2024 Power Players in Climate, Energy & Sustainability

Luke Falk is COO of Clean Path NY for energyRe, leading the development of renewable generation and transmission for one of the largest clean energy infrastructure projects in New York. Prior to joining energyRe, Mr. Falk served as senior vice president of Related Companies, where he led the energy and sustainability practice for Related’s global development portfolio.  

What is one thing your organization hopes to accomplish in 2024?
energyRe, alongside NYPA and Invenergy, is advancing Clean Path NY– a project that will bring New Yorkers nearly eight million megawatt-hours of clean energy annually. energyRe is focused on decarbonizing cities – our nation’s highest energy load centers and the largest consumers of fossil fuels.  In New York, that means adding capacity and resiliency to the state’s aging, fragmented electric grid so that our abundant renewable resources can plug in and power our communities. 

Do you have any advice for someone looking to pursue a career in your field?
The energy transition is a huge undertaking that will impact many elements of our economy. No matter your professional or educational background, there’s a role for you to play in making it happen. You don’t need to be an engineer or have a degree in finance to make a meaningful contribution to a sustainable future.

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
Learn more about efforts to bring clean energy to your community and vocalize your support for local sustainability and resiliency initiatives. Also, compost your food waste – it creates nutrient-rich soil that can support community-based and other agricultural initiatives.

What can policymakers do to aid in your organization’s work?
New York passed one of the most ambitious climate laws in the world – the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The policy framework for climate action is in place; now, we need alignment and cooperation at the federal, state, and local levels to implement a just and swift transition to accessible clean energy that delivers enhanced public health and robust economic opportunities for all.

Jonathan Flaherty is responsible for Tishman Speyer’s evolving sustainability strategy including property and fund certifications, performance tracking, energy procurement strategy, building technology innovation, diligence in alternative green investments, and execution of the firm’s Net Zero by 2050 commitment. Jonathan is the chair of the board of directors for the Building Energy Exchange, co-chair of the REBNY Sustainability Committee, secretary-treasurer of the board of Green Building Certification Institute and board member for the New York Energy Consumers Council. 

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
The most important thing that people can do to protect the environment is to be educated, active citizens. Apathy and a lack of knowledge are the primary challenges we face in our society as it relates to protecting the environment. There are lots of things people can do individually to help, but collective action via the government is the path to the most effective and lasting change. Bottom line – get educated and vote.

Concerned about the existential threat of climate change, Kate Frucher, a lifelong entrepreneur, jumped into the arena by creating The Clean Fight – a unique business accelerator focused on accelerating the adoption of climate solutions by designing and implementing programs that can lead to the rapid deployment of decarbonization solutions. Earlier, Kate helped launch AmeriCorps, drive reform at the FDNY after 9/11, and build Axiom Law and ideeli from startup to $100m+.

What is one thing your organization hopes to accomplish in 2024?
We all know this is the decisive decade, and therefore critical that the climate solutions that have proven to be effective are adopted quickly, equitably, and at scale. This year The Clean Fight is running four programs that test different strategies to accelerate adoption. Our goal for 2024 is to not only help the companies in our program, but to share the successful strategies for adoption with the market to enable a broader ripple effect.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to pursue a career in your field?
Join us! This field needs the best and brightest from all industries, so don’t be scared off if you don’t have experience in climate or a technical background. Every company needs business development, finance, HR, marketing, project management, etc. Don’t be afraid to reach out to companies in our portfolio, or companies you admire. As they grow, they are thirsty for top talent. Your skills are more transferable and valuable than you might think.

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
We need to move from hand-wringing to action. Even those of us who are concerned about climate change often don’t make it the topic that drives our voting. Or our decisions about what type of car to get, how we travel, what we prioritize with our landlords, in our house purchases or renovations, or in what we eat. This is the year we need to go from considering to doing.

What can policymakers do to aid in your organization’s work?
We need proven climate solutions to be adopted as fast as possible in order to stem the current crisis. Innovators on both the supply and demand side who are stepping up to test and deploy new technologies need support from policymakers to de-risk these efforts – from deployment grants to targeted tax credits. This is something only policymakers can do, and their help is critical to our collective success.

Lisa Flavia Garcia serves as regional administrator for EPA’s Region 2, serving New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, The U.S. Virgin Islands, and eight federally recognized Indian Nations. Garcia is an environmental lawyer who’s focused on the advancement of environmental justice in the public and private sectors. She helped create and implement Plan EJ 2014 under the Obama Administration and spent five years as vice president for litigation at Earthjustice.

What is one thing your organization hopes to accomplish in 2024?
EPA will continue with our core mission of protecting human health and the environment while tackling the challenges of the 21st century. That means combating climate change and advancing environmental and climate justice in communities that have been disproportionately overburdened by pollution. In New York, we’re investing over $1 billion under the Biden-Harris Administration to transform communities by replacing lead service lines, cleaning up legacy contaminated properties, and helping to fund the clean energy economy.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to pursue a career in your field?
EPA is always looking for motivated individuals passionate about protecting the environment and public health. EPA employs a variety of people – innovators, engineers, scientists, lawyers and many others. Think about how your ideas, skill sets, and interests can build towards a healthier, more sustainable planet. We know our outcomes are stronger when our workforce looks like America, recruiting and building a diverse workforce is a top priority.  Check here for our publicly available roles: https://www.epa.gov/careers

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
Making choices to reduce your impact on the natural world becomes easier once you recognize that you are part of the solution and taking action now is an investment in your community’s future. You have the power to help protect where you live and the places you love to visit.  I’d recommend everyone travel responsibly and be mindful of the effect you have on the places you love to vacation.

What can policymakers do to aid in your organization’s work?
We are witnessing an unprecedented commitment to solve environmental challenges by advancing environmental justice and investing billions of dollars in infrastructure and a clean energy economy. Through collaboration – local, state, tribal, federal, public and private- we can design solutions, and create a robust economy that invests in the environment and public health for all communities regardless of income, race, ethnicity or zip code. We want to continue spreading the word about this exciting work!

Hrisa has 20+ years of commercial real estate experience as a sustainability and wellness leader. She currently serves as Rudin’s first head of sustainability, overseeing energy, sustainability, wellness, and ESG initiatives throughout the organization and across its portfolio of commercial and multifamily properties. She is a LEED AP, WELL AP and Fitwel Ambassador. Hrisa serves on the IWBI Air Concept Advisory and sits on key sustainability committees, including REBNY, ULI Greenprint, and Real Estate Roundtable.

Tonya Gayle is executive director of Green City Force (GCF). Prior to GCF, she worked at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Tonya spent most of her career in nonprofit organizations focused on economic justice for young people of color. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University and a native Brooklynite. Tonya is passionate about providing young people with viable paths to create and lead a just and equitable world. Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

What is one thing your organization hopes to accomplish in 2024?
In 2024, GCF hopes to secure our 7th and 8th Eco-Hub locations to provide additional spaces in public housing communities to grow and distribute healthy produce, provide workforce training and green economy career paths to young adults, while bringing climate solutions connected to food, water, waste and energy to more disadvantaged communities across the five boroughs.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to pursue a career in your field?
In order to have a meaningful impact in this work, it’s important to be humble in meeting people where they are and taking a place-based approach to solutions. Workforce training, community engagement and environmental justice are holistic topics. Listening is as important as acting and to be successful, one should see themselves as a facilitator for community-driven solutions, acknowledging the agency that community members have and that could be further cultivated through your service to them.

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
Single-use plastic products (SUPPs) may epitomize convenience, but the damage they cause through production, distribution and litter, is a major threat to environmental and human health. Plastics account for at least 85 percent of all marine waste. Prioritizing reusable products is not only critical for environmental health, but it can also be cost-effective. Using sustainable bags, cups or containers is a way for everyone to contribute to climate solutions on an individual basis.

What can policymakers do to aid in your organization’s work?
Policymakers can support the work of GCF by connecting the dots around the roles of various agencies to create holistic change. Making long-term joint investments and committing to multi-year initiatives that support the first and next steps in a career path for disadvantaged community members is a critical piece that needs to be resolved for lasting systems change and a just transition.

In 2021, Gennaro was re-elected to the City Council in a nonpartisan special election. Prior to his re-election, Gennaro was appointed on January 10, 2014, as deputy commissioner for New York City sustainability and resiliency at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Gennaro furthered DEC’s efforts to prepare and build New York City more resilient to meet the challenges associated with climate change and major storms for the last few years.

Noah Ginsburg is the executive director of NYSEIA, New York’s distributed solar and storage trade association. NYSEIA advances rooftop and community solar through advocacy, education, and research. Previously, Noah spent seven years as director at NYC nonprofit Solar One, where he led low-income solar programs. Noah has held diverse roles at national solar companies and gained rooftop installation experience with GRID Alternatives. He earned a bachelor’s degree in renewable energy from the CUNY Baccalaureate Program/Hunter College.

What is one thing your organization hopes to accomplish in 2024?
In 2024, we plan to educate decision-makers about the important contributions that rooftop and community solar are making toward New York’s environment and economy. We’re seeking to strengthen New York’s residential solar tax credit to make solar more affordable, especially for low-income homeowners. We’re also raising awareness about key barriers, such as restrictive local laws and utility interconnection challenges, and advancing policy solutions to ensure continued progress toward New York’s nation-leading clean energy goals.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to pursue a career in your field?
I’ll offer three pieces of advice: 1) prioritize finding a company or organization that’s a good fit over the perfect role; 2) consider a technical career – the United States has a shortage of skilled engineers and electricians, and there is a lot of opportunity for technical experts in the clean energy sector; and 3) try to find a formal or informal mentor – we all benefit from coaching and support!

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
Install solar panels on your home or business, or subscribe to a local community solar project. A significant portion of New York’s electricity supply is still generated by burning fossil fuels, harming the environment and public health. Local solar + storage directly reduces pollution while lowering New Yorkers’ electric bills. Community solar empowers anyone with an electric bill to subscribe to a local solar project and receive guaranteed utility bill savings – a win-win!

What can policymakers do to aid in your organization’s work?
1) Advance policies to address restrictive local laws, which currently prevent community-scale solar projects in municipalities across the state; 2) streamline the utility interconnection process; and 3) modernize incentives and electric rates to provide fair/accurate compensation for distributed solar + storage projects. Addressing these key issues will support thousands of additional jobs in the solar industry, enabling rapid, cost-effective progress toward the clean energy and equity goals in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

As a representative of Lower Manhattan for over 30 years, Deborah Glick has been a strong advocate for civil rights, reproductive freedom, animal and environmental preservation, the arts, and tenants’ rights. A long-standing advocate for the environment, Glick was appointed as chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee in 2023. She also serves on the Ways and Means, Rules, and Government Operations Committees.

What is one thing your organization hopes to accomplish in 2024?
We are focused on two critical measures. We are working to expand the Bottle Bill, including raising the deposit, increasing the handling fee and expanding product lines covered for return. Additionally, we’re focused on passing the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, restricting the materials used in packaging and requiring producers to create a plan to significantly reduce the packaging they use and pay a fee based on the tonnage of waste they produce.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to pursue a career in your field?
Public service is an incredibly rewarding career. I get to work on the major policy issues and legislation and help facilitate on-the-ground, direct assistance to people facing critical issues.  I believe that working in public service is a critical experience for running for office, but there are myriad ways to get that experience – being on staff to individual members, working on the central staff of a legislative body, or with an advocacy or charitable organization. 

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
A great place to start is being more intentional about everyday activities, from avoiding the use or purchase of any plastics, especially single-use straws and utensils, to moving towards refilling and reusing materials, such as glass food storage containers and refillable water bottles. Limiting food waste and composting all plant-based food scraps, including coffee grounds and tea bags, is also an easy way to limit your footprint.  

What can policymakers do to aid in your organization’s work?
As a policymaker myself, I believe our work should be to incorporate science-based solutions recommended by credible sources. We should make it easy for individuals to do the right thing, create programs that support environmentally sound choices, and ensure that the government is leading by example. 

Chris Graziano serves as vice president and general manager for Veolia utility operations in New York and Rhode Island. In this position, he oversees the operations of five water utilities in New York and one in Rhode Island. He is responsible for the safe and reliable treatment and delivery of potable water to over 500,000 people in parts of Rockland, Westchester, Orange, Putnam and Tioga counties in New York and 19,500 in Rhode Island.

What is one thing your organization hopes to accomplish in 2024?
Promote conservation to new areas of New York to ensure the sustainability of our resources.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to pursue a career in your field?
Providing clean and reliable water has to be your passion.  Protecting our resources to make them sustainable for future generations is our greatest task.

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
Be aware.  Awareness of recycling, awareness of responsible use of water, and awareness of how our actions affect the environment around us.

What can policymakers do to aid in your organization’s work?
Work to promote regulations that make sense, provide value,  and are affordable to customers.