Albany - Noting that the Power for Jobs and Energy Cost Savings Benefit Programs are set to expire in one month, Assembly Energy Committee Chair Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster, Dutchess) wrote to other legislative leaders and the Governor's office to ask them to come together to find a solution that will work to attract and maintain jobs and capital investments by businesses in New York.

"Simply extending Power for Jobs for another year is not an option," Assemblymember Cahill said. "The current Power for Jobs recipients are about to receive notification that they will lose their benefits, which underscores the uncertainty that this program has caused for businesses."

Power for Jobs has been languishing, requiring annual extensions for the last five years. While the program maintains incentives for current participants, it is closed to new businesses. Moreover, year to year extensions provide little predictability that businesses need to invest in their New York operations and limits the ability of the state to plan ahead, maximize resources and administer economic development incentives effectively.

Assemblymember Cahill introduced the "Power Solutions Program" (A.10053), which received broad bi-partisan support when it passed the Energy Committee last week. The Governor and the Senate have also put forth proposals which share many of the same components. The Assemblymember noted that these similarities are a result of a collaborative, open series of public hearings and roundtable discussions aimed at the development of a low-cost power program for businesses and not-for-profit organizations in New York.

"The success of our deliberative and transparent approach is evidenced by the four remarkably similar legislative initiatives," said Assemblymember Cahill. "Each proposes to create a stable and permanent program to provide New York State with the flexibility it needs to help companies effectively address their energy challenges in exchange for commitments to job growth, capital investment and efficiency."

In the letter, he invited all parties to come together to negotiate a final agreement.

"I stand ready to meet at any time to negotiate the few remaining differences in our proposals so we can finally enact a permanent program that will provide the long term energy stability that businesses need to commit to New York. I look forward to working with you all to see this matter to its conclusion," Assemblymember Cahill wrote.

Text of the letter is provided by clicking here.