GOV SITE

MAKING NEW YORK MORE ENERGY INDEPENDENT AND ENERGY EFFICIENT

Governor Paterson proposes one of the most aggressive clean energy goals in the country.

By 2015, New York will meet 45 percent of its electricity needs through improved energy efficiency and clean renewable energy.

Governor Paterson has proposed increasing the Renewable Portfolio Standard to 30 percent.
He has set a goal of decreasing electricity usage by 15 percent.
This effort will help rebuild our economy, create jobs, meet our energy needs, fight global warming, and protect our environment.

Governor Paterson has proposed innovative financing mechanisms, such as “on-bill financing” now being discussed in a proceeding before the State Public Service Commission to help New Yorkers retrofit their homes and businesses and invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Realizing the “45 by 15” goal will create an estimated 50,000 new jobs. New York already has one of the nation’s most ambitious clean-energy workforce training programs, and Governor Paterson is committed to expanding it.

In addition, Governor Paterson calls for the creation of a clearinghouse to serve as a single point of access for information on all energy efficiency programs for schools, hospitals, and local governments.

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) raises capital for school districts, as well as eligible local governments and hospitals to retrofit and install clean distributed energy resources. NYPA’s trustees have approved increasing financing for these projects to $185 million per year – up from $100 million – in support of the Governor’s clean energy agenda.
Between 1987 and 2008, NYPA provided over $1 billion for these projects. Governor Paterson wants to raise awareness of this program and increase participation.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) also offer financial incentives for greening schools. When coupled with the low-cost financing offered by NYPA, participating schools could see immediate budget savings.
A single point of entry to program and services will be available shortly and be accessible from the New York State home page.

Governor Paterson proposes the creation of an upstate research consortium on hybrid electric batteries and energy storage technologies.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are the future of transportation in America. The key technology needed for these vehicles is a rechargeable electric battery that can power a vehicle longer distances and that costs less.

New York already possesses the research infrastructure and the manufacturing base to help develop these batteries.
This consortium will help reshape the upstate economy and create a clean corridor that includes cities in the Erie Canal corridor built some 200 years ago. It will also maximize the extraordinary academic and scientific resources available in the Western, Central, and Capital Regions.

Complementing the upstate research consortium, Governor Paterson also proposes creating a New York Energy Policy Institute to coordinate the expertise of New York’s higher education institutions.
By disseminating state-of-the-art information and analysis on energy technologies and policies, the Institute will assist in keeping New York decision makers on the cutting edge.