subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Feb 09 2010 

Published: June 18, 2008 07:04 pm    print this story  

NEW YORK: Green bill close to becoming law

Practice will make it attractive for businesses to invest in sustainable energy

By Dan Miner
E-mail Dan

Niagara Gazette

A law that will likely make it financially sensible for businesses in New York state to power themselves with “green” technology hopped over an important hurdle Wednesday, according to state Sen. George Maziarz.

The law will allow a practice called net-metering — which already exists for residents in the state. Now, any commercial enterprise with wind, solar or other forms of renewable energy are given a credit when they produce extra energy.

Previously, excess energy was released freely onto the grid, making the enormous initial investment for something like wind mills or solar panels less profitable over the long-term.

“All the major corporations are thinking green,” said Maziarz, who mentioned Wal-Mart in particular as a company that has taken advantage of net-metering in other states and will likely do so now in New York. “A company like (Wal-Mart) is going to look at something like this. They want a positive public perception and they’ve got the money (to install renewable energy technology).”

The bill unanimously passed the Senate and appears likely for passage in the Assembly today, after which it will be sent to Gov. David Paterson for his signature, said Maziarz, R-Newfane, who chairs the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee and is the bill’s main sponsor.

Kevin Schulte, who owns Ontario, N.Y.-based Sustainable Energy Developments, said his company has fielded hundreds of calls in the last few years from potential clients who have waited for New York state to make commercial “green” energy worthwhile financially.

Anything from ski resorts, water treatment plants, manufacturing facilities and public and private schools could be and likely could take advantage of the bill, he said.

“We’re building 10 projects in Massachusetts (where commercial net-metering is allowed) as we speak,” Schulte said. Later, he added, “This bill keeps my business in New York. There is a very real chance to move my business and its current 60 employees to somewhere with growth potential. This keeps us here for the foreseeable future.”

Laws such as this one also stoke New York’s fledgling but promising “green” energy industry, said Carol Murphy, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York.

“What’s happened in other states that have enacted this, they’ve really seen a growth in business for solar and wind installers,” Murphy said. “We’ve had a lot of instances from community colleges and universities in New York that are training the next generation of the work force for green-collar jobs.”

Murphy pointed out that New York is the 15th windiest state in the country.

“We’ve got the resources, why not let our businesses and non-profits and schools benefit from it?” she said.

print this story  



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

Car Enthusiast
Old Ford enthusiast needed with knowledge of early year Fords (1909-early 70’s) to answer technical phone calls and emai...>MORE

General Laborer
GENERAL LABORER to do yard work, pick papers etc. Competitive wages, 401k and medical. Apply Allied Waste Scale House, 5...>MORE

Assistant Director
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
 Ass
...>MORE

Home Care Aide
HomeCare Aide Certified Only. 3 overnights, transportation needed, $9.50-$11.50/hr. 298-4342 ...>MORE

RN Supervisor
RN SUPERVISORS/LPN Charge Nurse/CNA’s
Full and Part Time
Positions available.
Apply in person
Fa
...>MORE

Cleaners Substitute
Cleaner Substitutes wanted. Previous cleaning experience preferred. Reply by Feb. 16th, to Mr. Joseph Giarrizzo, 100 Hi...>MORE

Quality Control
QUALITY control, earn up to $100 per day, evaluate retail stores, training provided, no exp. req’d, call 1-888-702-9018...>MORE

Administrative Assistant
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT for human services agency. Resume to: ILNC, 746 Portage Rd., Niagara Falls, NY 14301. EOE...>MORE

FLOOR MAINTENANCE
Floor Maintenance, 3rd shift, exp. in stripping & waxing need only apply, f/t & p/t, 632-2259 ...>MORE

Counselor
COUNSELOR, PART-TIME: NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE is seeking a part-time counselor in student services to work in t...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

1986 Ford Mustang
FORD 1986 Mustang convertible, 5.0 body kit, 3.8L V6, 40k on new motor, runs but needs work. $700 or BO. 417-1611...>MORE

1998 Dodge Dakota Sport
DODGE 1998 Dakota Sport 3.9 V6, regular cab, exc in & out, no rust, real sharp, $2750. 523-7102...>MORE

1999 Chevy Malibu
CHEVY 1999 Malibu, needs fuel pump, $700. 282-6141 or 990-6026....>MORE

Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI
Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI, 4 door, one owner, exc. condition, power windows, power steering, power locks, $5000 or best ...>MORE

Pontiac 2000 Grand Prix XL
PONTIAC 2000 Grand Prix XL, black,
good condition
531-2669
...>MORE

1991 Lincoln Executive Town Car
LINCOLN 1991 Executive Town Car, 42k miles, no rust, runs, needs work, $600. 990-8895....>MORE

Ford 1999 Escort ZX2
FORD 1999 ESCORT, ZX2 Coupe, runs great, NYS inspected, exc. cond. $1650. 694-0441...>MORE

1993 Chevy Silverado
CHEVY Silverado 4x4 1993 new alt, starter, exhaust, rebuilt trans., etc. Reliable. Call 282-0465....>MORE

Dodge 2001 Neon
DODGE 2001Neon, 4 dr, 4 cyl, auto, 58k mi. am/fm CD player, n o rust, like new, $3950. 525-7796...>MORE

Ford 1997 TAURUS
FORD 1997 taurus, runs exc. fully loaded, must see $1400 or best offer. 205-7711...>MORE

See all ads



 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index