Trailblazers
The 2025 Trailblazers in Clean Energy
New York’s remarkable renewable energy leaders.
City & State presents the 2025 Trailblazers in Clean Energy. Edgewise Energy; National Grid; Kevin Minton
The transition to clean energy has entered a new phase in New York, as the state faces threats from new tariffs, economic headwinds and a pivot away from climate change policies in Washington, D.C. Yet renewable resources like solar and wind power as well as advances in battery storage and energy efficiency remain a key part of the energy equation, championed by public officials and industry executives alike. And even as federal subsidies for renewable energy dry up and climate goals come under scrutiny, there remains plenty of industry momentum behind major initiatives like offshore wind installations and upgraded and expanded transmission lines across the state.
City & State’s annual Trailblazers in Clean Energy puts a spotlight on the clean energy leaders of New York, including innovative industry figures, groundbreaking policymakers and notable environmentalists and conservationists.
Melina Acevedo
A veteran of the clean energy industry, Melina Acevedo is developing large-scale solar energy projects in New York and growing the renewable energy sector. At D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments, or DESRI, Acevedo led the creation of 1 gigawatt of solar energy from the financing stage to the beginning of construction. Previously at Nextracker, Acevedo helped create 33 utility-scale solar projects with 7 gigawatts of energy. As a board member of Latinxs in Sustainability, she launched the group’s first workforce development program in a partnership with the City College of New York.
Raul Aguirre
Raul Aguirre last year was promoted to serve as the seventh executive director of the Adirondack Council after stints as its conservation director and deputy executive director. The organization, whose mission is to ensure “the ecological integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park,” created a program to purchase carbon lot allowances from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – and for a $25 donation, a donor can purchase a ton of carbon allowance in someone’s name. Many donors have placed their donations in the names of President Donald Trump and former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Pedro Azagra
Avangrid has operations in 23 states and owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities. In New York and New England, the energy company serves 3.3 million customers. CEO Pedro Azagra has teamed up with New York officials to expand clean energy development and implement grid upgrades across the state. He has boosted reliability at New York subsidiaries New York State Electric and Gas and Rochester Gas and Electric and invested almost $320 million last year into grid resiliency – part of a $20 billion plan to bolster the U.S. electrical grid through the end of the decade.
Molly Bauch
When Molly Bauch was growing up in Louisiana, she witnessed the loss of land to climate change and the impact of the petrochemical industry on public health in the region between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Bauch has gone on to dedicate her career to reimagining the industry, developing a speciality in electric vehicles. As a consultant, Bauch works with clients toward driving and delivering change. She is not just a thought leader for the industry but an enthusiastic champion.
Barbara Brown
Barbara Brown is one of many community advocates who make New York City a better place to live. The chair of the Eastern Queens Alliance is a key environmental and clean energy leader in Southeast Queens, focusing on issues including the protection of wetlands, pollution from John F. Kennedy International Airport, climate change, clean energy development and waste management. Brown advocates for clean energy and has developed and implemented education programs for residents on sustainability, carbon footprint reduction and energy cost savings.
Thomas Callahan
Operating engineers have long played a key role in building New York’s energy infrastructure – and now they’re expanding the state’s clean energy footprint. Thomas Callahan, who heads the New York State Conference of Operating Engineers and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 15, has been leading the union in New York into the clean energy era, including launching a Leak Prone Pipe Replacement Program, which replaces leaking gas pipes to reduce environmental risks. He has also launched a new training program in clean energy and advocated for a brownfields prevailing wage bill.
Tria Case
Tria Case is on a mission to change the way CUNY uses energy. Case launched the Sustainable CUNY initiative with the goal of overhauling the university’s energy and environmental policies, including increasing its reliance on clean energy. She has led the development of partnership between CUNY and the New York City Mayor’s Office to develop new solar energy programs for the city. Case’s office is responsible for the city’s solar and storage ombudsman program, developed to support citywide solar and solar energy storage development.
Sammy Chu
Sammy Chu has been a key leader on Long Island for years, and he’s now focused on bringing more clean energy to the island. As the CEO of Edgewise Energy, Chu has been developing some of the country’s largest clean energy projects through Community Power Long Island – saving ratepayers over $2.5 million on electric bills over the past two years. Chu was appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul to the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and previously served then-Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone as chief of staff and commissioner of labor, licensing and consumer affairs.
Daniel Colombini
Daniel Colombini is taking home construction into the sustainability era. Last year, the principal at the New York City-based firm Goldman Copeland was recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for his “passive house,” a LEED Platinum house in Westchester County. Colombini did a partial teardown of a home he purchased and recycled 75% of that material into the new house, along with a series of environmental and energy efficiency measures. Colombini has also spearheaded work on the Empire State Building, NewYork-Presbyterian hospital in Manhattan and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s headquarters.
Anthony Constantinople
An expert in the arcana of New York City’s land use process, Anthony Constantinople has used his expertise to help his clients navigate the process to achieve their goals. He has helped his clean energy clients achieve their goals in the areas of energy storage projects, electric vehicle charging stations, organics recycling and energy-efficient retrofits of buildings. A board member of the New York League of Conservation Voters, Constantinople is a champion of developing the New York of the clean energy future.
Nicolas de Alejo
With a deep background in financial markets – and sustainability finance specifically – Nicolas de Alejo launched Climate CapX Advisors with the goal of providing key financial advice to clients looking to grow and enter the clean energy sector. Among the services that de Alejo provides at Climate CapX Advisors is counsel for companies on the needed avenues for a more sustainable future and a reduced carbon footprint, along with expert advice on budget and financing options available in order to achieve sustainability.
John Dempsey
John Dempsey is on a mission to provide 1 million homes in New York and New Jersey with clean wind energy. Dempsey has served since 2022 as the chief executive officer of Bluepoint Wind, a joint venture of Ocean Winds and Global Infrastructure Partners/Blackrock to build a wind farm off the coasts of New York and New Jersey. The project, once at full capacity, will be able to generate 2.4 gigawatts of clean wind energy to households in both states.
Mandy DeRoche
A veteran of the state Attorney General’s Office, where she focused on environmental and climate law, Mandy DeRoche is now at Earthjustice, helping shape the clean energy efforts of the public interest legal group. DeRoche has been advocating before the state Public Service Commission on issues surrounding the climate and equity provisions in the state Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act,. She has been litigating before state courts and the state Department of Environmental Conservation to implement the law, especially with respect to the adverse impacts of fossil-fueled cryptocurrency mining in the state.
Justin Driscoll
Justin Driscoll is one of New York’s most influential public officials charting the future of clean energy. He runs the country’s largest state-owned utility, with over 1,550 miles of transmission lines and 17 generating facilities – with 80% of its electricity from renewable hydropower. On his watch, the New York Power Authority has taken steps to implement and develop renewable energy projects. Driscoll also developed a strategic plan for the public renewable program, calling for a mix of energy generation, along with addressing the electric grid and battery storage.
Clement Drummond
Amid the steady growth in the use of electric vehicles, the entire automotive industry has been undergoing a transformation in order to meet consumer demand. This has spurred a shift in educational programs to train students for careers in the evolving industry. At Bronx Community College, Clement Drummond has developed an innovative EV curriculum as part of the college’s automotive technology associate degree program. The curriculum includes classes on the fundamentals of EV technology and systems. Drummond has also developed natural gas-fueled buses and provided training on maintenance of electric school buses.
Adrienne Esposito
Adrienne Esposito, the founder and longtime leader of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, has been launching new coalitions to further her environmental cause. One is Wind Works New York, whose diverse members are transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Another is the New York Clean Water Coalition, made up of water suppliers, wastewater treatment operators and environmental groups advocating for funding to upgrade sewage and drinking water infrastructure. Late last year, Esposito criticized the governor’s veto of the state Horseshoe Crab Protection Act, arguing that the species is subject to local extinction.
Gregg Fischer
Towering over lower Manhattan and the East River, 55 Water St. is one of the Financial District’s largest and most intricate office complexes. Gregg Fischer has been focused on decarbonizing the 3.6-million-square-foot complex. Fischer’s efforts have included minimizing the building’s reliance on utility steam, reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by 40,000 tons, implementing advanced heat recovery technologies, leveraging information technology cooling loads and obtaining 50% of the project cost through subsidies and rebates.
David Flynn
At the law firm Phillips Lytle, David Flynn leads the Environmental Law Practice and is co-leader of the firm’s Energy and Renewables Team as well as the Cryptocurrency and Block Chain Team. Flynn is an expert on brownfields and played a role in the state’s first conversion of an industrial brownfield into a modern manufacturing facility. He has been involved in the development of solar and microgrid projects statewide, worked on one of the first utility-scale combined solar and wind projects in the country and was involved in a mergers and acquisitions transaction for a renewable energy company that owns two hydroelectric plants on the Hudson River.
Robert Freudenberg
Robert Freudenberg is the leader on environmental and energy policy at the Regional Plan Association, a well-regarded civic organization focused on the New York City metropolitan area. Freudenberg has been a proponent of offshore wind energy development in the region. He has helped produce reports on the critical transmission projects to connect offshore wind to the electric grid and on the need for government support of offshore wind ports. He is also running a webinar for the association on new energy grid projects in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Jay Goodman
Navigating state and federal regulations as well as administrative proceedings on energy rates and policies can be complex. Luckily, Jay Goodman doesn’t need GPS. The veteran energy attorney has developed a practice at Couch White focused on assisting clients in front of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state energy regulatory agencies in both New York and Connecticut. Goodman represented municipal and large commercial clients in recent energy rate hearings, assisted a state agency in a review of New York’s building codes and represented the state Public Service Commission in interstate gas rate cases.
Lindsay Greene
Lindsay Greene is a major green economy leader, transforming a onetime mainstay of shipbuilding into a pillar of green jobs. Greene has nudged the Brooklyn Navy Yard further into the green economy with the new Harbor Climate Collaborative, a partnership with the Trust for Governors Island and the New York City Economic Development Corp. to cultivate green jobs. The Brooklyn Navy Yard leases space to clean energy companies and has also launched a green accelerator program. Greene is a board member of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Bob Harrison
Bob Harrison has dedicated the past decade of his professional career to one of the most transformative clean energy projects in New York: the Champlain Hudson Power Express. Harrison has been intricately involved in the development of the fully buried power line throughout its development, financing and construction. The project, which will bring hydropower from Quebec to New York City, is expected to be completed in 2026 and is a part of the state’s clean energy transformation. Harrison is active on engineering boards at his alma mater, the University at Buffalo.
Everett Hart
Everett Hart brings deep experience in the state Legislature and in energy and environment policy to his work at Brown & Weinraub. Hart has served as legislative director for Assembly Member Anna Kelles, managing a portfolio that included clean energy issues, and was a staffer for former Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Steve Englebright. Hart’s recent energy accomplishments include his role in the passage of the state’s first agrivoltaics research program and the statewide ban on carbon dioxide hydraulic fracturing.
Ryan Hawthorne
At Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., Ryan Hawthorne oversees a wide range of functions that are critical to New York’s energy systems and keeping the state’s electric grid resilient in the face of storms. Hawthorne leads the team that implements the company’s $155 million annual capital plan, which includes increasing the system capacity by almost 450 megawatts. This additional capacity will play a key role in supporting additional building and vehicle electrification. Hawthorne’s team also handles storm recovery, making Central Hudson a state leader in restoration of service.
Michael Hernandez
At Rewiring America, Michael Hernandez has had a major impact on the future of New York, working to advocate the adoption of a version of the state’s All-Electric Building Act. Prior to joining Rewiring America, a national electrification nonprofit, Hernandez was a top Assembly staffer and served as the chamber’s lead negotiator on the landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. While in the Assembly, Hernandez also played a role in the passage of congestion pricing and the creation of the Gateway Development Commission.
Peter Hoyle
With a background that includes structural engineering and project management, Peter Hoyle is well positioned to guide the Association for Energy Affordability’s endeavors in the clean energy sphere. Among the clean energy projects the association is working on is in-depth research and analysis of clean energy projects as well as ways to increase the use of clean energy in construction. The association offers a number of programs to increase energy efficiency, including the Bronx and Brooklyn Energy Hub as well as the New York Healthy Homes Collaborative.
Shaun Hoyte
Starting as a front-line utility worker, Shaun Hoyte has risen through the ranks at Con Edison to become a key player in the utility’s clean energy efforts. Hoyte co-founded the Clean Energy Academy and helped create the Environmental Justice Mentoring Program at Con Edison, growing the talent pipeline in clean energy. He has advanced clean energy projects throughout the process, including obtaining key grants. He also designed and teaches a class at Columbia University on sustainability in the sports industry, and he has launched networking gatherings for clean energy professionals.
Betsy Hu
At the New York City Economic Development Corp., Betsy Hu runs a program to increase the involvement of minority- and women-owned businesses in the waterfront and offshore wind energy industries. Hu focuses her efforts on boosting opportunities for MWBE owners in the city’s clean energy marketplace. Hu recently obtained a $6 million grant to expand the program for the waterfront sector and is developing new initiatives to increase access for underrepresented communities to be part of the burgeoning industry.
Elijah Hutchinson
New York City has been a leader among American cities in clean energy programs, and Elijah Hutchinson is continuing this effort at City Hall. From his perch leading the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, Hutchinson has been part of the team that created the city’s landmark sustainability law, Local Law 97. He also formed the North American Electric Construction Coalition, which brings together cities and other agencies to pool $13 billion to focus on clean construction. He led the development of the city’s Environmental Justice NYC report and its accompanying online mapping tool as well.
James Johnson
The Southern Tier is a growing hub of the clean energy sector, and James Johnson, the leader of the Steuben County Industrial Development Authority, is helping fuel this growth. Last year, Johnson led the authority in securing federal funding for a partnership between Alstom, a Hornell-based rail company, and Norfolk Southern, to develop the next generation of hybrid freight engines. He has also brought over $2 billion in renewable energy investments to Steuben County and led the development of a clean energy economic strategy in the Southern Tier.
Philip Jonat
An experienced energy engineer at the professional services firm WSP, Philip Jonat helps clients in decarbonizing power systems, electrification of end uses and building distributed energy resources. He has also helped facilitate retrofits of electric grids, microgrids, critical trauma hospitals and public transit bus depots in order to improve resiliency in the face of climate change. Additionally, he has worked on integrating battery and transmission projects into the power grid and creating hybrid plants that use batteries to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Rich Kassel
A veteran leader in clean fuels advocacy, Rich Kassel continues to work to protect the environment and position New York as a global clean energy leader. The former point person on the Natural Resources Defense Council’s clean fuel program, Kassel continues that focus at AJW, aiming to move the state’s trucks to clean fuel and move toward zero-emission trucks. Kassel was a key negotiator of the international plan to reduce ship emissions near coastlines. He was an early advocate for congestion pricing and helped to develop the Biden administration’s federal transportation decarbonization plans.
Michael Keroullé
An influential executive in the rail industry, Michael Keroullé is now leading Alstom in the Americas region into the clean energy era. The Hornell-based train manufacturer has teamed with Steuben County economic leaders and the federal government in a program to support the battery industry in the Southern Tier, which will allow for hybrid, battery-powered trains. Two new locomotives will be built in the region and tested by Alstom. The project has won bipartisan praise from Democratic U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Rep. Nick Langworthy.
Howard Kosel
Howard Kosel brings more than four decades of experience in the energy industry to his role at Anbaric, where he is focused on expanding the clean energy industry in New York. Anbaric, an energy transmission company, is focused on developing combined transmission lines that will be important to moving offshore wind-generated electricity to the land to serve as a clean fuel source. Among other issues that Anbaric is working on is the development of battery storage capability for clean energy.
John Lacey
John Lacey brings an invaluable combination of policy chops and public relations expertise to his work helping energy clients navigate complex issues and shape public opinion. The communications veteran, who’s a key executive at the marketing, advertising and PR agency Mower, has helped build support for the siting of a wide range of clean energy projects, totaling 32 gigawatts nationally and 1.4 gigawatts in New York alone. Lacey has also helped expand Mower’s reach across all 50 states.
Amanda Lefton
After overseeing offshore wind energy development in the Biden administration, Amanda Lefton is back in New York as the state’s top environmental official. While in Washington, D.C., Lefton served as director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management at the U.S. Department of the Interior, where she developed and implemented an ambitious offshore wind program. Since moving into her new Albany office, Lefton has rolled out initial rules for the state’s cap-and-invest regulations and said her top priorities were community resiliency, clean air, clean water and protecting natural resources.
Jennifer Leone
As New York City implements Local Law 97, the city’s groundbreaking building sustainability law, Jennifer Leone is playing a critical role. As the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s chief sustainability officer, Leone is focused on creating a “holistic sustainability agenda for affordable housing.” Leone developed the methodology for the law’s offset program, obtained over $100 million in funds for the department’s equitable decarbonization initiatives, created cutting-edge low carbon and resilient design standards for the agency and delivered 15 megawatts of solar energy for new housing.
Stephen Levin
As a lawmaker from Brooklyn, Stephen Levin focused his attention on social services from his perch as chair of the New York City Council General Welfare Committee. Now Levin is a clean energy leader as CEO of Solar One, which designs environmental education and training programs. Levin has been instrumental in the development of Solar One’s Environmental Education Center, expanding educational programming and enhancing governmental partnerships, including with the New York City public schools, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Sally Librera
National Grid New York is part of the clean energy revolution, through using clean energy, building electric vehicle charging stations or revamping the power grid to deliver more renewable power. Led by Sally Librera, the company delivers 91% of its energy from renewable resources in upstate New York and is investing $21 billion on infrastructure upgrades over five years. Librera, who took over last year, previously held key leadership roles at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, AECOM and HNTB. She manages over 11,000 employees that deliver electricity and natural gas to 4.2 million residential and commercial customers.
Ken Lovett
The last thing Ken Lovett wants is for any New Yorker to be dancing in the dark. The veteran journalist and Bruce Springsteen superfan is now a consultant who develops and implements communications and outreach strategies. An Ichor Strategies alum, Lovett has advised the New York Power Authority, where he conducted a thorough analysis of communities impacted by NYPA projects and developed clean energy strategic communications campaigns. Previously a top adviser at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Lovett created and implemented outreach strategies for congestion pricing.
Paul Malliband
Paul Malliband was recruited from the United Kingdom to Binghamton to become a clean energy pioneer in the Southern Tier. Malliband is the inaugural executive director of Battery-NY, which is part of Binghamton University’s New Energy New York initiative. Battery-NY is a component of the SUNY school’s economic development initiative to revitalize nearby Johnson City. There are plans to research and develop between 1,000 and 10,000 prototype batteries for electric storage, which Malliband says is needed for the U.S. to overtake China in the battery storage industry.
Mary Beth Mandanas
Mary Beth Mandanas came on in 2022 as the CEO of Onyx Renewables, which provides clean energy and assists on decarbonization efforts. On her watch, the New York City-based company has achieved remarkable growth while increasing profitability and boosting efficiency by adopting advanced technologies. Mandanas started her career in finance and transitioned to a focus on clean energy work, with career stops along the way at the renewable infrastructure company Sol Systems and CleanChoice Energy. She also serves on the boards of Energy Vault and The Business Council of New York State.
Lisa Marshall
Lisa Marshall has dedicated her career to advocating for the environment and in pushing New York toward a clean energy future. Marshall has been mobilizing public support for the NY HEAT Act, which would limit new natural gas hookups in the state. The Southern Tier resident also has coordinated the submission of over 1,000 public comments for the buildings portion of the state energy plan scope. New Yorkers for Clean Power recently joined other environmental groups in advocating for the state Legislature to not pass legislation that would delay the state’s clean truck rules.
Casey Marvell
Casey Marvell is bringing his experience in environmental and energy policy to representing his clients at Ostroff Associates. Prior to joining the Albany lobbying powerhouse, Marvell worked in the state Senate and at the Adirondack Council, where he honed his knowledge of issues related to climate change and land management. He has used his expertise to counsel clients on the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and other parts of the state’s clean energy policies as he helps them navigate New York’s ambitious climate legislation and regulations.
Ryan McEnany
Pace University is on the path to be a net-zero institution by 2040, and Ryan McEnany is driving this ambitious effort. McEnany is leading initiatives that have electrified the university’s campuses, slashed carbon emissions and saved the institution millions of dollars. Pace has decreased its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% and is on path for a 50% reduction by 2030. McEnany is overseeing the renovation of One Pace Plaza East in lower Manhattan, which will encompass a number of clean energy projects including the installation of a 700-ton heat pump.
Korey McGuiness
Korey McGuiness’ corner of the clean energy transition in New York is focused on public and private fleet transition and navigating the challenges and opportunities that organizations face in making the switch. McGuiness currently manages Arup’s contract for the New York Power Authority’s electric vehicle fleet study. He also serves as a liaison to the Center for Transportation and the Environment, a nonprofit organization that focuses on technical assistance and consulting for zero emissions for ports, transit systems and trucks.
Sadie McKeown
The Community Preservation Corp. is a leading developer of affordable housing in underserved communities in New York City, and Sadie McKeown is making it a leader in the green economy as well. McKeown has developed and implemented the organization’s sustainability program, including the financing of over 13,000 energy-efficient and affordable homes since 2015. She also oversees the administration of the state’s $250 million Climate Friendly Homes Fund and a new subsidiary, CPC Climate Capital, which is part of a national project to develop green multifamily housing.
Robert Messinger
Robert Messinger’s research is simply out of this world. Messinger heads up a partnership between City College, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab and Northeastern University to study and develop new battery technologies that can withstand the rigors of space. An expert in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Messinger is an associate professor and director of graduate studies in his school’s Department of Chemical Engineering. Messinger leads one of the nation’s largest teams investigating rechargeable aluminum metal batteries, which is an emerging battery technology, but one that needs significant scientific and technology research before scalable use.
Zach Miller
The clean energy transition won’t eliminate trucks entirely, but cleaner trucks are a critical part of the shift. The Trucking Association of New York is taking a proactive approach on a number of fronts. Zach Miller, the organization’s top government affairs official, is advocating for a clean fuel standard and increased use of renewable diesel. The association is also working with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on electric truck use at busy hubs like Hunts Point and is teaming up with the New York City Department of Transportation to develop microhubs, off-hour deliveries and other initiatives.
Jim Moore
A former Southern Tier deputy regional director for U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Jim Moore brings invaluable experience and insights to his clients at the Albany lobbying firm O’Donnell & Associates. Among Moore’s policy specialities are clean energy, cryptocurrency, gambling, financial services and technology. Within the energy industry, Moore has helped shape policies related to battery storage systems, demand response and grid resiliency, changes to the state building and fire codes related to clean building systems as well as developing the infrastructure needed to support a switch to hydrogen-powered buses.
Matthew Moses
As the co-chair of the Project Development Practice Area at the law firm Barclay Damon, Matthew Moses specializes in project development and the management of state and local taxes for large-scale projects. He recently negotiated economic incentives and industrial development agency transactions for a solar project that will generate 947 megawatts of energy, negotiated sales and property tax benefits for a 339-mile hydroelectric transmission line to New York City and land tax exemption benefits for a 810-megawatt offshore wind project. Moses is a former town justice in the Syracuse suburb of Marcellus.
Aiden Muhr
Aiden Muhr was promoted last year to be the lead for state government affairs in the eastern United States – including New York – for the major energy company AES. The Virginia-based company has established itself as an international leader in renewable energy and is the fifth-largest solar energy distributor worldwide. In New York, the company is behind a number of solar and wind projects, including several Tier 1 projects under the state’s Renewable Energy Standard. Muhr has lobbied to preserve federal tax credits for renewables and to streamline the transport of wind turbines in New York.
Victor Mullin
As New York moves toward a clean energy future, a critical component of the transformation is the modernization and expansion of the state’s transmission lines to carry more clean energy. New York Transco has played a key role in this effort since its founding a decade ago, completing 70 miles of new or upgraded transmission lines. Led by industry veteran Victor Mullin, New York Transco is now advancing the Propel NY Energy project, a downstate transmission system in partnership with the New York Power Authority that is currently in the permitting stage with construction expected to start next year.
Malak Nassereddine
As a legislative staffer for the New York City Council, Malak Nassereddine focused on the development of legislation focusing on the city’s environmental future. Now with the Building Decarbonization Coalition, she is bringing more attention to obscure state regulatory proceedings that have a major impact on clean energy. Nassereddine leveraged the coalition’s member organizations to shine a spotlight on the state Public Service Commission’s New Efficiency: New York framework. The proceeding directs $5 billion in utility ratepayer money across energy efficiency and building electrification programs, which will determine many energy policy priorities.
Dwayne Norris
Dwayne Norris is on a mission to help those who have been most impacted by pollution and environmental degradation in their neighborhoods. His efforts involve providing innovative workforce development training programs to individuals in underserved communities to gain the skills necessary to enter the green economy and grow within the clean energy industry. The programs developed by Soulful Synergy have helped over 10,000 people gain the skills necessary to transition into green construction jobs and other positions within the clean energy sector.
Dylan Penn
When it comes to sustainability and energy efficiency, Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages is the real thing. The major Coke bottler, which serves the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania markets, has made headlines recently for implementing carbon capture into its power generation system and reducing packaging waste, including the elimination of plastic bottle carriers. Dylan Penn is driving these changes as the company’s director of operations, including through overseeing a quadgeneration project that reduces carbon emissions and optimizes energy efficiency.
Diallo Powell
At Stak Mobility, Diallo Powell is developing the keys to success for electric vehicle usage. This involves building more parking for electric vehicles, complete with charging stations and automated vehicle stacking to conserve space. Stak Mobility has enjoyed significant growth in New York City and other cities nationally. A founding board member and current board vice chair of the Public Housing Community Fund, Powell has led efforts to create clean energy workforce development programs for residents in New York City Housing Authority housing, including the NYCHA Clean Energy Academy.
Brian Pugh
Clean energy and environmental issues have been central to Brian Pugh’s tenure in Croton-on-Hudson’s local government. As the mayor of the Westchester County village, Pugh has carried out initiatives that have garnered the highest recognition for Croton-on-Hudson in the state’s Clean Energy Communities Program. This has included adopting the NYStretch Energy Code, increasing reliance on solar energy, streamlining the solar permitting process, training village staff on energy code enforcement, participating in a Westchester County renewable electricity program and reducing energy usage in village-owned buildings.
Alanna Russo
National Grid and RWE have come together to create Community Offshore Wind to develop major offshore wind projects in New York. A dedicated community leader on Long Island, Alanna Russo leads community engagement initiatives for Community Offshore Wind, building relationships with key stakeholders. Among the community efforts carried out by Community Offshore Wind are buying locally sourced seafood for community food banks in the region, funding child care programs for students in workforce development programs in the clean energy industry and creating a community all-electric van.
Jenille Scott
Jenille Scott has focused her entire career on climate justice and growing awareness of climate issues in Black and brown communities. At ALIGN, an alliance of labor and community organizations promoting environmental equity, Scott leads the organization’s climate and environmental portfolio, which includes various campaigns rooted in climate justice. Scott leads the Transform Don’t Trash NYC campaign, which helped build support for New York City’s 2019 commercial waste zone law. She is now pushing for fully sustainable school buildings in New York City.
Shahar Sadeh
Shahar Sadeh is connecting the Jewish community to the clean energy and climate change movements in order to make progress toward a sustainable future. Adamah, North America’s largest Jewish environmental organization, is creating the Roadmap to Decarbonize American Jewish Life that incorporates sustainability practices within Jewish organizations. The roadmap is expected to launch in the later part of 2025. Adamah organizes an environmental education camp for Jewish children and the Jewish Youth Climate Movement to better involve Gen Z in sustainability issues.
Joel Serface
Joel Serface has helped to create a number of pioneering clean energy projects around the country and is now focusing his expertise on New York City. Serface, who was named director of energy innovation at the civil engineering firm VHB in 2023, is helping to develop the net-zero energy master plan of the city’s first low- and moderate-income mixed-use redevelopment. He is advising on sustainability efforts at Battery Park City and Edgemore and on a large-scale solar and battery project for a major transit system.
James Shillitto
As the veteran leader of Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2, James Shillitto is a proponent of an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes renewable energy. Shillitto has praised Gov. Kathy Hochul’s approval of changes to allow more natural gas to flow through the Iroquois pipeline project and he backs the Queensboro transmission line, which will bring offshore wind power to the repurposed Ravenswood Generating Station in Long Island City, Queens. Shillitto has also applauded the Ravenswood project’s retraining of utility workers for jobs at the renewable energy hub.
Austin So
Austin So holds multiple titles at Armstrong World Industries, but his single focus is to position his company as a key leader in environmentally sustainable construction. As the company’s chief sustainability officer, So has been leading the company in developing and implementing the use of environmentally sound construction materials and practices, working closely with developers in addressing long-term sustainability. The company’s new Ultima Templok ceiling panels reduce energy consumption and costs and helps with compliance with New York City’s Local Law 97.
Carter Strickland
As the first chief sustainability officer for SUNY, Carter Strickland is guiding the 64-campus system into a clean energy future. Since assuming the post in 2023, Strickland, a former New York City Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, has led the development and board passage of SUNY’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan. The plan is SUNY’s roadmap to decarbonizing 111 million square feet of space across the system, along with the development of geothermal networked systems and renewable electricity generating systems.
Julie Tighe
Both in and out of state government, Julie Tighe has been a defender of New York’s environment. Tighe has urged state officials to advance state-level climate action, including a cap-and-invest program, to counteract Washington, D.C.’s move away from climate protections and clean energy growth. She has opposed the White House’s reversal of congestion pricing, saying the move undermines the state’s sovereignty. Tighe, a former chief of staff at the state Department of Environmental Conservation, was a key driver in the passage of the state’s $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act and adoption of new decarbonization programs.
Yanni Trittas
Former Assembly staffer Yanni Trittas has capitalized on his legislative and policy experience since joining the top-tier lobbying firm Constantinople & Vallone Consulting, where he often advises and supports the firm’s energy and environment clients. Trittas has worked extensively on the development of the state’s first utility-scale energy storage system. While serving as an aide in the Assembly, Trittas also assisted a former chair of the Assembly Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development Committee on a number of key issues in the panel’s broad portfolio.
Alex Urist
Alex Urist brings an extensive background in the charging industry and in business development to his role as a co-founder and vice president at XCharge North America, which develops and manufactures direct-current, high-powered equipment. Urist helped develop and launch GridLock, a new battery-integrated fast charger that can link up with renewable assets and put energy back into the grid. Urist’s other recent accomplishments include partnering with a major car rental company to install chargers at airports and helping take the XCharge Group public.
Kristen Walsh
Kristen Walsh brings her knowledge of New York and clean energy to the intersection of state and local affairs and the federal government. The New York president at Tonio Burgos & Associates – a firm with many energy industry clients – Walsh has previously served as a top Long Island adviser for U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and former U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. A dedicated community leader and mother of two, Walsh has many volunteer commitments, including as a Girl Scout troop leader.
Mark Weprin
Mark Weprin made his name in New York as a long-serving city and state lawmaker and as an adviser under then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Now, Weprin is a leader in the burgeoning clean energy community as a well-connected government affairs executive with Invenergy, which is working to help New York reach its climate goals. Recently, the Chicago-based energy giant signed contracts to open two new wind farms in upstate New York. The company is also a partner on Leading Light Wind, a major offshore wind project in the New York Bight.
Eric Wilson
Eric Wilson has taken on a major project not only for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority but for New York City: transitioning the MTA’s entire fleet of 5,900 buses to zero emissions and transforming the city’s bus depots to support the new fleet. This is not the only big project in Wilson’s portfolio, as he is also implementing the MTA’s climate reduction plan, which he authored, which has a goal of reducing the MTA’s greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2040. Another key priority for Wilson and his team is decarbonizing MTA facilities.
Barry Wygel
Ensuring a successful clean energy transition relies not only on the development of new renewable energy projects, but also garnering public support and laying out the long-term benefits to New Yorkers. Barry Wygel has been focused on this component in his position as communications director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, a coalition of companies and nonprofits backing New York’s clean energy economy. Wygel, a former Spectrum News television reporter, created the “Plugging In” podcast last year, which has received over 20,000 views since its launch.
Roberta Zwier
Roberta Zwier brings over 15 years of experience in energy project permitting to her role in one of New York’s buzziest clean energy projects. Zwier leads environmental permitting for Rise Light & Power, which is transforming the Ravenswood Generating Station in Long Island City, Queens, into a renewable energy plant powered by offshore wind. Zwier led the preparation of the state Article VII application for the Queensboro Renewable Express, a proposed transmission link that’s part of the Renewable Ravenswood vision.
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