NEWS
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N.Y. Power Authority Names Former State Environmental Official New General Counsel Contact: February 13, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WHITE PLAINS—New York Power Authority (NYPA) President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy S. Carey on Monday named Thomas J. Kelly, a Brewster attorney and former president of the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), as NYPA’s new executive vice president and general counsel. “Tom is well suited to be the Power Authority’s new top attorney, considering his impressive track record heading up EFC, and extensive knowledge of state and federal environmental laws, municipal finance, labor relations and corporate law,” Carey said. “His background squares well with what we do in helping to meet Governor Pataki’s ambitious energy and environmental goals, and I’m looking forward to working closely with him.” Kelly, whose appointment is subject to review of the NYPA trustees, is replacing David E. Blabey, who is leaving after more than eight years as the Authority’s secretary and general counsel, in addition to executive vice president for most of that time. During Kelly’s tenure at EFC, from August 2000 to when he resigned effective February 13, 2006, the corporation, which reports to the Governor, became one of the largest revenue bond issuers in the country, for environmental projects protecting public health. This included working with local and state governments and private enterprise to finance projects engaged in air-pollution control, drinking-water- and wastewater treatment, and solid- and hazardous-waste disposal. Kelly initiated a major refunding by EFC that resulted in savings of more than $140 million for municipal borrowers. He also stepped up the corporation’s funding of water-quality projects from a revolving fund created for this purpose. In 2004, Governor Pataki appointed him to represent New York on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Blue Ribbon Finance Panel—a multi-state group for developing strategies for financing the restoration of the watershed. From 2002 through 2004, Kelly served as the Region II board member for the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities (CIFA), a national organization that plays an important role in the public funding of water and sewer projects. Since 2004, he has been a member of the Council for the State University College at Geneseo. Before joining the Environmental Facilities Corp., Kelly operated his own law firm in Brewster, from April 1993 to July 2000, along with representing the village as its municipal attorney. He also served as assistant counsel to then-State Senator George E. Pataki, from 1993 to 1994, and to State Senator Vincent L. Liebell of Patterson, from 1995 to 1997. Kelly graduated from Pace University School of Law in 1989 and holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is a member of the New York and Connecticut Bar Associations. He and his wife Carolyn have four children. |
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