McKee’s pick for RI Public Utilities Commission baffles policy experts
By Nancy Lavin
Published on March 26, 2026.
Gov. Dan McKee's nominee for the Public Utilities Commission, Donna Sams, has a resume that includes top roles at Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies. However, she lacks any experience in energy policy, law or science, making her a puzzling choice. Critics argue that the position of the PUC is crucial for society and for the future of energy policy. Sams is intended to replace Commissioner Abigail Anthony, who earned a doctorate in environmental and natural resource economics from the University of Rhode Island and worked as the Rhode Island director for Acadia Center. Anthony's six-year term expired in 2023, but she has continued to serve on the three-member panel as permitted by state law.
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