
Board of Directors
NYSEIA is led by a board of 13 directors, representing many facets of the solar industry, and from locations across the state. Directors serve a three-year term. Elections are held each fall.

Elizabeth Curran
BlueWave Solar
Liz Curran is Director of Policy at BlueWave Solar. BlueWave is a pioneering solar developer and leading community solar service provider, providing community solar access to thousands of customers. Prior to joining BlueWave, Liz led state programs to expand access to clean energy for residents of disadvantaged communities at the California Public Utilities Commission. She holds a BA in International Studies from Colby College and an MA in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

Emilie Flanagan
Carson Power
Emilie Flanagan is the Chief Executive Officer at Carson Power, a New York–based developer focused on the clean energy transition of the State of New York. At Carson, she leads the day-to-day operations of the business and guides the overall vision of the business. Prior to founding Carson Power in March 2021, she was the Director of Project Development for Emerging Markets at Borrego Solar, where she led the incubation of new solar and storage development businesses across the US, primarily DG in the Mid-Atlantic and utility-scale in New York. Prior to this role, Emilie was a community solar project developer for Borrego in New York and originated over 200 MW of solar projects that have now reached PTO.

NYSEIA Vice President, Residential Solar
Reid Garton
NY State Solar
Reid Garton is the President and CEO of NY State Solar, a solar developer that specializes in the sale, design, and installation of customized residential and commercial photovoltaic systems. NY State Solar has over 150 employees and five locations across New York City and Long Island.
Through his work with NYSEIA, Reid's extensive experience within the solar industry works to advance further adoption of green technology on both local and regional scales. Reid's knowledge of the renewable energy sector regularly helps educate those outside the industry on the long-term financial and environmental benefits of choosing eco-friendly energy options for New York State.
Before joining NY State Solar, Reid served as the founder of a series of successful telecom and internet service companies.

Fayeann Lawrence
Sologistics
Fayeann (Faye) Lawrence is a solar energy project management expert and entrepreneur. In the solar arena, she is the CEO of Sologistics, which is the MWBE-certified expediting firm she founded to address and provide guidance on the permitting, design, interconnection and policy challenges faced by installers and developers in NY State. She is also active in advancing renewable energy and sustainability policies internationally, particularly in the warmer climates in which she is most comfortable, including her native Trinidad & Tobago and its neighboring isle of Grenada, where she resides for part of the year.
Faye has a reputation for professional excellence in her business dealings and balances her pragmatic problem-solving with an ability to meaningfully connect with people from all walks of life. She deliberately fosters and encourages a culture in her companies that prioritizes work-life balance and as such, the staff of Sologistics, as well as her other ventures, have been working remotely and flexibly as a rule years before it was adopted worldwide. Faye finds this work-life balance herself through a combination of travel, collecting premium tequilas and participating in Brazil-style Carnivals around the globe.

NYSEIA Treasurer
T.R. Ludwig
Brooklyn SolarWorks
T.R. is the CEO and Co Founder of Brooklyn SolarWorks and Brooklyn Solar Canopy Company. He has helped build a unique urban solar company focused on flat roof installations in NYC. Prior to Brooklyn SolarWorks T.R. was the Senior Regional Sales Manager for Sunrun and helped build Sunruns direct to consumer presence in the Northeast. T.R. Began is solar career by co founding AD Energy, a residential solar financing company. T.R. holds. BS in Geology and Environmental Studies from Ohio Wesleyan University and MBA in E-business from Maastricht School of Management.

Twiggy Mendenhall
Ecogy Energy
Twiggy Mendenhall is Policy Research Analyst for Ecogy Energy. Ecogy Energy, based in Brooklyn, NY and founded in 2010, is an experienced developer, financier, and owner-operator of distributed generation projects across nine states, D.C., and the Caribbean. Ecogy Energy’s mission is to make clean energy affordable and accessible for traditionally underserved community members and groups. At Ecogy, Twiggy engages key stakeholders, local elected officials, community leaders, trade associations, working groups, and community organizations, as well as analyzes proposals, policies, and arguments put forward by other energy stakeholders.

NYSEIA Vice President, Commercial & Industrial Solar
Daniel Montante
Montante Solar
Daniel Montante is President and co-founder of Montante Solar. A nine-year veteran of the renewable energy industry, Mr. Montante has overseen the company’s rapid growth, solidifying its position as a key player in the New York solar market. He is responsible for overseeing company operations and providing a clear strategic direction. Mr. Montante has assembled a top tier team of engineering, construction and finance professionals that have built some of the most noteworthy solar projects in New York. His strong managerial and financial modeling skills have played a large role in the company’s success.
Prior to founding Montante Solar, Mr. Montante worked at DuPont for ten years in a number of finance and business development roles. In the latter part of his tenure at DuPont, Mr. Montante was based in Shanghai as Director of Mergers & Acquisitions - Greater China. In this capacity, he managed all acquisition and divestiture activities, which entailed acquisition search, joint venture restructuring, due diligence, term sheet negotiation and deal execution. It was during this time that Mr. Montante served as a Core Team Member for DuPont’s thin film solar module venture based in Hong Kong.
Mr. Montante holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Skidmore College and a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University. He is a member of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association and is on the Board of Directors for the Arts Services Initiative of Western New York.

LISSA Liaison, NYSEIA Board of Directors
Arthur Perri, Jr.
Greentech Renewables Long Island
Artie Perri is Director of Sales for Greentech Renewables Long Island and Head of Programs for the Long Island Solar & Storage Alliance.

Michelle Piasecki
Harris Beach PLLC
Michelle Piasecki is a Partner with Harris Beach. She focuses her practice on energy and environmental law, with a particular emphasis on renewable generation and emerging technologies. Michelle represents renewable developers in all aspects of project development and siting, including navigating the regulatory process under Article 10 of the New York Public Service Law and the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Michelle also counsels clients through the interconnection process with local distribution utilities and the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO).
In the environmental arena, Michelle represents corporate and individual clients on a wide range of matters involving permitting, regulatory compliance, civil and administrative enforcement, and dispute resolution. Her environmental permitting and regulatory compliance experience spans issues involving air emissions, wastewater and stormwater discharges, wetlands, zoning and land use matters, and the Mined Land Reclamation Law.

Peter Ross
Foley Hoag
Peter is an associate with Foley Hoag. Peter concentrates his practice in energy law, with a focus on renewable generation, energy storage and sustainable development. Peter has a deep understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with project development, regularly advising clients in the energy sector at every stage of a project's lifecycle, from initial conception to successful litigation. His practice includes drafting and negotiating project agreements for solar, wind, and energy storage projects, including power purchase and other offtake agreements, community solar management and subscription agreements, and energy storage service agreements. He also conducts regulatory and interconnection due diligence in relation to solar, wind, and energy storage project sales and acquisitions, including analysis of relevant wholesale and retail market tariffs. He advocates in state and federal court, and has drafted multiple petitions, comments, and advocacy letters to public utility commissions and public authorities on renewable energy and transmission policy matters.

Stephan Roundtree, Jr.
Vote Solar
Stephan Roundtree, Jr. is the Northeast Director for Vote Solar, where he works to promote ambitious and socially just solar policy in New England and New York. Prior to joining Vote Solar, Stephan worked as an advocate and community lawyer with WE ACT for Environmental Justice in Harlem, NYC. There, he fought for more inclusive solar and energy efficiency policies in Albany and at City Hall. Stephan also co-designed a first-in-the-nation solarize campaign for a dense urban community in Northern Manhattan, and negotiated construction and local hiring contracts for the project based on community values and input.
Originally from the Town of Dunstable, Massachusetts, Stephan holds a B.A. in History from Boston College, a J.D. from Northeastern School of Law, and a Master's in Environmental Policy from Vermont Law School. In his spare time Stephan enjoys sailing, skiing, and social distancing on his bike, though his passion for energy justice is equaled only by his love of birdwatching and Boston sports.

NYSEIA President
David Schieren
EmPower Solar
David co-founded EmPower in 2003 to make solar the dominant energy source in New York and beyond, and is dedicated to accelerating activities to achieve this goal. As CEO, David is responsible for leading and managing the company along with the management committee. David’s day to day includes commercial business development, battery system sales, community solar projects and managing the SunPower Master Dealer partnership.
As an advocate, David conducts outreach to build support for clean energy amongst political, community, business and religious leaders, and the public at large. David has testified before the United States Congress Science Committee about the DOE Solar Decathlon and solar energy, and has been involved with numerous TV, print, internet, radio and documentary interviews.
David is a current board member of Vision Long Island. He has a Master of Science in Energy Management from the New York Institute of Technology, where he received the Faculty Award for outstanding achievement, and co-led the 2005 Solar Decathlon solar-hydrogen zero energy home project.
He has a BA in Economics from the University of Vermont, where he received the Freeman Saltus Award in Economics. David was a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Photovoltaic Installer. David started his career as an Institutional Equity Advisor at Merrill Lynch where he sold Japanese equities to large U.S.-based investors.