US development. Ventus had about 2000 MW of projects at various stages in six eastern Canadian provinces at the time of the sale. Cavicchi has been with SENA and its predecessor company since 1991. "The purchase of Ventus was our entry into the North American wind market and we're excited about expanding that," says SENA's Carol Churchill. "We have 25 wind projects in development in North America but we haven't announced anything in the US market." Through its Electrabel subsidiary, Suez recently bought 50.1% of France's Compagnie du Vent from Acciona (“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç, December 2007). Suez claims ownership of 30 wind farms in Europe. It employs 140,000 people worldwide.