Press Releases
For Release: Immediately 5/6/10
SAYWARD: POWER FOR JOBS SET TO END NEXT WEEK
Each year around this time, the Power for Jobs program and Energy Cost Saving Benefit expire. About 530 businesses and non-profit organizations employing more than 300,000 people take advantage of these programs, which provide a rebate to offset electricity costs, a discount on utility delivery rates, or a subsidy from the New York Power Authority on the price of wholesale electricity it generates.
These programs become increasingly important when you figure in the fact that the cost of doing business in New York is the second highest in the nation, and our state’s energy costs are the fourth highest countrywide.
Because of our state’s financial woes, combined with the fact that we still do not have a budget, the likelihood of extending Power for Jobs diminishes more each day. As such, many businesses are worried that their energy costs will soon increase. Making Power for Jobs permanent would prevent this annual occurrence and would allow businesses to plan without fear of losing vital cost-saving benefits. This week, the Senate passed legislation to make the program permanent, and now the Assembly must do the same.
Job creation and economic growth must be our top priority. Economies are suffering in the North Country and working to promote small business development and creating jobs is the best way to dig us out of this financial downturn.
We must work to save local jobs and help attract new companies to the North Country. Providing low-cost energy to businesses is vital for job-creation in New York as taxes, and consequently the cost of doing business, continue to rise. Every incentive we can provide to create jobs must be made available. The Senate has acted and now it’s our turn in the Assembly to extend Power for Jobs beyond being an annually debated program in order to provide stability for businesses in our state.
