NNY can take lead in developing green technology
Green technology, specifically solar power, is an integral piece of the world’s economic and environmental future. As the scale of photovoltaic (PV) production increases and costs continue to decline, demand for PV electricity will outpace supply for years to come.
China has implemented plans to foster and develop a renewable energy industry while the United States has been slower to react. It has been estimated that China’s investment will improve environmental conditions and provide an economic windfall of $500 billion to $1 trillion by the year 2013. Alternately, the United States leads China in “smart-grid” technology, and with the right investments can obtain overall dominance in this area.
A smart grid delivers electricity from suppliers to consumers using two-way digital technology to control appliances at consumers’ homes to save energy, reduce cost and increase transparency. This smart-grid technology is one way to address energy independence and reliability issues. China needs the United States’ talent and smart-grid technologies. With cooperation and greater support, a green future can be in store for both the United States and China in the development of a domestic PV industry. This type of strategic investment, both environmentally and economically, can have national, state, and even local impacts.
Along with the U.S. Department of Energy and Treasury’s announcement that they will give $2.3 billion in tax credits to clean and renewable energy manufacturers, Gov. David Paterson recently announced the largest PV project in New York, which will help the state meet its energy needs, foster the development of solar technologies and stimulate the economy with new clean energy jobs.
On behalf of the state, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will issue a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the purpose of exploring the development of public-private partnerships for the installation of up to 100 megawatts (MW) of PV systems. These include roof-mounted and ground-mounted PV arrays at municipal facilities, public and private schools, businesses and state agencies throughout New York. Conservative estimates project that this program will create 50,000 new jobs throughout the state.
Locally, Clarkson University researchers are creating large-area PV devices that will improve efficiency and can enable very thin, well-ordered polymer nanocomposites to be printed onto flexible substrates. At Clarkson’s Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP), Professor Dan Goia and his group are developing materials for silicon-based solar cells that can be used for both commercial and military products. This project is supported by The Solar Energy Consortium (TSEC) and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) which funds research collaborations between the Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP),Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Corning Inc.
These are positive initiatives and developments which must continue to be supported. Therefore, we in the north country need to advocate for these types of higher education-industrial partnerships which focus on advancing sustainable energy solutions and environmental technology innovation. Such partnerships can effectively couple research discovery and engineering innovation while creating commercial enterprise solutions for economic development and positive environmental outcomes.
Clean energy technology, and specifically solar power, has the potential to transform nations like China and the United States. These nations are beginning to understand that they can no longer pollute their way to prosperity. If the United States and China cooperate on green technology, they can lead the next economic and environmental revolution. Success in this area will provide benefits that include a cleaner environment, bringing solar to market more quickly and diffusing the technology more broadly, increased economic growth — greater number of jobs, and better relations between the two powers.
It’s time to act to develop a green energy economy that protects our community and puts people back to work, reducing our stubbornly high unemployment. The north country can be a major part and force in positioning New York as a leader economically and environmentally; and become a hub for the development of cutting-edge technology that could rival job corridors in other states.
New Green Jobs Created Right Here In the North Country
Alliance Energy has plans for a project that would not only create 150 construction jobs, but also 50-75 permanent jobs in Ogdensburg . This close to $30 million project will assist NYS in meeting its renewable energy requirements as mandated by executive order 111 and its goal of having 25% of the states electricity needs satisfied by renewable energy by 2013. This will be a part in reviving our local & state’s economy, laying the foundation for a more prosperous future.
The plant would transition from complete fossil fuels to a wood biomass boiler that would raise the facility’s capacity. On completion of the re-powering project, the facility will return to service providing enough green, renewable energy to supply approximately 23,000 homes and continue to supply low cost steam to New York State which will help insure job retention at the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility and St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center. This public-private partnership is essential for a successful future. Both the steam, and electricity generated at the facility will help to satisfy federal and state initiatives for renewable energy production. With projects like this we can stimulate the economy today and build a brighter, cleaner tomorrow. It’s truly a win-win for Alliance, NYS, City of Ogdensburg, and North Country.
This Alliance project is an investment in the future of our city, our residents and the region, and is an important step toward creating the green jobs of the future and building a clean energy economy. This project attains the goals of investing in alternative and renewable energy, ending our addiction to foreign oil, addressing the global climate crisis and creating new jobs right here in the North Country.
Feeling the Burden of the Bottle: Passage of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill set to burden North Country Business
Leave a CommentWith the uncertain economy, high taxes, and excessive regulations, businesses in New York State are feeling more burdened than ever. Unfortunately, North Country bottlers and distributors are especially feeling the squeeze due to new New York State legislation that goes into effect June 1st. Addie Russell and Darrel Aubertine’s voting record and lack of strong leadership is making it even more difficult to live and work in New York.
As part of the NYS Budget, the State Legislature passed the “Bigger Better Bottle Bill.” Under the new law signed by Governor David Paterson on April 7th, 2009, the current nickel deposit that consumers pay on carbonated soda and beer will now also be applied to bottles of water and sugar-free flavored water. To further confuse consumers and burden bottlers, no deposit will be charged for flavored water that contains sugar, or for any juices, iced teas, or sports drinks.
While the NYS Budget will certainly benefit from the 80% of unredeemed deposits going to the State General Fund, the burden of this bill falls on businesses, especially bottlers and distributors who will now only be able to keep 20% of the unredeemed deposits as opposed to the 100% they were previously taking in. The State of New York stands to gain about $115 million annually from unclaimed deposits.
For employees at the Pepsi-Cola Bottlers in Ogdensburg and other companies such as A.J. Missert Inc. and A. Cappione Inc., the expanded bottle bill could be devastating. These new requirements in the law will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for bottlers and could result in layoffs that would further harm the economy of the North Country. Pepsi in Ogdensburg is one of the area’s largest private employers and with the passage of this bill, they are facing an increase in operations costs of $400,000, which is the equivalent to the salaries of between 7-10 employees.
Layoffs are something that no one wants to resort to, but business practice shows that when the cost of doing business is raised, especially to that degree, there’s going to be an impact. Only this time the impact has the potential to hit the North Country hard.
The bill goes on to mandate that beverage producers also will have to create specific Universal Product Codes (UPC) for deposit containers sold in New York. The unique UPC codes will identify which bottles were sold in New York. Because of the new UPC mandates, owners of small businesses will have to watch their beverage stocks carefully or risk being left with drinks that can’t be sold because they no longer meet the state’s requirements. Stores and restaurants will have to switch their water stocks by June 1st to include bottles labeled with the NYS UPC. The stores will have to pay attention to inventory control and make sure they do not have “illegal” merchandise sitting on their shelves.
Bottlers and distributors will not be the only ones feeling the economic impacts of this legislation. Citizens of the North Country will likely see the price of their favorite beverages jump as distributors struggle to cover their sudden increase in costs. For example, a case of water could get twice as expensive if costs continue to rise. Figuring out what to put in the recycling bin and what to return to get your deposit back will also be more complicated, as consumers will have to differentiate between sugar-filled flavored water, which won’t carry a container deposit, and sugar-free flavored water, which will.
If the “Bigger Better Bottle Bill” is truly only about improving recycling habits, then the answer is a statewide comprehensive recycling program– not financially burdening businesses to fill the state budget gap. We all support recycling and cleaner communities. In this time of economic uncertainty and job loss, we hope our state leaders would do anything to stimulate the economy, grow and retain jobs, but I question whether or not the voice of the North Country citizens are being heard or understood in Albany.
Our state representatives who voted in support of the bill, Addie Russell and Darrel Aubertine have not yet come to a realization that we cannot continue this anti-business environment in New York State. There is still time left to speak up for the North Country and propose change to this legislation. I call on Addie Russell and Darrell Aubertine to amend the current legislation to lessen the burden on business and protect families. This recently passed bill is not something that should be taken lightly and presents serious troubles and hardships for our North Country economy. Above all else, we must fight for businesses and families here in the North Country, creating an environment in which they can thrive.
