On April 19, to a business crowd in New York City Governor Spitzer took a strong step toward making New York the true Empire State again by laying out his plans for the State’s energy future. The governor’s much-anticipated clean energy plan, dubbed “15 by 15” for its goal of reducing New York’s current energy demand by 15% by 2015 (coincidentally, the end of Indian Point’s operating license) through efficiency programs, will be one of the most aggressive in the country. Through legislation and regulatory changes, the Governor plans to bring 800 MWs of new, clean power to New York by 2008, implement siting regulations that encourage clean energy technologies, encourage repowering of dirty power plants, and reinstitute long-term contracts between power producers and power sellers in order to jumpstart investment. During his speech, Governor Spitzer reaffirmed his commitment to seeing Indian Point shuttered, “Investing in a new generation of cleaner, more efficient power plants will also allow us to phase out the use of older, less secure, and less environmentally sound power plants, including Indian Point.”

KEY POINTS


* Reduce Electric Energy Use by 15% by 2015 (End of IP 3’s Operating License)

* Increase Efficiency of Buildings and Appliances

* 21 New Contracts for Renewable Energy Power Generation = 800 MWs by 2008

* Article X Siting Law to Speed Construction of Clean Energy Plants

* Long-Term Contracts between Power Plants and Energy Providers to Increase Investments in New Plant Construction

* Implement Decoupling Measures to Ensure Energy Providers Maintain Profit Under Conservation Measures

BENEFITS TO NEW YORKERS

* Reduce Energy Bills
* Create New Job Market
* Reduce Our Contributions to Global Warming