Babylon Resident Honored For Innovation Behind The App Powering A Major LI Energy Project

BABYLON, NY — Babylon resident Marykate Guilfoyle has been named the recipient of New York Transco’s 2025 Innovator of the Year Award, recognizing her leadership in developing a mobile app tied to a major electric transmission project impacting parts of Long Island and Queens.

New York Transco, a New York-based owner, operator, and developer of bulk electric transmission facilities, presented the annual award to Guilfoyle, who serves as the company’s manager of media, communications, and events.

The Innovator of the Year Award is presented annually to a New York Transco employee who exemplifies the company’s commitment to creatively improving or advancing design, implementation, processes, and problem-solving related to a core business function that benefits customers, communities, and the environment.

Guilfoyle was honored for leading the development of the Propel NY Energy mobile app, which provides timely and accessible information about the Propel NY Energy electric transmission improvement project. The project route runs through parts of Long Island, Queens, the Bronx, and Westchester County and is being co-developed by New York Transco and the New York Power Authority.

Propel NY Energy is a 90-mile underground and submarine electric transmission project designed to strengthen the reliability, resiliency, and capacity of New York’s electric grid. The project is currently advancing through federal, state, and local permitting, with construction expected to begin in mid-2026, according to the company.

According to the company, the app reflects New York Transco’s commitment to frequent and open communication with project neighbors, municipalities, and other stakeholders throughout all phases of a transmission project’s development. Features include proactive updates on project routing and permitting, direct communication channels with the project team, and push notifications alerting users to project activity and construction work.

The Propel NY Energy app is available for download through the Apple App Store and Google Play, the company said.

“Since joining New York Transco earlier this year, Marykate has embraced and repeatedly enhanced our commitment to frequent, open, and constructive dialogue with project stakeholders,” New York Transco President Victor Mullin said. “The Propel NY Energy app is taking that dialogue to a new level of engagement to the benefit of the project and local communities.”

New York Transco Director of Communications and Public Affairs Shannon Baxevanis said Guilfoyle guided the app from concept through multiple iterations to ensure it delivered a clean, user-friendly experience.

“She worked across New York Transco and NYPA teams, as well as with outside consultants, to ensure the app achieved our goals and was marketed widely to project stakeholders,” Baxevanis said. “She has created a process that New York Transco can easily replicate for future projects.”

Originally from Endwell, NY, Guilfoyle is a 2017 graduate of Hofstra University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations, advertising, and applied communications. Before joining New York Transco in early 2025, she served as strategic communications manager for a national public affairs firm and spent more than six years in communications leadership roles within the Suffolk County Executive Office.

“In today’s digital age, having accurate, easily accessible information at your fingertips is essential,” Guilfoyle said. “I’m proud to have worked alongside a top-tier team to turn the Propel NY Energy app from a concept into reality.”