Clean Energy Initiatives Included in Governor Cuomo's 2014 State of the State Address

ALBANY, NY (01/08/2014)(readMedia)-- The Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY), a statewide coalition of clean energy and environmental advocates, commended Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for outlining several initiatives in today's State of the State address that will support New York's clean energy industry.

"We appreciate the continued commitment to building New York's clean energy economy and we are confident New York's progress can extend into 2014 and beyond with support from the Governor, Legislature, regulatory agencies and state authorities," said Valerie Strauss, executive director of ACE NY.

"Congested and aging transmission systems are a major obstacle to linking the state's abundant renewable resources with the areas of highest electricity demand. Having an expedited review process for transmission projects within existing corridors will be helpful in ensuring that New York fully maximizes the potential of its clean energy portfolio. New transmission and renewable project development are essential for the state to meet its climate change goals and to protect public health and the environment for all New Yorkers."

"At the same time, infrastructure on the local level also has an important role to play in the transition to clean energy, and we are encouraged by the announcement of the $40 million NYPrize microgrids competition. This is a creative and timely approach to implementing new models of community-scale clean power distribution, and we look forward to seeing it facilitate development of clean and resilient resources like wind, solar, hydropower and fuel cells."

"We also commend the Governor's proposal to deploy solar energy through community aggregation. Combining the buying power of schools and other public institutions with that of individual customers is a cost-effective way for communities to make the switch to clean energy, and we hope this initiative will create significant opportunities for New York's growing solar industry."

"As we tackle the realities of climate change, strengthening New York State's infrastructure while increasing the use of clean energy is an absolute must. We look forward to working with the Governor and the members of the Legislature in creating a sustainable future."

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About the Alliance for Clean Energy New York:

The Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY) is a broad coalition dedicated to promoting clean energy, energy efficiency, a healthy environment, and a strong economy for the Empire State, and is New York's premier advocate for the rapid adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. www.aceny.org