Michael Balboni confirmed for NYPA, Canal Corp. boards

ALBANY — Former state Sen. Michael Balboni has been confirmed as a member of the board of trustees of the New York Power Authority and to the state Canal Corporation board of directors.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo appointed Balboni, a Republican who represented North Hempstead, and the Republican-led Senate confirmed the appointment in the last days of the 2017 session last week.

Balboni, also the former deputy state secretary for public safety, developed cybersecurity and homeland security policies following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He worked first for the Senate and then under Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer on homeland security issues.

Balboni will fill a vacant seat in the unpaid post NYPA. He said he will bring his expertise in cybersecurity to the position.

“Right now, the need to protect this utility has never been greater,” Balboni said.

NYPA is the largest state power organization in the nation, with 16 generating facilities.

The Canal Corporation oversees the state canal system and is a subsidiary of NYPA.

Both board positions are unpaid.

By Michael Gormley

michael.gormley@newsday.com@GormleyAlbany

Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.