Joseph Fiordaliso, a close ally of State Sen. Richard Codey, will be the new President of the state Board of Public Utilities.
The announcement was made today in a statement issued by Gov.-elect Phil Murphy’s transition team.
Fiordaliso has served as a BPU Commissioner since 2005. A former Mayor of Livingston, he worked in Codey’s district office and became Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor following Jim McGreveey’s resignation. Gov. Chris Christie reappointed him twice, both times as part of a package on judicial nominations and other appointments.
“A stronger and fairer New Jersey will look to new and innovative sources of energy to power our economy and our future, and ensure the critical infrastructure vital to our communities,” Murphy said in his statement. “In order to build a path to a 100 percent clean energy economy by 2050, we need a strong and committed Board of Public Utilities. Our utilities must also serve our residents, not the other way around.
Fiordaliso will replace Richard Mroz, who had held the board presidency under Christie. Mroz remains a Commissioner.
Murphy will have the chance to name two new Commissioners. Republican Mary-Anna Holden, a former Mayor of Madison, is on holdover status; the term of another Republican, Diane Solomon, expires in March. Murphy is widely expected to keep Solomon, the wife of New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Lee Solomon, and replace Holden, a Christie ally.