Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces New Positions to Promote the Commonwealth’s Energy Priorities with Regional and Federal Partners

BOSTON — Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca L. Tepper today announced the hiring of Jason Marshall to serve as Deputy Secretary and Special Counsel for Federal and Regional Energy Affairs and Mary Louise "Weezie" Nuara to serve as Assistant Secretary for Federal and Regional Energy Affairs. The positions, a first within EEA, will promote regional cooperation and advocate for advancing the Commonwealth’s clean energy transition with federal, state, and other stakeholders.

“At this critical juncture in our clean energy transition, we need to step up our efforts to advocate for Massachusetts’ interests at the federal level and build strong relationships with our regional partners,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is going to be nimble and cooperative to achieve our clean energy goals, and Jason and Weezie will be key to these efforts.”

The two roles will lead the Secretariat’s regional, interregional, and federal energy strategies to successfully implement our clean energy and climate laws. The pair will serve as the Commonwealth’s emissary to promote clean energy development and procurement, build regional transmission, support grid reliability and affordability, enhance energy markets, and pursue federal support.

“New England states share both a regional power grid and laws and policies that prioritize clean energy and decarbonization. Together with other Northeast states and federal partners, we are better positioned to achieve a clean energy future when we leverage our collective efforts and innovations,” said Marshall. “I am excited to join Secretary Tepper and the Healey-Driscoll Administration in forging partnerships to move our state forward and make Massachusetts a global leader in clean energy technology.”

“As we envision a thriving clean energy industry, a resilient electric grid, and transformational power markets, it’s interstate collaboration that will get us there,” added Nuara. “The creation of these roles says a lot about the Healey-Driscoll Administration and its commitment to regional coordination. I’m thrilled to join Jason as the first ones to fill them.”

About Jason Marshall 

Jason Marshall comes to the Commonwealth after over ten years at the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE), an organization representing the New England Governors on regional electricity issues, including regulatory proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).  Marshall most recently served as Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel. Previously, he was Counsel with the Regional and Federal Affairs Division of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and a Legal Counsel in the Massachusetts State Senate. Earlier in his career, Marshall was an associate at Brown Rudnick LLP and a Law Clerk to the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. He is the immediate past-President of the Energy Bar Association’s Northeast Chapter. Marshall has a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

About Weezie Nuara 

Weezie Nuara is currently Dominion Energy’s state policy director for New England, where she is responsible for all local, state, and regional policy matters impacting Dominion’s interests in the region. Weezie also supports Dominion’s market affairs activities through the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) stakeholder process. Previously, Nuara was a senior external affairs representative for ISO New England, the region’s grid operator, where she was responsible for performing outreach to government officials in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. She sits on the Board of Directors for New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE), where she serves as co-chair of NEWIEE’s Mentorship Committee and is the organization’s immediate past president. She received her undergraduate degree in Government from the University of Virginia and her Juris Doctor from the New England School of Law. 

Statements of Support 

“The New England states are powered by one grid, and it’s complicated. Jason is equipped to cover the full court on day one, from a deep understanding of our markets and transmission system, to expertise on federal rules and process, to working relationships with officials across New England,” said Heather Hunt, NESCOE's Executive Director. “Weezie brings front row experience from the vantage point of our regional grid operator and a power generator. Both Jason and Weezie are widely known to lead with respect and collaboration.” 

“Weezie’s appointment to EEA makes the Commonwealth's clean energy future brighter,” said Jeremy McDiarmid, Managing Director and General Counsel at Advanced Energy United. “Weezie brings deep leadership to the Healey-Driscoll Administration at a pivotal moment in the climate conversation. The need to foster strong working relationships among state, regional, and federal stakeholders has never been greater. Weezie is a proven and dynamic leader who will enhance those relationships and help Massachusetts achieve its ambitious goals for a clean and equitable energy future.” 

“In his role at NESCOE, Jason demonstrated a keen understanding of how actions and rules at the regional and federal levels influence capital investment and drive clean energy development. Jason is an excellent choice for this position,” said Liz Delaney, Vice President, Utility-Scale Policy and Business Development at New Leaf Energy. “His unique skill set will be incredibly useful in designing policy solutions that ensure our path to decarbonization is rapid, reliable and cost effective.”

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