$750 Million Available
for Homes and Businesses in New York State to Improve Energy Efficiency
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE, June 7, 2001
CONTACT: Colleen Quinn, NYSERDA
(518) 862-1090, ext. 3359 or (518) 577-1932.
Rochester, NY – – The New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA) is holding the fourth forum of a statewide
series of forums in Rochester on June 7th. The forum will introduce
$750 million in funding opportunities over the next five years for
businesses and homes in New York State. NYSERDA's president, William
M. Flynn will be joined by Monroe County Executive Jack Doyle, acting
chair and executive director of the New York State Consumer Protection
Board, C. Adrienne Rhodes, and chairman, president and CEO of Rochester
Gas & Electric Corporation, Tom Richards. The forum will be held
from 8:30a.m.- 8:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Four Points located at 120
Main Street East.
Funds are paid for by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) on the electricity
transmitted by the State's investor-owned utilities. These funds go
to programs in energy efficiency, research and development, low-income,
and environmental programs. The State's Public Service Commission
(PSC) named NYSERDA administrator of the SBC funds for the past three
years.
Rochester Gas & Electric was exempt from the first round of SBC
funding, which began in 1998, due to already having funds committed
in their own programs at the time. Now, with the extension of SBC,
they are able to be involved in the second round. This lends the opportunity
for Rochester to take advantage of programs unavailable to them the
last three years.
The $750 million in funding opportunities fall under NYSERDA's New
York Energy $mart 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 State's restructuring of the electric
utility industry. NYSERDA's New York Energy $mart Forum in Rochester
will provide an overview of New York Energy $mart programs. NYSERDA
program directors and staff will provide to New York businesses, industries,
municipalities, and residents, information on how to take advantage
of these public benefit programs.
Through the initial round of SBC, NYSERDA has awarded more than
$166.2 million in funds through its New York Energy $mart program,
resulting in significant reductions in energy consumption, annual
air emissions and millions of dollars of savings on customer bills.
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.
"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.
"The programs under way through NYSERDA are on the forward
edge of energy smart solutions," said Monroe County Executive
Jack Doyle. "Environmentally responsible companies and homeowners
in the Greater Rochester area can benefit a great deal, if they
take advantage of the funding and energy efficient solutions being
offered."
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 - (working on finding equivalent
numbers). 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.
NYSERDA is devoting more than $80 million this year toward peak load
reduction measures through our R&D and Energy Efficiency programs
and we expect to achieve approximately 290 megawatts of peak demand
reduction statewide. Over the course of the next five years, NYSERDA
plans to devote more than $500 million toward these efforts and expects
to reduce peak demand by more than 1,200 megawatts statewide (including
800 in New York City). That's enough electricity to power some 500,000
homes annually.
For more information on NYSERDA please refer to our web sites at www.nyserda.org, www.GetEnergySmart.org,
or call (518) 862-1090, ext. 3267.
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