John Saintcross is a Program Manager of the Energy and Environmental Markets Program at the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) where he is responsible for managing the centralized procurement of renewable resources under the Renewable Portfolio Standard in New York, and the auctions/sales of allowances under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Clean Air Interstate Rule programs, and of the Electric Power Transmission and Distribution "Smart Grid" Program where he manages research, development and demonstration activities aimed at improving the reliability, efficiency, security and performance of the electric power system in New York. Mr. Saintcross is also a member of the New York State nuclear assessment and evaluation team responsible for conducting independent evaluations of reactor plant conditions and potential risks to public health associated with unusual or emergency events.
Prior to joining NYSERDA, he held the position of Director of Resource Portfolio Management for Green Mountain Power Corporation where his responsibilities included the development of renewable and distributed power technologies, integrated generation and demand planning, and power contracting, delivery and trading. Mr. Saintcross also worked at Maine Public Service Company supervising its planning function and before entering the energy business, was employed by Westinghouse Electric working in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program where he was responsible for component specification, manufacturing and ship-board maintenance. Mr. Saintcross received his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
About the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is a public benefit corporation created in 1975. NYSERDA's earliest efforts focused solely on research and development with the goal of reducing the State's petroleum consumption. Today, NYSERDA's aim is to help New York meet its energy goals: reducing energy consumption, promoting the use of renewable energy sources, and protecting the environment.
Currently, NYSERDA is primarily funded by state rate payers through the System Benefits Charge (SBC), which was established on May 20, 1996, and was specified funding from July 1, 1998 to June 30, 2001. These SBC funds were allocated towards energy-efficiency programs, research and development initiatives, low-income energy programs, and environmental disclosure activities. Part of this funding went into the creation of New York Energy SmartSM which helps to maintain momentum for the State's efforts to develop competitive markets for energy efficiency; demand management; outreach and education services; research, development, and demonstration; low-income services; and to provide direct economic and environmental benefits to New Yorkers. The SBC was extended through June 30, 2006, and most recently until June 30, 2011.
NYSERDA strives to facilitate change through the widespread development and use of innovative technologies to improve the State's energy, economic, and environmental wellbeing. In fulfilling its mission, NYSERDA's workforce reflects its public service orientation, placing a premium on objective analysis and collaboration, as well as reaching out to solicit multiple perspectives and share information. NYSERDA is committed to public service, striving to be a model of efficiency and effectiveness, while remaining flexible and responsive to its customers' needs. NYSERDA's programs and services provide a vehicle for the State to work collaboratively with businesses, academia, industry, the federal government, environmental community, public interest groups, and energy market participants. Through these collaborations, NYSERDA seeks to develop a diversified energy supply portfolio, improve market mechanisms, and facilitate the introduction and adoption of advanced technologies that will help New Yorkers plan for and respond to uncertainties in the energy markets.
NYSERDA is governed by a board consisting of 13 members, including the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Chair of the Public Service Commission, and the Chair of the Power Authority of the State of New York, who serve ex officio. The remaining nine members are appointed by the Governor of the State of New York with the advice and consent of the Senate and include, as required by statute, an engineer or research scientist, an economist, an environmentalist, a consumer advocate, an officer of a gas utility, an officer of an electric utility, and three at-large members.
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