New Roles Will Support the Implementation of Governor Cuomo’s Equitable Transition to a Clean Energy Economy as Outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act

April 12, 2021

The Climate Action Council Co-Chairs, President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Doreen M. Harris and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos, today announced Sarah Osgood Executive Director and Sameer Ranade Climate Justice Advisor of the Climate Action Council. Today’s announcement supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s commitment to realize an equitable transition to a clean energy economy as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA, said, “The Climate Action Council’s work is critical to achieving New York State’s ambitious clean energy goals, and the knowledge, experience and passion that Sarah and Sameer bring to their positions will prove invaluable as the Council prepares to create the Scoping Plan. We welcome them and look forward to working together in implementing a more just and equitable clean energy future for all New Yorkers.”

DEC Commissioner and Climate Action Council Co-Chair Basil Seggos said, “The addition of Sarah and Sameer to our growing team of climate experts further bolsters our efforts as we focus on the successful implementation of the nation’s strongest climate law. The energy and expertise these professionals bring to the Climate Action Council will both amplify our work and increase our capacity to meet New York’s ambitious climate goals, while ensuring every community benefits from the state’s actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ramp up renewable energy sources.”

Climate Action Council Executive Director
As Executive Director of the Climate Action Council, Ms. Osgood will manage the Climate Action Council process to completion of the Scoping Plan, in accordance with the CLCPA, as well as establish and implement the plan’s ongoing review and periodic updates after its completion. She will also serve as the liaison among Council members and will work closely with the Co-Chairs in the implementation of Scoping Plan activities.

With almost 15 years of public service, Ms. Osgood has extensive experience in public policy, program development and implementation, and demonstrated leadership within the public sector. Prior to assuming the role of Executive Director, Ms. Osgood was the Director of Policy Implementation at the New York State Department of Public Service and served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Chair of the Public Service Commission – providing guidance and strategic leadership on policy development and implementation ensuring consistency across a wide breadth of objectives. Additionally, she has held several positions within state government, including Chief of Staff and Program Manager for Policy and Program Development at NYSERDA, as well as Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy in the Office of the Governor.

Sarah Osgood, Executive Director of the Climate Action Council, said, “I am excited for this opportunity to help New York chart its path to meeting the CLCPA’s aggressive goals. I look forward to working with the Climate Action Council and stakeholders in developing and implementing a sound and reasonable plan that will benefit all New Yorkers.”

Climate Action Council Climate Justice Advisor
As the Climate Justice Advisor, Mr. Ranade will actively engage with members of the Climate Justice Working Group and other organizations advancing environmental justice. He will provide strategic advice on incorporating the CLCPA’s requirements for clean energy investments for disadvantaged communities within the State’s Scoping Plan, as well as identify opportunities for investments to advance equitable clean energy solutions across state agencies and authorities to benefit disadvantaged communities.

An environmental justice advocate, Mr. Ranade’s recent professional work has centered around policy and community organizing at Front & Centered, a coalition focused on advancing racially and economically just solutions to pollution and climate change in Washington State. Prior to that, Mr. Ranade was a Climate and Clean Energy Campaign Associate at the Washington Environmental Council and has held positions within the federal government, including staff assistant for U.S. Senator Patty Murray (Washington). Mr. Ranade has also served in key volunteer roles, most recently as the Board President of the Tenants Union of Washington and as an Environmental Justice Representative on the Advisory Council of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

Sameer Ranade, Climate Justice Advisor to the Climate Action Council, said, “I'm honored to have the opportunity to work with the Climate Justice Working Group and community organizations across New York State in developing the strategies to meet the CLCPA’s clean energy goals with a lens of justice. Our collaborative work will help create a New York where everyone thrives, while at the same time, providing a model for climate justice that other states can follow.”

For more information about the New York State Climate Action Council or its advisory panels and working groups, please visit www.climate.ny.gov.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

Governor Cuomo's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieving its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented ramp-up of clean energy including over $4 billion invested in 91 large-scale renewable projects across the state, supporting more than 150,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2019, a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035, and 1,800 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities and advancing progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.