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LOS ANGELES – Following a nationwide search, Mayor Karen Bass announced today that she has recommended Janisse Quiñones, PE to serve as the new CEO & General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and lead the department through the transition toward 100% clean energy by 2035.
Janisse Quiñones brings more than 25 years of leadership experience as a senior executive in utility and engineering industries where she managed large-scale operations in order to deliver reliable service to customers, prioritized the safety of workers on the job and directed improvements that made electrical infrastructure more resilient.
“The Department of Water and Power has made important progress toward embracing clean energy, meeting its decarbonization goals, modernizing its infrastructure to be more resilient, getting to a reliant and resilient water future and ensuring vulnerable communities have access to affordable utilities. I look forward to working with Janisse to deliver for the people of Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “This is a transformational period for the Department as we make decisions that will build toward the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2035 and I am confident that Janisse’s experience overseeing large scale organizational operations, improving safety outcomes for workers and restoring and reconstructing electrical systems following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico equip her to lead the department. I want to thank outgoing General Manager Marty Adams for his contributions to these outcomes and decades of leadership to the people of Los Angeles.”
“I am honored to be appointed as the next General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and I look forward to getting to know the LADWP family and supporting those that work so hard to deliver for the people of Los Angeles,” said Janisse Quiñones. “Throughout my career, I have worked to make sure that communities have access to reliable, clean, safe and sustainable utilities, and I will continue with that same dedication in this role. I look forward to working closely with Mayor Bass, the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and the committed employees of the department as we move towards our commitment of 100% clean energy by 2035. Together, we can achieve our transformational goals and shore up our systems to fight climate change and deliver for the people of Los Angeles.”
"The Sierra Club stands ready to support bold climate action at LADWP under Quiñones's new leadership,” said Teresa Cheng, California Field Manager with the Sierra Club. “We are in a critical moment to confront the climate crisis, and we look forward to working together to ensure we are on track to achieve 100% clean energy by 2035. We also look forward to partnering with the Department to implement clean energy solutions and water independence measures that benefit all Angelenos, especially communities who have faced the worst impacts of fossil fuel pollution and climate change."
“I'm thrilled to support Mayor Karen Bass's decision to appoint Janisse Quiñones as CEO and General Manager of LADWP,” said Sheri Givens, President and CEO, Smart Electric Power Alliance. Janisse is exactly the kind of leader LADWP deserves: she's straightforward, thoughtful, and genuinely cares about her teams and community. Her commitment to clean energy and her ability to handle complex challenges makes her perfectly suited to lead LADWP toward LA's ambitious clean energy goals for 2035. I can't think of anyone better to help Los Angeles achieve a sustainable future.”
“We look forward to collaborating with LADWP’s new General Manager to ensure safe, reliable and affordable water for all Angelenos,” said Tracy Quinn, CEO of local environmental nonprofit Heal the Bay. “As a Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard, Ms. Quiñones learned the value of clean water. We hope to partner with her to champion equitable water efficiency programs, investments in stormwater capture and increased water recycling — all of which will reduce the bacterial and plastic pollution flowing to our beaches.”
"Climate Resolve works closely with the Department of Water and power as we continue to champion equitable and resilient climate solutions in Los Angeles, and we are thrilled about Mayor Bass' recommendation of Ms. Quiñones to serve as the new General Manager," said Jonathan Parfrey, Executive Director of Climate Resolve. "We believe that she has the experience required to help us bring more equity and more innovative solutions to the climate crisis in Los Angeles that Angelenos deserve as well as the experience in disaster preparedness that we need in L.A. with our ever changing climate and record rains."
“I'm delighted to support Mayor Karen Bass's appointment of Janisse Quiñones as CEO and General Manager of LADWP,” said Karl Miller, P.E., Owner and CEO of Jingoli Power. “Having met Janisse during the challenging reconstruction period in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, I witnessed first-hand her instrumental role in restoring the electrical system. Her technical acumen and natural leadership shone brightly as she later excelled in executive roles at two major utilities. Janisse is not only a highly competent businesswoman and engineer but also a source of inspiration within the utility industry. With Janisse leading LADWP and working alongside the visionary Mayor Karen Bass, I am confident they will form a dynamic team that will drive significant advancements for Los Angeles.”
"Los Angeles is a national leader on climate action, equity, and clean energy as well as innovation – that’s why who runs LADWP, the largest municipal utility in the country, is so critically important," said Matt Petersen, LACI CEO. "Thank you Mayor Bass for searching the nation and selecting Janisse Quiñones as the next GM – LACI is excited to work with Ms. Quiñones to continue & deepen our partnership with LADWP to grow the cleantech economy, create green jobs, and accelerate transportation electrification.”
Janisse Quiñones most recently served as Senior Vice President of Electric Operations at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), one of the largest utility companies in the United States providing natural gas and electric service to approximately 16 million people in northern and central California. At PG&E, Quiñones was responsible for the territory’s electrical system operations and the power generation fleet as well as the management of electrical assets that support the California Independent System Operator. Prior to that role, Quiñones served as Senior Vice President of Gas Engineering for PG&E and as the Vice President of Gas Systems Engineering for National Grid, Vice President of Operations for Cobra Acquisitions and Director of Design, Planning, Construction & Vegetation Management as part of her 9 years of work at San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) which she started immediately after leaving full time military service. At SDG&E, Quiñones managed the majority of the company's gas and electric Distribution Capital Construction.
LADWP plays a vital role for Angelenos especially in times of crisis, which has been seen recently as Los Angeles has endured record rains and winds. It’s paramount to continue to build success in the department and Quiñones has the skill set and leadership experience to advance the department into 100% clean energy by 2035
While Quiñones has extensive experience managing large scale gas and electric companies, she also serves as a Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves assigned to USCG District 11 and as the USCG Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer where she is responsible for managing Local, State and Federal Emergencies. This builds on her leadership roles starting in 2004 where Quiñones served as Engineering Officer and through her work for the United States Coast Guard, Quiñones has shown her strong crisis and emergency response, working in cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Juan Puerto Rico where she played a significant role in rebuilding the energy grid in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Mayor Bass’ recommendation will now be referred to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, and later to the Energy and Environment Committee followed by a confirmation vote by the Los Angeles City Council.
During her first year, Mayor Bass secured hundreds of millions of dollars which were secured through locking arms with state and federal partners as Los Angeles continues to urgently lead on climate. Building on the work of former Mayors Antonio Villaraigosa and Eric Garcetti, Mayor Bass has been able to deliver progress toward building a greener Los Angeles.