Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has her sights set on a cleaner future for the city and has recommended Janisse Quiñones to helm the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Tasked to transition LA to 100% clean energy by 2035, Quiñones comes with 25 years of utility and engineering industry experience—and a hefty resume to boot. The seasoned executive is no stranger to managing large-scale operations and improving infrastructure resilience, according to the Los Angeles Mayor's Office.

Mayor Bass, having rolled out the welcome mat for Quiñones, praised her track record of prioritizing worker safety and customer service. "This is a transformational period for the Department as we make decisions that will build toward the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2035," Mayor Bass asserted, as reported by the Los Angeles Mayor's Office. Adept at handling the aftermath of natural disasters, Quiñones was pivotal in the reconstruction of Puerto Rico's electrical grid following Hurricane Maria. Her blend of technical know-how and personnel management, from her stints at Pacific Gas and Electric to a commanding role in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves, provides a solid foundation for her new role at LADWP.

The city, recently weathering record rains and winds, looks to Quiñones to shore up aging infrastructure and navigate the department toward its clean energy benchmarks. The Sierra Club and other environmental groups like Heal the Bay, Smart Electric Power Alliance, and Climate Resolve, are among those rolling up their sleeves, ready to work with Quiñones on LA's green transition. They have been vocal about their support, lining up behind the Mayor's recommendation. "The Sierra Club stands ready to support bold climate action at LADWP under Quiñones's new leadership," exclaimed Teresa Cheng, California Field Manager of the Sierra Club. She went on to add, "We look forward to partnering with the Department to implement clean energy solutions and water independence measures that benefit all Angelenos."