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.
Ty Baccile
New Energy Equity
Ty is Director, Land and Business Development for New Energy Equity, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALLETE (NYSE: ALE), that specializes in the development, financing, operation, and management of solar power generation assets. To date, the company has successfully brought forth over 400 MW of solar projects, securing over $1 billion in clean energy investments nationwide. As a homeowner, husband, and father with young children, Ty envisions a future where New York boasts motivated, engaged, and productive stakeholders, recognizing that progress is essential to achieving this vision. A solar industry veteran and lifelong resident of Upstate New York, Ty possesses a profound understanding of the delicate balance between industry and community. He is not only a fervent advocate for community solar development but also blends innovation, business acumen, and local terrain knowledge to drive progress.
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.
NYSEIA Vice President, Commercial & Industrial Solar
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 & CEO of NY State Solar, and a proud member of NYSEIA's board of directors, where he currently serves as the organization's VP of Residential Solar. NY State Solar is a solar developer that specializes in the sale, design, and installation of customized residential and commercial photovoltaic systems. NY State Solar has over 225 employees across eight locations in New York City, Long Island and New Jersey.
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. Reid is actively involved in several real estate businesses.
Sam Jasinski
New Leaf Energy
Sam is New Leaf's Director of Policy and Business Development in New York. In that role, Sam sets New Leaf's strategic vision and provides critical guidance for its development activities for all of new Leaf's NY verticals, including DG and Utility Scale storage. Prior to joining New Leaf, Sam spent over a decade shaping Federal energy policy as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Energy. Sam graduated from Carnegie Mellon with a MS in Engineering and Technology Innovation Management and MIT with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and minor in Political Science.
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
CleanCapital
Twiggy Mendenhall is a Policy Associate for CleanCapital, a diversified clean energy investment platform that has assembled one of the largest portfolios of operating solar assets in the country. In her role at CleanCapital, Twiggy advances the distributed solar + storage market through policy/advocacy efforts, including engaging key stakeholders, local elected officials, community leaders, trade associations, working groups, and community organizations.
Prior to joining CleanCapital, Twiggy was a Policy Manager for Ecogy Energy, a Brooklyn-based developer, financier, and owner-operator of distributed generation projects across nine states, D.C., and the Caribbean focused on rooftop, parking lot canopy, and brownfield development projects. Many projects of which advocated for and prioritized LMI subscribership. Her journey to the clean energy sector started as Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) Solar Pipeline Trainee by Elevate Energy, partnered with Millennium Solar Electric and the City Colleges of Chicago to deliver solar installer and career training to communities in Chicago. Twiggy holds a B.S. in Sustainability Management from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF). In her free time, Twiggy enjoys traveling to state and national parks, playing basketball, and spending time with family.
NYSEIA President
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.
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 Chairman
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.
Kevin Schulte
GreenSpark Solar
Kevin co-founded GreenSpark Solar in 2002 and assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2008. Under his leadership, GreenSpark became the 11th fastest-growing business in Rochester in 2015, and
reached the top spot on the Rochester Chamber of Commerce's Fastest Growing Companies list in 2017 and 2023.
Kevin's industry involvement extends to his position on the board of NYSEIA (New York Solar Energy Industries Association), advocating for sustainable growth of solar energy across New York State.
Additionally, he serves on the board of the Amicus Solar Cooperative, a member-owner purchasing cooperative of over 70 independent, values-driven solar energy companies represented in all 50 states, US
territories, and Canada.
Recognized locally, statewide, and nationally for his contributions to the distributed solar & wind industry, Kevin boasts over 1 GW of renewable energy installations across the country. His accolades range
from the inaugural recipient of the Community Wind Innovator Award in 2011 to being named Business Person of the Year in 2022. Kevin's commitment to policy advocacy and championing the interests of
small and mid-sized solar and wind businesses is evident in theseaccomplishments.
Kevin's dedication to renewable energy is matched by his commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture, with GreenSpark consistently named a Rochester Top Workplace. He continues to drive meaningful
work within the solar industry, making a tangible difference for our communities and the environment.