With the new Congress in Washington D.C. getting down to business, Susannah Pierce is busier than ever. As director, Government Relations for TransCanada, Susannah manages government relations and public sector affairs in Washington, D.C. and for states in the U.S. Northeast including New York, Connecticut, Maine and Rhode Island.  

Whether it’s working with state officials, congressional delegates, the Department of Energy, or the White House, Susannah helps officials develop an understanding of TransCanada projects, brings clarity and insight to complex issues as well as monitoring, acting on, or introducing legislation. In her role, she is the primary contact for federal and state government affairs, and directs government relations and public sector affairs strategy in support of TransCanada operations and business development activities in natural gas transmission, liquefied natural gas, and power generation.

“Listening to, and understanding, community and other stakeholder concerns is the key to building a framework of trust. This foundation of trust and understanding is essential when we reach out to elected officials, whether we are introducing them to TransCanada, educating them on important issues or guiding projects through the legislative process,” says Susannah.

One such example is the Broadwater Energy project, which promises to provide a substantial new supply of much-needed natural gas to Long Island, Greater New York, and Connecticut.

 “As a value-added partner and member of the community, our customers are looking for us to provide cost effective energy solutions, security of supply and increased service reliability. Delivering on that promise through projects like Broadwater shows we are committed to customers and the New York / New England area”, says Susannah. “This project could potentially save $680 million per year in natural gas and electricity costs (or about $300 per house in energy costs), create jobs, benefit the region's economy, and provide a link to a renewable energy future. It’s critical that legislators have all these facts so they can make informed decisions on such an important initiative.”

Susannah monitors different legislative activities through direct representation, or through participation with various industry associations and boards. These include the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), American Gas Association (AGA), Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the Energy Council and the National Hydro Power Association (NHA). Susannah is also a board member on Canadian / American Business Council.

Susannah has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Communication from the George Washington University and a Masters of International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She is also fluent in Spanish and French.

For more information, contact Susannah directly at 609.924.5379.