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New York Power Authority expands executive leadership team

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New York Power Authority expands executive leadership team
Daniella Piper, VP Digital Transformation/Chief of Staff. (Philip Kamrass/New York Power Authority)

The New York Power Authority is expanding its executive leadership team to deliver on its clean energy mission, including new goals in the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget, which provides NYPA with expanded authority to develop, own and operate renewable energy generating projects.

The Power Authority will be a key driver in assisting New York State in meeting its clean energy targets, including producing 70% of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and creating a zero-emission statewide electrical system by 2040, according to a release.

Daniella Piper has been promoted to chief innovation officer and Alexis Harley has been hired as chief risk and resilience officer.

Piper will coordinate the Power Authority’s strategic business goals, technology innovation, digitization, research and development efforts so that new technologies are developed, tested, socialized and implemented in support of the state’s clean energy targets. She also will oversee a new Enterprise Innovation team that will serve as the incubator for new programs and ideas, allowing NYPA to develop and deploy game-changing technologies and digital solutions.

Piper has more than 15 years of experience in the energy industry, most recently serving as NYPA’s western New York regional manager and chief transformation officer. She has been integral to the construction of the Marcy South Series Compensation Project; NYPA’s 10-Point Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan; and NYPA’s first Digital Transformation Office. Through her roles, including a previous post as chief of staff, she has developed a broad understanding of the Power Authority and excelled at working collaboratively with employees and external parties, according to a release.

Harley will set the Power Authority’s strategic risk management and resilience vision and implement, oversee and monitor all risk management and resilience activities. She also will be responsible for determining NYPA’s risk tolerance and instituting associated strategic plans, including oversight of the Power Authority’s sustainability team, which is responsible for the development and implementation of its ESG strategy.

Harley has spent her career in the energy industry and comes to NYPA from National Grid. She has extensive experience designing, implementing and leading enterprise risk management programs to protect people, assets and communities while preserving value and adapting to new opportunities, the company said. Strong risk and resilience programs will be key to balancing big ideas with thoughtful risk assessment and strategic resiliency plans.

“In their new roles, Daniella Piper and Alexis Harley will bring experience and new insights to our executive team and our organization as we fulfill our clean energy promise to the people of New York State,” said NYPA President and Chief Executive Officer Justin E. Driscoll. “The new expanded authority legislation will allow us to further demonstrate the ingenuity and innovation that is part of the Power Authority’s DNA.”

In addition, NYPA has named Jairo Florez regional manager for Western New York. Florez will be the first Latino American to fill the top executive role overseeing all of the Power Authority’s western New York operations, including management of the Niagara Power Project. Florez previously served as regional manager for Central New York, overseeing NYPA’s Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project Plant.

He will be responsible for managing the Niagara Power Project’s 15-year, $1.1 billion Next Generation Niagara program. Planned improvements include replacing aging equipment with the latest machinery, reflecting advanced digital technologies for optimizing the hydroelectric project’s performance. The digitalization and upgrade project will secure the plant’s long-term future as a clean power generator that spurs economic development in Western New York and across the state through its low-cost power allocation programs.

Florez joined the Power Authority in 2012 as a systems analyst. He has held several positions within the operations department and supported the Blenheim-Gilboa project through several challenges, including onboarding new Power Authority transmission assets and managing the completion of NYPA’s Life Extension and Modernization program for its small hydroelectric plants.

“Jairo Florez’s experience as an electrical engineer overseeing hydropower electricity generation will be vital to our ongoing modernization and digitization efforts at the Niagara Power Project and help us ensure that we bring our Next Generation Niagara program to a successful completion,” said Driscoll. “Jairo’s career path at NYPA is reflective of his ability to implement tactical programs that support the Power Authority’s strategic vision and deliver upon the state’s clean energy goals.”

NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the U.S., operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80% of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower.