April 26, 2006

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES OF NEW YORK 

Clean Energy Funding Safe from Budget Battle
New York State Senate Drops Attempt to Override Governor’s Veto

ALBANY, NY—The Republican-controlled Senate today did not attempt to override Governor Pataki's veto on clean energy funding.  This was the only veto the Senate did not override today. 

"Moving clean energy funding into the general budget could have turned it into political pork," said Robert Moore, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates of New York.  "For the second year in a row, clean energy won out over politics in Albany."

“We're hopeful that this debate is over so we can move forward with the legislature and the Governor to strengthen clean energy efforts in New York,” said Katherine Kennedy, Director of NRDC’s Northeast energy program. Environmental organizations, renewable energy companies, labor unions, the Builders Association, as well as Mayor Bloomberg and the Attorney General all opposed the legislature's attempt to gain control of the state's clean energy funds.

Several Senators voiced their opposition to the legislature's grab of these funds in the weeks leading up to the veto override votes. Senate Minority Leader David Paterson made several public statements on the topic. Senators Breslin, Coppola, and Stachowski had also made their opposition clear to colleagues. Some Senate Republicans had also made their concerns known within their conference.

Senator Paterson, leading the Senate Democratic conference, emerged as a hero on this issue, recognizing the important role these funds and this veto play in the future of clean air and clean energy in New York State.  Attorney General Eliot Spitzer also weighed in on Monday, April 24, to support the Governor's veto, consistent with his focus on clean air and his long support for New York's clean energy programs. 

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) programs supported by these funds were created under Governor Pataki's watch, and will be an important part of his environmental legacy. The state invests about $175 million each year to reduce demand on the power grid. The funds are made available on a competitive basis for energy efficiency and clean energy investment. The System Benefits Charge (SBC) has been in place since 1998 and funds energy-efficiency programs, similar to programs in 20 other states. It is directed by the state Public Service Commission (PSC) and administered by NYSERDA on a multi-year basis, allowing participating businesses, homeowners, schools and other institutions to develop eligible projects and to arrange for additional private financing.

The other initiative affected by the budget change is the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) proposed by Gov. Pataki and adopted in 2004 by the PSC. The RPS requires an increase from 19 to 25 percent in the amount of the state’s electricity coming from renewable sources by 2013. Twenty-one other states have similar renewable energy requirements.

State Comptroller Alan Hevesi recently reported that NYSERDA is a responsible steward of these energy efficiency and clean energy funding.

-30-

Environmental Advocates of New York is your government watchdog, holding state lawmakers and agencies accountable for enacting and implementing policy that protects natural resources and safeguards public health. Environmental Advocates works alone and in coalitions to support its mission and promote sound policy. Founded almost 40 years ago as the Environmental Planning Lobby, Environmental Advocates has more than 7,000 individual and 130 organizational members. The nonprofit organization is a 501(c)(3) and is the New York State affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. For more information call 518.462.5526 or visit www.eany.org.