Explore the future of energy in New York City in the face of changing demand, the rise of renewables, and the advent of community-based generation and distribution in a conversation with leading experts in urban design and sustainability. 

Charles Allison, Associate Professor of Professional Practice, The New School
Bomee Jung, Vice President of Energy and Sustainability, NYC Housing Authority 
Scott Kessler, Director of Business Development, LO3 Energy
Nilda Mesa, Urban Design Lab/Earth Institute, Columbia University
Michael Shank (moderator), Head of Communications for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network

This is the second program in New York’s Future in a Changing Climate, a new series of conversations exploring the challenges and opportunities presented in the Museum’s Future City Lab, the interactive third gallery in New York at Its Core, our landmark permanent exhibition.

About the Speakers:
Charles Allison, Jr., is an Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Finance, Energy Policy, and Sustainability Management, Faculty Director, The Finance Lab at The New School and Chair, Management, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Degree Program for the Bachelor’s Program for Adults & Transfer Students (BPATS) at The New School for Public Engagement and is Chair of the Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility (ACIR) at The New School. Since 2005, he has been Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Biofuels (CWBiofuels), an alternative energy project development company, and a predecessor biofuels business. 

Bomee Jung joined the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) in 2015 as Vice President of Energy and Sustainability. Prior to NYCHA, she led sustainability initiatives for the NYC office of Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., a national leader in greening affordable housing, and as a mayoral appointee on the City Planning Commission. While at Enterprise, Jung is credited with securing the City’s adoption of the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria as its required standard for affordable housing. In 2002, she founded GreenHomeNYC, Inc., a volunteer-driven sustainability non-profit. She holds a Master in City Planning degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Scott Kessler is the Director of Business Development for LO3 Energy in Brooklyn. Previously,  Kessler worked at NYSERDA and Connecticut Light and Power. Throughout his nearly ten years of experience in the energy industry, Kessler has combined an engineering background with experience in business and project management to achieve success and energy savings amidst difficult regulatory environments. 

Nilda Mesa is an Adjunct Senior Research Scientist in the Urban Design Lab/ Earth Institute at Columbia University. Previously, she was the Director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability where she led OneNYC, the city’s long-term sustainability plan. Mesa also served in the Clinton Administration in key environmental policy roles. She has served on boards including the NYC Energy Efficiency Corporation, the Urban Green Council, and Second Nature. 

Michael Shank, Ph.D. (moderator), is Communications Director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, a group of international cities committed to achieving aggressive long-term carbon reduction goals, and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, a peer-to-peer network of local government professionals from cities across the United States and Canada dedicated to creating a healthier environment, economic prosperity, and increased social equity. He teaches at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs, and is a former columnist for the Washington Post and US News & World Report and a regular contributor to USA Today, The Guardian, TIME Magazine, MSNBC, Fortune, and Fast Company.