Health Alliance Awarded Low Cost Power through ReCharge NY

Local hospitals to receive energy relief from state through new program developed by Assemblymember Cahill

April 25, 2012

Albany – One year after the passage of legislation, sponsored by Assemblymember Kevin

Cahill (D-Ulster, Dutchess), creating the ReCharge New York Program, the New York Power

Authority announced the first allocations of low cost power for businesses and not-for-profits across the state. HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, the parent company of Benedictine,

Kingston and Margaretville Hospitals, Mountainside Residential Care Center and Woodland

Pond at New Paltz, was awarded contracts that will reduce their energy costs allowing them to invest more in improvements to their health network.

“The success of HealthAlliance is critical to our region in terms of access to quality health care and jobs, that is why I insisted that not-for-profit institutions be eligible for low cost power when we developed ReCharge New York,” said Assemblymember Cahill. “Employers in our communities, with a few exceptions, have never benefited from the Power Authority’s economic development programs. The contracts awarded to our local hospitals are the first of what I hope to be many investments the Authority will make in our local economy.”

“As a destination of choice for many local patients and the largest employer in Ulster County, HealthAlliance is an ideal recipient for the ReCharge New York Program,” said David Lundquist, CEO of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley. “We are proud to be recognized as an anchor for the community.”

The ReCharge New York Program, established through legislation developed by

Assemblymember Cahill, is designed to help businesses and not-for-profits meet their energy needs in the most efficient manner possible. The law reformed the long languishing Power for Jobs Program, which had not offered benefits to new businesses for many years. The statewide initiative is providing 910 megawatts of low cost economic development power to responsible businesses in return for enforceable commitments for job creation, capital investments and energy efficiency improvements.

"High electricity costs will no longer stand in the way of businesses investing in New York.

We finally have the tools we need to retain the anchors of our communities and attract new ventures," said Assemblymember Cahill. "The launching of ReCharge New York represents a new approach to helping employers meet their energy needs while providing New Yorkers with the assurance that their resources are being used efficiently and effectively.”

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