Richard Kauffman joined the administration of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo as New York State’s first “energy czar” in February 2013. Mr. Kauffman oversees and manages New York State’s entire energy portfolio, including the New York State Department of Public Service, the New York Power Authority, the Long Island Power Authority, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). He was appointed chair of NYSERDA’s Board on June 19, 2013.
Mr. Kauffman leads New York State’s comprehensive Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative. REV includes regulatory reform to restructure the energy and utility industry, a 10-year commitment to support local renewable energy and efficiency markets through the proposed creation of the Clean Energy Fund, and other initiatives such as NY Green Bank and the $1 billion NY-Sun solar programs.
Work History
Prior to joining the administration, Mr. Kauffman worked in energy and finance at some of the nation’s highest levels, most recently serving as senior advisor to Secretary Steven Chu at the U.S. Department of Energy. In his private sector career, he was chief executive officer of Good Energies, Inc., a leading investor in clean energy technologies; a partner of Goldman Sachs where he chaired the Global Financing Group; and vice chairman of Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Securities Business and co-head of its Banking Department.
Boards and Awards
Mr. Kauffman has served as chairman of the Board of Levi Strauss & Co., as well as on the boards of several organizations, including the Brookings Institution and the Wildlife Conservation Society. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
In 2014, Mr. Kauffman was named by Fortune Magazine as one of the World’s Top 25 Eco-Innovators.
Education
Mr. Kauffman earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, a master’s degree in international relations from Yale University, and a master’s degree in public and private management from the Yale School of Management.