$750 Million Available
for Homes and Businesses in New York State
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE, May 10, 2001
CONTACT: Colleen Quinn, NYSERDA
(518) 862-1090, ext. 3359 or (518) 577-1932.
Buffalo, NY – – The New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA) is holding a forum in Buffalo on May
10th at the Adam's Mark Hotel to introduce $750 million in funding
opportunities for businesses and homes in New York State. County Executive
Joel Giambra, NYSERDA's president, William M. Flynn, and the regional
manager of the Frontier Region, Dennis Gleason, from Niagara Mohawk
Power Corporation will be speaking.
The $750 million in funding opportunities fall under NYSERDA's New
York Energy $martSM program which is designed to continue
energy efficiency, low-income services, research and development,
and environmental protection programs during the State's transition
to electric retail competition. It is a key element in New York's
restructuring of the electric utility industry.
NYSERDA's New York Energy $martSM Forum in Western New
York will provide an overview of New York Energy $martSM
programs. NYSERDA program directors and staff will provide to Wester
New York business, industry, municipalities, and residents information
on how to take advantage of these public benefit programs. "Funding
is available to help businesses, institutions, and residents identify,
implement, and finance energy-efficient improvements that save money
and reduce environmental impacts associated with energy," said
William M. Flynn, President of NYSERDA. Funding will also support
research and development of renewable and distributed energy technologies.
"When State and County officials work together to implement
energy-efficiency programs local taxpayers and businesses win,"
said Erie County Executive Joel A. Giambra. "I applaud NYSERDA's
commitment to providing Erie County with low-cost energy alternatives,
which will ultimately save money and protect our environment. Simply
put, the New York Energy $martSM program will help area
businesses save money and invest in Western New York's economy,"
said County Executive Joel Giambra.
Under the leadership of Governor Pataki to ensure that vital energy-efficiency
and research and development programs continue to benefit New Yorkers
during electric utility restructuring, the State's Public Service
Commission (PSC) named NYSERDA administrator of programs paid for
by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) on the electricity transmitted by
the State's investor-owned utilities.
As administrator of SBC funds for the past three years, NYSERDA
has awarded more than $166.2 million in SBC funds through its New
York Energy $martSM program, resulting in significant reductions
in energy consumption, annual air emissions and millions of dollars
of savings on customer bills.
Once funds have been committed from the initial round of SBC programs,
NYSERDA expects to reduce energy use by more than 880 million kilowatt
hours per year and reduce energy demand by more than 200 megawatts.
This is equivalent to serving the average annual electricity needs
of approximately 146,000 residential homes. These programs are reducing
energy expenses for energy consumers by more than $108 million a year
and eliminating 866 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions, more than 1,450
tons of sulfur emissions, and more than 640,000 tons of carbon dioxide
emissions. These programs will help to add about 2,100 new jobs to
the State's retail and service sectors as a result of keeping energy
dollars in local economies where they can be reinvested into our businesses
and communities.
Further, improved energy efficiency and fewer dollars leaving the
State to pay for imported energy provide economic benefits to the
state. In January, the PSC extended SBC for another five years with
$750 million in funding opportunities available for businesses, industries,
municipalities, and residents in the State.
NYSERDA kicked off the Statewide forums in Binghamton on May 3rd and
will also be holding these forums in New York City, Rochester, Syracuse,
Albany, and the Hudson Valley during the months of May and June. For
more information on NYSERDA please refer to our web sites at www.nyserda.org
, www.GetEnergySmart.org., or call 1-877-NYSMART.
NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, supports research to develop
technologies that help New York save energy and reduce emissions.
NYSERDA also helps New York State businesses develop energy and environmental
products, commercializing the type of high-value-added products that
give New York State businesses a real chance to compete in the expanding
global marketplace. In addition, NYSERDA helps New York State businesses,
residents, and municipalities identify and implement cost-effective
energy efficiency measures that lower operating costs and reduce environmental
emissions.
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