Large Public Power Council Chair and Vice-Chair Offer Insight on Response to the Coronavirus, Plans for Re-entry
GRDA’s Dan Sullivan and Austin Energy’s Jackie Sargent Newly Elected to LPPC Leadership
WASHINGTON (May 27, 2020) – Recently elected as the Large Public Power Council’s newest Chair and Vice-Chair, Dan Sullivan, President and CEO of Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA), and Jackie Sargent, General Manager of Austin Energy, offer their expertise and insight on how utilities have kept the nation’s lights on through the coronavirus pandemic as well as how public power is at the forefront of supporting America’s reopening plans.
Sullivan has served as President and CEO of GRDA since 2011. Under his leadership, GRDA operates a diverse portfolio of assets to generate, transmit and sell electricity to Oklahoma municipalities, electric cooperatives and industrial customers across a four-state footprint. Before joining GRDA, Sullivan served as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for seven years and practiced law in Tulsa for 23 years.
“LPPC has been advocating for public power for over 30 years, and I’m honored to serve as the organization’s newest Chairman,” said Sullivan. “As we look to reopen America and stimulate our economy, advancing issues critical to the electric power industry has never been more important. I’m excited to work with LPPC to ensure public power has the tools we need to continue delivering reliable power to communities across our nation.”
A 32-year veteran of the utility industry, Sargent also joins the LPPC leadership team as Vice-Chair. Prior to serving Austin Energy as General Manager, Sargent was the General Manager and CEO of Platte River Power Authority in Fort Collins, Colorado.
“I’m thrilled to join LPPC’s leadership team alongside Dan and John,” said Sargent. “I’ve always been a passionate advocate for public power, and I’m ready to progress the issues that matter most to our industry as LPPC’s new Vice-Chair.”
LPPC President John Di Stasio has high praise for LPPC’s new leaders.
“Dan and Jackie are CEOs of the highest caliber and strong advocates for public power,” said Di Stasio. “As leaders of major public power systems, serving wholesale customers and public consumers across both urban and rural communities, Dan and Jackie bring unparalleled expertise to the table. They understand how important public policy is to the delivery of affordable and reliable electricity, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to advocate for our industry in Washington, D.C.”
Sullivan succeeds Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) President and CEO Pat Pope, who has served as LPPC’s Chair since 2017.
“Pat Pope has been a tremendous Chair, contributing significantly to LPPC by strengthening our policy positions and advocacy. I thank him for his service, not only to our organization but to the greater public power industry,” Di Stasio added.
To learn more about LPPC’s policy priorities, visit http://www.lppc.org/policy.
LPPC represents 27 of the largest locally governed and operated not-for-profit electric systems in the United States. Our member utilities are headquartered in 13 states and Puerto Rico, and own and operate more than 72,000 megawatts of generation capacity and more than 30,000 circuit miles of high voltage transmission lines. LPPC member utilities supply electricity to 21 states and some of the largest cities in the country including Los Angeles, Seattle, Omaha, Phoenix, Sacramento, Jacksonville, San Antonio, Orlando and Austin.
