Bill Flynn
Partner, Harris Beach Energy Industry Team Leader
Harris Beach PLLC
Bill advises businesses and organizations on energy related matters, strategic planning initiatives regarding economic development, state and federal regulatory affairs, and policy decisions. He also advises clients on local, state and federal governmental affairs. Notably, Bill represents the renewables developer who filed the first ever solar-only Article 10 project at the New York State Public Service Commission.
Bill is known for his experience in regulatory policies and legislation related to electricity, gas, water, cable television, and telecommunications services. He served as Chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission (NYS PSC) from February 2003 to December 2006. Prior to serving as Chairman of the NYS PSC, he was President of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) where he also served as vice president, treasurer, and secretary to the board of NYSERDA from 1999 to 2003. As NYS PSC Chairman, Bill also served on NYSERDA’s Board of Directors and as Chair of the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment. He is a former board member of the New York State Environmental Board, the New York State Disaster Preparedness Commission, and former co-chairman of the New York Telecommunications Reliability Advisory Council. He was appointed by the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as vice-chairman of the federal Joint Board on Economic Dispatch for the Northeast Region. He also served as a member of the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners Electricity Committee and chaired the Telecommunications Legislative Task Force.
Bill served as First Deputy Attorney General, Chief of Staff, and Special Counsel in the New York State Attorney General’s Office from 1995 to 1998 to New York State Attorney General Dennis C. Vacco. In the early 1990's, he was an Assistant United States Attorney and executive assistant in the Western District of New York from 1992 to 1995. Before joining the U.S. Department of Justice, Bill served as an executive assistant to then U.S. Congressman Bill Paxon. He began his legal career as an assistant Erie County prosecutor. Prior to law school, Mr. Flynn worked as an executive assistant to two successive New York State Assembly Minority Leaders, Clarence D. Rappleyea, Jr. and James L. Emery.