Assembly Energy Chair Kevin Cahill Reacts to Governor’s Energy Plan Announcement

April 10, 2008

Governor Paterson's announced opposition to the proposed Broadwater LNG terminal underscores the need for a comprehensive energy plan for New York State. Such a plan is critical to creating a framework that will meet the needs of all New Yorkers. That is why the Assembly proposed to include this blueprint in the state budget. While the final budget included funding to develop an energy plan, my proposal to reconstitute, in statute, the defunct Energy Planning Board along with the processes and requirements that would be used to guide the creation and implementation of statewide and regional plans was excluded.

I applaud Governor Paterson's leadership in issuing an Executive Order to begin the process in the absence of an Energy Planning Law. I am encouraged that the Governor's plan, in many ways, mirrors the proposal put forth by the Assembly. However, this Executive Order can not be allowed to stand in place of legislation renewing Article VI of the Energy Law. This is too important a matter to leave dependent on the risk that future governors may rescind the Executive Order.

Putting a statute in place will ensure that New York has a clear and long-term responsibility to identify and implement initiatives to assure adequate supplies from diverse energy sources while lowering consumer costs, encouraging conservation and renewable energy, improving public health and protecting our environment, no matter who is in charge. A new law will provide the business community with the stability and direction necessary to spark future investments in our state, particularly in the burgeoning green collar economy.

In the coming weeks I will be working closely with the administration and my colleagues in the Legislature to codify these values and processes and to make sure we pass an Energy Planning Law this session.

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