ALBANY - The New York State Senate passed legislation to create a new, permanent program called “Recharge NY,” that would provide low-cost power to help businesses create and retain jobs.

“The passage of this legislation will enable more businesses across New York to access cheap electricity to create jobs,” said the bill’s sponsor, Senator George Maziarz, (R-C, Newfane), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee. “The program has been renewed on an annual basis for several years, but we’ve needed a permanent solution so businesses can plot their growth. The passage of this legislation ensures that businesses across New York will have the stability needed to plan long-term.”

“It’s time to stop the year-to-year extensions of this program and make it permanent so businesses that receive this low-cost power can count on the certainty and stability of their energy costs and create new jobs,” Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said.  “I commend Senator Maziarz for his longtime leadership on this issue and Governor Cuomo for submitting the bill to create this program.  Now we need the Assembly to pass it so it can be enacted into law.”

The Recharge NY bill, which was submitted as a program bill by Governor Andrew Cuomo and is included in his 2011-12 Executive Budget, would double the amount of low cost power available for businesses and non-profits to 910 megawatts.

"I commend the Senate leadership for passing this important bill. Recharge New York will help lower business costs and create good-paying jobs across the state. I thank Senator Maziarz for sponsoring the bill and I call on the Assembly to follow the Senate's lead and perform for the people of New York by passing this bill to create jobs for New Yorkers. The time for action is now."
The new low cost power program could help revitalize the manufacturing sector of New York’s economy that has lost 288,000 jobs over the past ten years.  Electric rates for businesses in New York are twice as high as rates in other states.  New York's high energy costs are a factor when New York-based companies decide whether to stay open or expand, and when new companies decide where to invest.

The bill is supported by the Business Council of New York State, the New York Farm Bureau, NFIB, the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, Environmental Advocates, the Long Island Association and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.