NYSERDA Press Releases

FOR RELEASE: Immediately November 10, 2003

NYSERDA, Empire State Development, Rochester Business Alliance Launch Marketing Campaign for Small Business Programs

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Empire State Development (ESD) today were joined by the Rochester Business Alliance in launching an aggressive, new marketing campaign aimed at educating business owners in the metro Rochester area about programs offered by the State that could cut electrical energy costs and improve operational efficiency.

Peter R. Smith, Acting President of NYSERDA said, "NYSERDA has a number of programs that can be of value to local businesses. Today, we are promoting our extremely useful and easy-to-use New York Energy $mart^SM Small Business Energy Audit Program that provides low-cost energy audits to small businesses and other facilities."

Charles A. Gargano, Chairman of ESD said, "Empire State Development is pleased to be partnering with NYSERDA and the Rochester Business Alliance in this outreach effort. A variety of ESD programming is available to small and large businesses across the State. A specific initiative, ESD's Industrial Effectiveness Program, provides grant money to help find ways in which manufacturing firms can enhance efficiency, expand market share, and increase or maintain their employee base. I encourage business owners to reach out to us for assistance."

Thomas T. Mooney, Chief Executive Officer of the Rochester Business Alliance said, "This is exciting news for our local business community. Both NYSERDA and Empire State Development offer a wide array of programs that are extremely helpful for business owners. The Business Alliance is pleased to join NYSERDA and ESD in promoting these important programs."

NYSERDA and ESD plan to mail a letter to more than 2,000 local manufacturing firms in the coming weeks providing them with details of the New York Energy $mart^SM Small Business Energy Audit and Industrial Effectiveness programs. The letter also provides toll-free phone numbers and web addresses for the two agencies.

NYSERDA's New York Energy $mart^SM Small Business Energy Audit Program provides low-cost energy audits to small businesses and other facilities to help them make informed electrical energy decisions. Facilities must have less than $100,000 in annual electric bills to be eligible. Audits are provided at a cost of $200, $400, or $600, based on annual electric bills. The fee is refunded should a business choose to implement one or more recommended energy measures, the cost of which is equal to or greater than the audit fee.

NYSERDA has selected four companies to participate in the Small Business Energy Audit Program. They Include: C.J. Brown Energy, P.C. of Cheektowaga for the Western New York Region; TRC Solutions of New York City for the Finger Lakes Region south to New York City; Landesberg Engineering, PC of Clifton Park for the Finger Lakes Region north to the North Country; and EME Group for New York City.

Empire State Development's Industrial Effectiveness Program provides grants of up to $50,000 to hire private consultants to identify, develop and implement improved management and production processes with the goal of seeking enhanced efficiency, expanded market share and enhanced job growth or employee retention.

Companies are selected based on demonstrated need, company size (companies must be small- or medium-sized), willingness to share costs and contribute resources, involvement of employees, and commitment to self-improvement.

To find out more about NYSERDA's New York Energy $mart^SM programs, please call 1-800-NY-SMART or visit www.nyserda.org. To learn more about the Industrial Effectiveness Program and other ESD incentives, please call 1-800-STATE-NY or visit www.nylovesbiz.com.

All New York Energy $mart^SM programs are funded by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) paid by electric distribution customers of participating utilities including Central Hudson, Con Edison, NYSEG, Niagara Mohawk, Orange and Rockland, and Rochester Gas and Electric. The programs are available to all electric distribution customers (residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial) who pay into the SBC. NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation established by law in 1975, administers SBC funds and programs under an agreement with the Public Service Commission.

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