7. Richard Kessel

Demand for and the cost of energy keep growing, and Kessel’s job is to keep LI’s lights on. Last year, Moody’s gave LIPA its highest credit rating ever, due to Kessel’s billing
policies. He also got the Cross-Island Cable up and running again and started offering some green energy choices. This year, LIPA has to make major decisions that will impact where LI’s power comes from—and how much it costs—for decades.