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In yesterday’s State of the State Address, New York Governor David Paterson pledged to meet 45% of the region’s electricity needs through energy efficiency and renewable sources.

“It is time to control the cost of energy and how much of it we use,” he said. “It is time to make New York more energy independent and more energy efficient, to develop our own sources of clean and renewable energy, and to build new statewide systems for energy generation, transmission, and distribution.”

The new target represents a higher profile effort to cut electricity consumption after setting targets last summer aimed at persuading utilities to drive usage reductions of 15% by 2015.

Paterson said targeting energy efficiency in schools, hospitals and local governments will be key in realising the ‘45 by 15’ goal.

A clearinghouse will be set up to act as a single point of information about energy efficiency programmes and support for schools, hospitals and local governments.

He also called on the Public Service Commission and other public authorities to provide financial incentives for homes and businesses to invest in energy efficiency retrofits and microgeneration technologies.

Meanwhile, the development of plug-in hybrid vehicles will be driven by a new research consortium, building on existing research infrastructure in battery and energy storage technologies.

Paterson also proposes creating a New York Energy Policy Institute to coordinate the knowledge and expertise available in the region’s universities and research institutions.

Working toward the ‘45 by 15’ goal will create 50,000 new jobs, claims Paterson, and help revitalise the region’s economy.

“Energy has become too expensive, too unpredictable, and too damaging to our environment. Our “45 by 15” program will not simply revitalize our economy; it will help protect our environment,” he said.

The move has been welcomed by the National Grid and New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), who operates the electricity grid and manages the state’s electricity markets.

“Governor Paterson’s position on significant increases in energy efficiency, renewables and technology investment comes at a critical time [and] sets the standard for the similar,” says Tom King, president of National Grid.

“[The] targets are bold, but achievable, and the investment in renewable generation, new transmission, and above all, energy efficiency, will change the way we make and use energy,” he adds.

For further information:
www.ny.gov/governor/
www.nyiso.com
www.nationalgridus.com/

Related stories:
New York pledges to cut electricity usage by 15% by 2015 (25-Jun)
New York shuts the door on energy wasters (9-Sept)
New York paves way for microgeneration and green roofs (15-Aug)