When I accepted the chairmanship of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee this past December, I did so because I knew that our State stands at a real crossroads in terms of energy policy and that long-term reforms are badly needed. As chairman, my first commandment has been and will continue to be, “do no harm.” This may seem obvious to some, but if you are familiar with the culture of Albany, and the harm that has been done to taxpayers in New York State through onerous energy taxes and needless red tape, you would understand how important this is.

Energy costs in New York State are among the highest in the nation. In fact, when you take into account state and local taxes as well as special assessments and fees that are passed down to the consumer, the government adds $500 million per month to New Yorkers’ electric bills statewide. On average, taxes and fees account for 25 cents on every dollar billed to a ratepayer. This situation needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. One of my main goals this year will be to support all efforts to reduce these costs and absolutely oppose any move to impose additional taxes or fees.

My number-one legislative priority for 2010 is finding a long-term solution to the economic development power programs, offered through the New York Power Authority. These initiatives are often collectively referred to as “Power For Jobs.” This program provides low-cost power to businesses that create new jobs or retain existing ones. It was originally envisioned as a temporary measure and, therefore, has been subject to year-to-year extensions. The problem is that due to the expensive nature of doing business in New York, the availability of low-cost power on a permanent basis is a real necessity.

I will introduce a bill to create a permanent economic development power program that will allow for long-term contracts for low-cost power, create reasonable standards to receive power allocation and allow businesses to plan ahead with fiscal certainty. My bill will also put the focus of our economic development efforts squarely on upstate New York, which continues to lag behind the rest of the State in terms of job growth and investment.

What is most important in any reform of the Power for Jobs program is to clearly recognize that this is an economic development program, not an energy-efficiency program. New York needs jobs, and my plan makes that goal priority one.

Another important issue that we need to deal with on the Energy and Telecommunications Committee is to enact a new Article X siting law to replace the one that expired in 2003. By way of explanation, Article X lays out an objective process to be followed by anyone wishing to site and construct a new power-generation facility. It is very important that we have a uniform process across New York State for the siting of generation facilities, and that in doing so we do not look to favor one form of generation over another. Everything from wind, to solar, to nuclear should be governed by the same rules and treated equally.

Energy is the issue that will define the 21st century, and New York has all of the resources, ingenuity and know-how to be a leader in this important field. To make this vision a reality, we need to put practicality before ideology and come together to accomplish our shared goal of a brighter future. 


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George Maziarz, a Republican representing parts of Niagara and Orleans counties, chairs the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee.