January 28, 2004

Legislators and Governor Urged to Improve Electricity System
Environmentalists Present 6-Point Proposal for Planning and Efficiency

(Albany, NY) – Environmental and public health groups today outlined state-of-the art efficiency programs and comprehensive planning processes emphasizing modern technologies as needed solutions for clean, reliable and affordable energy in New York. The groups cited the August blackout and growing energy concerns as examples of an aging and failing system.

“The Governor and Legislature must address New York’s energy problems by adopting our simple solutions this session, because it will create a more reliable system, safeguard consumers and protect public health,” said Jason K. Babbie, Environmental Policy Analyst for the New York Public Interest Research Group.

• reform the expired power plant siting law to examine cumulative environmental and public health impacts, and provide incentives to repower old power plants;
• reinstitute a state energy planning process that will establish enforceable policies and programs for moving New York State towards a more affordable, environmentally sound, and secure energy future;
• adopt efficiency standards for common residential and commercial appliances not covered by federal law to decrease electricity use, particularly during periods of peak demand;
• provide tax incentives for building owners who meet their electricity and other energy needs with clean and efficient on-site power systems;
• require utilities to assess, select, and implement demand and supply side options; and
• require a conservation contingency plan for times of peak demand and low margins of supply.

"Energy reform must be a top priority for legislators this session," said New York League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Marcia Bystryn. "With an unpopular and unwise energy bill stalled in congress action on the state level is even more important. New York has an opportunity to lead by example and provide a clean and reliable energy future for all New Yorkers."

“The blackout showed us the fragility of a system that requires sound planning, but New York now has no energy planning law,” said Anne Reynolds, Programs Director at Environmental Advocates of New York. “A new and improved planning and siting law should be passed, as should measures to require efficient appliances. It only makes sense.”

“Reforming the expired power plant siting process to examine cumulative impacts, provide public input and mitigate pollution is a prime example of how better planning addresses public health concerns, while leading to a more reliable system, because it creates certainty for recovering financial markets,” said Babbie.

The law governing the review process for building power plants expired on January 1, 2003. Last year the Assembly passed, with bi partisan support, a bill backed by environmental, consumer and community groups. The Senate narrowly passed, with bi-partisan opposition, a bill backed by the utility industry. Governor Pataki put forward a bill in mid-June, but neither house introduced it.

"Emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants make people sick and cut short thousands of lives in New York each year," said Peter Iwanowicz with the American Lung Association of New York State, Inc. "We need the Governor and the Legislature to work out an energy plan this year that increases energy efficiency and conservation and requires greater reliance on clean electricity generators and the modernization of aging power plants. Doing so will reduce air pollution and the impacts is has on public health," continued Iwanowicz.

The groups also called on New York State to pursue the reconstruction of older power plants - also called repowering - to upgrade their generating equipment with modern more efficient technology. "Repowering New York's old dirty power plants can clean up our air and produce significantly more energy for New York's grid," said John Stouffer, Legislative Director Sierra Club - Atlantic Chapter.

“A renewed power plant siting law should fully evaluate the impacts of fine particulate matter and include an alterative site assessment and a needs analysis,” said Alix Gerosa, Director of Environmental Quality at Scenic Hudson. “And it is critical to receive the timely expertise regarding consistency with state coastal programs and impacts on historic resources.”

“New York’s modern economy needs a modern electric energy system”, said Fred Zalcman, Executive Director of the Pace Law School Energy Project. “A small tax credit to encourage installation of on-site power systems will help New York’s industrial plants, commercial businesses, institutions, and large residential facilities deal directly with two of their most nagging problems - high energy costs and power disruptions.”

"In order to prevent more blackouts, we have to lighten the load on our antiquated electric grid," said Ashok Gupta, Director of NRDC's Air and Energy Program. "Energy efficiency is the fastest, cheapest solution to our electricity woes. The efficiency programs and energy planning steps that we are jointly supporting today will make this solution happen. By adopting minimum energy efficiency standards for common household and commercial products like torchiere lamps and coin-op clothes washers, and by adopting the energy planning and siting reforms in today's package of bills, we can not only help to reduce the likelihood of future blackouts but also save New Yorkers money on their electric bills and reduce air pollution at the same time,” continued Gupta.