New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance
2007 Agenda and Policy Recommendations

New York AREA is a diverse group of more than 100 labor unions, business organizations, and independent energy experts who are dedicated to making sure New York has the electricity it needs to remain a great place to live and work.  

Our mission is to educate the public and policymakers about New York’s energy supply challenges, and to promote sensible solutions to meet the growing demand for reliable and affordable power.  We will achieve this mission through education and political action, as well as by building support for energy initiatives that will strengthen our economy.

We recognize that the core principles for solving New York’s electricity challenges in 2007 are:

• Immediate Article X renewal – New York AREA supports the reinstatement of the Article X Power Plant Siting Law (or similar legislation), which has been expired since December 2002.  Article X was used to oversee and streamline the process by which new power plants are developed and sited.  Without this statute in place, needed power plants and generating facilities that require up to five years to develop, are being blocked due to actions by NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) opposition and the lack of a proper regulatory road map.  New York AREA invites Governor Eliot Spitzer to hold a conference on this issue with legislative, business, labor, environmental, and community leaders to reach common ground so that a new measure is signed into law within the first 100 days of his new administration.

• Increase in the region’s existing power supply – New York AREA supports the following steps to help increase the lacking energy supply through the following actions outlined by the New York Independent System Operator’s report: “The Comprehensive Reliability Plan 2005: A Long-tem Reliability Assessment of New York’s Power System,” and the Independent Power Producers of New York 2006 Legislative Agenda:
  • Implementation of the Responsible Transmission Owner plans, which include transmission additions and upgrades, reactive resource additions, capacity additions totaling 466 Megawatts (MW), capacity equivalent Unforced Deliverability Rights totaling 990 MW supported by generation in neighboring control areas, and demand-side management programs totaling 449 MW.  These solutions result in total resource additions of 1,905 MW by 2010.
  • The development of 1,200 MW of merchant generation projects in New York City and Long Island; in particular, the 950 MW proposed for New York City.  It is important that this generation be in service as scheduled but no later than the summer of 2011.
  • Fair competition among wholesale and retail suppliers of electricity.
  • Fair competition among generators and all electric resource alternatives, including renewable, fossil-fuel, nuclear, and conservation technologies.
  • The continuation of previously enacted tax relief, including the elimination of the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT).
  • The development of safe, secure, reliable and diverse supplies of energy.
    
    
  • Securing the base-load power supply – New York AREA and its members are committed to consistently generated, 24/7 base-load power, including nuclear power provided by the continued operation of the Indian Point Energy Center/ which provides up to 2000 megawatts of energy necessary to power New York City and the downstate region as the foundation for the region’s electricity portfolio.  Non-fossil fuel base-load sources will be especially important to meet Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative goals.  New York AREA is also committed to supporting the continued operations and development of the following power generating facilities, projects, and initiatives:
    • Fitzpatrick Generating Station
    • New York Regional Interconnection
    • Broadwater
    • New York Energy $martsm
    • Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
    • ENERGY STAR
      
      
  • Developing in-state renewable energy projects – Renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, and hydro power can help address the state’s growing needs.  New projects should be developed in-state so that renewable energy sources can begin to add to the state’s portfolio more significantly.
    
    
  • Promoting greater energy efficiency – Energy efficiency programs provide substantial and tangible ways for many businesses and consumers to cut electricity usage and costs.  Such programs are an important component in addressing electricity supply challenges and staving off steady increases in demand each year that prevent energy efficiency.
    
    
  • Support for legislation which promotes infrastructure development – The New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance supports the Energy Association of New York State and Independent Power Producers of New York’s backing of the following proposed legislation which will fortify the state’s energy infrastructure.
    • Nuclear Assessments (S.4034)
    • Power Plant Siting (S.4961)
    • Transmission Line Upgrades (S.3036)
    • Renewable Energy Resources (S.7199-A/A.11875)
    • Renewable Energy Conversion, Storage & Transportation (S.5675-A/A.8836-A)

  New York AREA thanks you for your continuing support in 2007 and the coming years. For more information on the 2007 Agenda or New York AREA programs, please contact us at (212) 683-1203.