Commissioner
James Alesi is a Commissioner at the New York Public Service Commission.
The New York Public Service Commission and New York Department of Public Service oversee a mandate in New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, to cut greenhouse gas emissions forty percent by 2030 and no less than eighty-five percent by 2050 from 1990 levels. All that, while carrying on its regulatory business in the public interest. The five hundred-plus dedicated Staff of the New York Department of Public Service are up to all these tasks. They are the Staff arm of the seven-member New York Public Service Commission.
PUF's Lori Burkhart: Talk about how your background led you to the Commission.
Commissioner James Alesi: I retired from the New York state Senate after thirteen years and three in the Assembly, a twenty-year product of Albany. However, prior to elected office, I came from the private sector.
I built my own business and grew it, the commercial laundry business. Prior to selling it, we had operations all across New York State in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany.
But after seven months of being out of office, Governor Cuomo asked me if I'd be interested in this position, primarily because there has to be a balance between Democrats and Republicans. It's something I've had some real-life experience with in my business.