2009 State Energy Planning Board Members

Tom Congdon

Thomas Congdon
Deputy Secretary for Energy

Tom Congdon is the Deputy Secretary for Energy in Governor Paterson’s office.  Tom also serves as the Chair of the New York State Energy Planning Board.  From 2000-2007, he served as a policy analyst in the New York State Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University at Albany and his Master of Public Administration from Baruch College.  Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Tom was the policy director at the New York League of Conservation Voters.

 
Robert L. Megna

Robert L. Megna
Director
NYS Division of Budget

Robert L. Megna was appointed Budget Director on June 15, 2009.  He is responsible for the overall development and management of the state’s fiscal policy, including overseeing the preparation of budget recommendations for all state agencies and programs, economic and revenue forecasting, tax policy, fiscal planning, capital financing and management of the state’s debt portfolio, as well as pensions and employee benefits.

Mr. Megna previously served as the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, responsible for overseeing the collection and accounting of more $90 billion in state and local taxes.  Read Robert Megna's full bio.

 
Garry Brown

Garry Brown
Chairman
NYS Public Service Commission

Garry A. Brown was confirmed as a Commissioner of the New York State Public Service Commission on December 13, 2007 and was named Chairman on January 2, 2008. His term runs through February 1, 2015.

Mr. Brown has nearly 30 years of experience in the public, private and not-for-profit energy and electricity sectors, including previously holding a position as Senior Policy Analyst for the former New York State Energy Office, which had been charged with developing a sustainable and sound energy policy and promoting energy efficiency, while protecting the environment and fostering economic development.  Read Garry Brown's full bio.

 
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez

Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
Secretary of State
NYS Department of State

Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez was confirmed as the 65th Secretary of State on March 6, 2007.  Secretary Cortés-Vázquez is the first Hispanic to hold the position, since its establishment in 1778.

Secretary Cortés-Vázquez comes to the New York Department of State with an extensive background in the corporate, non-profit, and government sectors that spans over 27 years.  Read Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez's full bio.

 
Richard Daines

Richard Daines
Commissioner
NYS Department of Health

Richard F. Daines, M.D., was confirmed as the 14th Commissioner of Health for New York State in March of 2007.

As Commissioner, Dr. Daines heads one of the nation’s leading public health agencies with a budget of approximately $49 billion.  Under his leadership, the Department of Health administers the state’s public health insurance programs, regulates hospitals and other health care facilities, conducts research in a premier biomedical laboratory, and supports public health prevention initiatives. During the past year he helped shape significant health care reforms that were adopted in the state budget, including increased access to health insurance coverage for the uninsured, greater emphasis on primary and preventive care, quality improvement initiatives, and investment in health information technology.  Read Richard Daines' full bio.

 
Alexander “Pete” Grannis

Alexander “Pete” Grannis
Commissioner
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Pete Grannis was nominated by Governor Eliot Spitzer to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and began his tenure in April 2007.  His appointment marks a return to the Department for Mr. Grannis, who began his career in public service at DEC in the early 1970’s as a Compliance Counsel.  Commissioner Grannis serves as Chairman of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI, Inc.), the precedent setting 10 state regional collaborative to reduce greenhouse gases in the power sector using market solutions through the auction of 100 percent of pollution allowances.  Read Alexander "Pete" Grannis's full bio.

 
Stanley Gee

Stanley Gee
Acting Commissioner
NYS Department of Transportation

Stanley Gee was appointed by Governor David Paterson as Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) effective May 8, 2009.

Prior to assuming the position of Acting Commissioner, Stan served as the Executive Deputy Commissioner of NYSDOT. As the Executive Deputy Commissioner, Stan functioned as the chief operating officer of the Department. Under his leadership, Stan focused on improving the performance and accountability of the Department and communicating results to its customers and employees.  Read Stanley Gee's full bio.

 
Dennis Mullen

Dennis Mullen
President and CEO
Empire State Development

Dennis M. Mullen was appointed Chairman and CEO designate of Empire State Development in July 2009 (both positions require confirmation by the New York State Senate).  In addition, Mr. Mullen serves as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Economic Development.  Read Dennis Mullen's full bio.

 
Francis J. Murray, Jr.

Francis J. Murray, Jr.
President and CEO
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Francis J. Murray, Jr. was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on January 26, 2009. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Murray served as Senior Advisor at the international environmental consulting firm Ecology and Environment, Inc., where he provided strategic policy and market development guidance.  Read Francis J. Murray Jr.'s full bio.

 

Energy Coordinating Working Group

Sarah Osgood

Sarah Osgood
Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy

Sarah Osgood is the Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy in the Office of the Governor (NY).  Prior to joining the Governor's staff, Sarah served as a Project Manager in the Clean Energy Research and Market Development group at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. There she worked with clean energy companies on product and business development activities aimed at commercializing transportation and power systems technologies and growing New York State businesses. She was also involved in the development and implementation of the Anaerobic Digester Gas-to-Electricity Program under the Customer-Sited Tier of the Renewable Portfolio Standard.  Sarah received her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration from the University at Albany.