Former CEO of NYSERDA Alicia Barton has been appointed CEO of FirstLight Power.
She will take up the post on 3 August to head the company which owns and operates hydroelectric, energy storage, and solar power facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Barton has also served as CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, co-chaired the Energy and Cleantech Practice at the leading Boston law firm Foley Hoag LLP and served as chief of operations for SunEdison’s global utility business unit, leading teams building utility-scale wind and solar projects.
She said: “I am honored and excited to be joining FirstLight as its CEO at this pivotal moment in our efforts to accelerate our transition to a 100 percent clean electric grid as a central element of the strategy to combat the climate crisis.
“I have spent my entire career dedicated to fighting climate change and building a clean energy future.
“FirstLight as a company, and Northfield Mountain as our region’s largest zero-emissions energy storage facility, are uniquely positioned to drive accelerated deployment of renewable energy and storage on the New England electric grid.”
FirstLight board chair Phil Giudice said: “Alicia Barton is one of the most accomplished and admired leaders in the field of clean energy in the United States.
“We are excited and grateful that she’s agreed to join FirstLight as our new CEO to lead FirstLight’s efforts to accelerate our transition to a decarbonized energy future, harnessing the full potential of offshore wind, solar, and electrification of our transportation and fossil-based end uses.”
At NYSERDA, Barton oversaw the execution of long-term contracts for more than 6,000MW of offshore wind and other new renewable energy resources, was a key architect of New York’s landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, and served as Co-Chair of the New York Climate Action Council.