The Business Council supports this legislation that will extend the state's Power for Jobs and Energy Cost Savings Benefit programs through June 30, 2007.

Earlier this year, the legislature approved a program extension through the end of 2007. However, that language was vetoed by Governor Pataki, who cited constitutional as well as fiscal concerns. While the veto was overridden by the legislature, the Governor contended that constitutional defects in the legislation render the override invalid.

We believe this legislation, though containing a shorter extension period, will clarify any legal concerns about the program’s extension, thereby providing participating businesses with certainty regarding program benefits.

Importantly, in addition to extending these programs through mid-2007, this new legislation also authorizes NYPA to reimburse Power for Jobs program participants for excessive PfJ power costs incurred during 2006, and allows manufacturers operating with PfJ contract extensions to opt into the energy rebate savings option under the PfJ program.

The Power for Jobs program addresses a critical issue for many New York State businesses – the relatively high cost of electric power. This issue is of particular concern within the state’s industrial sector, where power-dependent manufacturers rely on reduced-cost PfJ power to help them remain competitive. Without low cost NYPA power, average industrial rates in New York on a per kilowatt hour basis are close to double the national average.

Continued access to low cost power is essential to the continued success of many Power for Jobs program participants. Therefore, it is important that the legislature assure a program extension.
For these reasons, The Business Council supports approval of S.8440/A.12013.

This legislation will be included as one of the scoring measurements of The Business Council’s “Vote for Jobs Index 2005". This is The Business Council’s annual assessment of legislator’s action on key issues of concern to the state’s business community.