BALDWINSVILLE—New York Power Authority (NYPA) President and Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Kessel today announced that the NYPA Trustees have approved the extension of contracts for all 533 allocations to companies and not-for-profit enterprises throughout New York State benefiting from the Power for Jobs (PFJ) and Energy Cost Savings Benefit (ECSB) programs.  Joined by Leo Basciano, Managing Director of Specialized Packaging Group, Inc., of Baldwinsville, Kessel noted that the programs help to protect more than 300,000 jobs statewide, including over 31,000 jobs at 150 companies in Central New York alone.

The extensions follow the signing of legislation in early August by Gov. David Paterson for continuation of the two statewide power programs through May 15, 2011 and expedited renewal of benefits.  The legislation provides for the benefits to be retroactively effective to June 3, to include the period in which the programs lapsed due to legislative impasse.

“A reformed Power for Jobs program remains vital to rebuilding our economy and creating thousands of new jobs by expanding businesses within and attracting new business opportunities to the State,” Governor Paterson said. “The comprehensive permanent and self-sustaining program that I sought to create—the Energize New York Power Program—would have given businesses the certainty they need for making major capital investments and adding jobs to the state.  I will keep fighting for meaningful reform, even though it became necessary to extend the existing temporary programs in order to spare the hundreds of businesses and institutions that would have been hurt by the absence of lower cost power benefits.  I applaud the Senate for passing Energize New York with overwhelming bi-partisan support and again call on the Assembly to bring this important legislation to a vote.”      

“The benefits of Power For Jobs and Energy Cost Savings Benefit are critical to supporting tens of thousands of jobs across New York State,” Michael Townsend, NYPA chairman, said.  “With the economy still struggling, it is important to act to protect and extend these benefits until a legislative resolution can be reached for program improvements.”