NH's 10 Most Powerful People: Gary Long: The Original Power Broker

As the president and COO of the state's largest electric utility, Gary Long is used to dealing with power. And Long will need his influence, and that of Public Service of NH, to move major projects through what can be contentious, and slow, approvals processes in Concord.

Long says finding ways to provide cleaner and greener energy is his highest priority in 2011. At the top of his agenda is making the Northern Pass project a reality, even though that will likely take several years to get through state and local red tape. The $1 billion project, a joint effort with Hydro Quebec, will allow NH to tap into renewable hydropower and create up to 1,200 construction jobs. But given that …