NYSERDA appoints president
Doreen Harris named to take over CEO role on permanent basis
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on Wednesday named their acting president and CEO, Doreen Harris, to the permanent job.
Harris was appointed acting president and CEO of NYSERDA in June, succeeding Alicia Barton, now CEO of Firstlight Power.
Harris said she is honored to lead during a time when industry-leading actions are being advanced to rebuild the economy with renewable energy and green jobs.
Before being named acting president and CEO at NYSERDA, Harris worked in executive, technical, and policy positions, most recently as the vice president of Large-scale Renewables. She was responsible for overseeing the state’s development of land-based renewable resources, including spearheading the new siting legislation for large-scale renewable energy projects, and developing New York’s offshore wind initiative, which is the largest in the U.S.
Harris is also co-chair of the New York State Climate Action Council, which is responsible for the development of a scoping plan to achieve New York’s greenhouse gas reduction goals under the Climate Act. Prior to NYSERDA, Harris served as project director for Global Water Technologies, where she developed and commercialized energy-saving water treatment technologies. Before that she worked as an engineer at Alcoa Advanced Technologies and
Optimation Technologies.
Harris will earn $190,585, which was what her predecessor earned.
NYSERDA is a public benefit corporation that offers information and analysis, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
“We have witnessed Doreen’s
unparalleled leadership and passion for clean energy for more than 10 years at NYSERDA through her strategic approach to developing and executing on some of the largest clean-energy initiatives in the nation,” NYSERDA Board Chairman Richard Kauffman said, noting that she brings experience and accomplishments from the private and public sectors, “which is needed now more than ever as we advance Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading energy goals in tackling global climate change.”