Energy Association Supports Governor's Energy Goals

ALBANY, NY (01/07/2009)(readMedia)-- Albany New York, January 7, 2009 - The Energy Association of New York State expressed its support for the ambitious energy goals articulated by Governor Paterson in his annual State of the State Address today in Albany.

"The Energy Association commends the Governor's call for investment in clean, efficient, reliable, cost effective energy. We are encouraged by his call to increase investment in the energy delivery infrastructure, to promote the development and adoption of new technologies, the establishment of a Battery Research Consortium, the creation of an Energy Policy Institute, and an enhanced "45 By 15" initiative, said Patrick J. Curran, the Association's Executive Director.

"We enthusiastically support the Governor's call to add significantly more renewables to the electric generation fuel mix and enhance energy efficiency on many levels. A potentially far greater impact can be made by encouraging utilities to bring their financial resources and expertise to bear by partnering with renewable developers and rate-basing new renewable projects and efficiency programs."

"New York's electric and gas infrastructure provides a level of reliability unsurpassed anywhere in the world. It is an asset and resource vital to the well-being of all New Yorkers and to the State's position in the global economy. The Energy Association will continue to work in close partnership with the State to seek fresh and innovative approaches to achieve the Governor's 45 X 15 goal, to create and sustain economic growth, and to continue to bring clean, reliable, reasonably priced electricity and natural gas to all New Yorkers." said Mr. Curran.

The member companies of the Energy Association are the owners and operators of much the state's electric and natural gas infrastructure, comprised of many hundreds of thousands of individual shareholders including a great many New Yorkers and retirees, employing over 28,000 New Yorkers, serving over 7 million New York customers and their families and businesses, annually paying over $2.5 billion in state and local taxes and contributing tens of millions of dollars annually to community and charitable purposes.

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