Hochul nominates former DEC commissioner, environmental advocate to utility regulator

ALBANY, New York — Gov. Kathy Hochul has nominated two women to the powerful state Public Service Commission, which oversees the state’s gas, electric and water utilities.

Hochul has sent over two nominees to the Senate: Denise Sheehan, a former commissioner for the Department of Environmental Conservation, and Uchenna Bright, an environmental advocate, according to a person familiar with the moves.

Why it matters: This is Hochul’s first move toward reshaping the Public Service Commission, which oversees the state’s gas and electric utilities and will play a pivotal role in the path forward for New York’s climate targets. All the current commissioners were selected by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Why it matters:
Hochul’s first move toward reshaping

About the nominees: Sheehan works at a management consulting firm and is a senior policy adviser for the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST), the leading trade group for energy storage companies in the state. She’s a Capital Region board member for the New York League of Conservation Voters.
About the nominees: