#United States #Annapolis #New Energy Equity #Elizabeth Driscoll #Laurel Passera

New Leadership at New Energy Equity

In a strategic move to advance its growth, New Energy Equity, a subsidiary of ALLETE, has recently announced two key appointments to its executive leadership team. Elizabeth Driscoll steps into the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), while Laurel Passera is appointed as Vice President of Policy. This initiative is intended to bolster the company's capabilities in delivering distributed energy projects effectively, focusing on markets that will yield significant benefits for electricity consumers.

With the rising demand for energy, it is imperative that electricity generation expands correspondingly to ensure accessibility and affordability for all communities. The inclusion of Driscoll and Passera in the leadership team is poised to establish a strong foundation for New Energy Equity to execute more distributed energy initiatives where they are most needed.

Elizabeth Driscoll: Leading Operational Excellence

As COO, Elizabeth Driscoll will take charge of overseeing the engineering, construction, and operational aspects of New Energy Equity’s growing portfolio of distributed energy assets. With over 20 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, Driscoll has honed her skills in construction, engineering, and infrastructure development, successfully managing projects exceeding 1 GW of solar energy and storage capacities.

Before joining New Energy Equity, Driscoll held key leadership roles at Carson Power, Advanced Power, and Borrego Solar, where she was instrumental in the construction and delivery of various renewable energy projects across multiple regions.

Josh Kunkel, CEO of New Energy Equity, expressed excitement regarding Driscoll’s expertise: “Elizabeth brings the technical depth and operational discipline needed to ensure our projects move smoothly from development through construction and rapidly to operation. Her extensive experience is invaluable in scaling our project portfolios quickly.”

Laurel Passera: Navigating Policy and Regulatory Landscapes

Laurel Passera, with more than 15 years of experience in the renewable energy policy field, will focus on enhancing market opportunities for solar energy. Previously, she served at the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA), where her efforts centered around advancing multi-state policy campaigns and liaising directly with utilities and regulators to eliminate market barriers.

Passera’s experience includes developing national model policy frameworks and tackling challenges related to interconnection and utility coordination, which are crucial for the success of community solar and distributed storage projects. She is also known for her role on the board of the Center for Resource Solutions and is the co-founder of Raleigh City Farm.

Jackie Chambers, President of New Energy Equity, highlighted the importance of Passera’s appointment, stating, “Laurel's policy and regulatory expertise will help us propel our projects forward, ensuring that communities see the impact of clean energy sooner.”

New Energy Equity's Vision for Renewable Energy

Founded with the mission to develop, build, and own solar and energy storage projects, New Energy Equity strives to generate reliable energy while creating lasting economic value for various stakeholders. To date, the company has successfully developed over 600 megawatts of solar projects across 16 states.

The appointments of Driscoll and Passera mark a significant step toward leveraging their extensive backgrounds, aligning with New Energy Equity's commitment to improving energy reliability and affordability for a broader customer base. They are expected to significantly enhance the company's initiatives in delivering clean energy solutions that benefit both landowners and communities alike.

For more information on New Energy Equity and its projects, visit New Energy Equity's Website.