Michael Townsend, who has served as acting chairman of the New York Power Authority since last August, has been elected chairman of the state-owned public agency.

Townsend, who is from the Rochester suburb of Fairport, was previously the authority's vice chairman. He was named acting chairman last summer following the resignation of Frank McCullough Jr. Townsend was elected chairman Feb. 24 at the monthly meeting of the Power Authority's board of trustees. At the same meeting, Jonathan Foster of New York City was elected vice chairman.

Townsend, a lawyer with the firm of Harris Beach LLP in Pittsford, has served as a trustee for five years. As chairman, he will preside over all meetings of the trustees, and on behalf of the seven member board, oversees the authority's chief management officer in management of the not-for-profit public benefit corporation.