ReCharge NY Power Allocations to Create 560 Jobs
NYPA Board of Trustees Also Approve $250,000 in Funding Support for Two Northern New York Enterprises
NYPA to Consider Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Impacts in Future Applications for Economic Development Awards
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York Power Authority (NYPA) Board of Trustees has approved 34 ReCharge NY power allocations to 29 customers in support of more than 22,600 jobs across the state—including 560 newly created jobs—that will also spur more than $629 million in private capital investments. The NYPA board also awarded two St. Lawrence County firms a total of $250,000 in funding support, and updated NYPA's criteria for evaluating applications for economic development power to include consideration of applicants' impacts on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments.
"New York continues to lead the nation in tackling the climate crisis and expanding robust clean energy solutions," Governor Hochul said. "The Power Authority's economic development awards will help New York establish an energy efficient infrastructure, stimulating our economy, creating jobs, revitalizing communities across the state, and paving the way for a cleaner and greener future."
The approved allocations of nearly 17.9 megawatts of low-cost power under the ReCharge NY program will benefit companies from every region of New York State. A full list of ReCharge NY power allocations and economic development program awards is available here.
ReCharge NY, which supports more than 389,000 jobs around the state and has sparked more than $19 billion in private capital investments, has strengthened New York's economy by encouraging companies to retain and create jobs, while stimulating capital investment throughout the state. NYPA incentivizes the investments by enterprises through power contracts of up to seven-years. Half of the power—455 megawatts (MW)—is from NYPA's Niagara and St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt hydroelectric power plants. The remaining 455 MW is power NYPA purchases on the wholesale market.
Eugene L. Nicandri, NYPA Vice-Chair and Massena resident, said, "Strengthening the economic resiliency of New York State is more important now than ever before. Statewide power allocations through ReCharge New York and funding allocations from the Northern New York Power Proceeds program supported through the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project directly support capital investments and jobs. These power and funding awards provide clean, reliable power to customers and help secure the economic vitality of our state."
NYPA Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, "The Power Authority's economic development awards are crucial to helping New York businesses rebound from the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic. Support from low-cost power programs such as ReCharge NY and economic development funding under NYPA's Power Proceeds programs will not only benefit the recipients of these awards, but also the communities that they serve."
Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Hope Knight said, "ReCharge NY power allocations are making a difference across the state, often in tandem with many of our Regional Economic Development Council awarded projects, to create jobs for New Yorkers, catalyze private investment and further the state's commitment to clean energy. NYPA's new DEI program goals also reflect our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in creating opportunity for business growth across New York State."
At today's NYPA Board of Trustees meeting, the NYPA board granted $250,000 in awards from the Northern New York Economic Development Fund, otherwise known as the Power Proceeds program. The board approved $220,000 for Atlantic Testing Laboratories in Canton and $30,000 for the North Country Children's Museum in Potsdam.
Atlantic Testing Laboratories, a woman-owned business enterprise (WBE) that provides quality control and quality assurance programs for construction projects, is creating four new jobs, retaining 22 more, and investing nearly $2.4 million in its drilling, fabrication, and vehicle maintenance operation in St. Lawrence County. The NYPA funding will support a multi-year expansion that improves the building's structure and makes it more functional to facilitate growth. The project will also include the installation of energy efficient materials such as foam insulation and a new heating and cooling system.
The North Country Children's Museum—a regional landmark that serves local families and visitors with interactive learning experiences, exhibits, and weekly special programs—will invest approximately $1.9 million to support an expansion to its second floor that will enable a doubling of visitor capacity.
The funding awards apply net earnings from unutilized hydropower from the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project in Massena to St. Lawrence County businesses and institutions. The Northern New York Power Proceeds Act, passed in December 2014, allows for NYPA to deposit the net earnings from the market sale of unutilized electricity into a fund, which can then be used to support economic development projects in St. Lawrence County.
Additionally, the NYPA board approved new criteria for evaluating applications for power under its economic development power programs to now consider applicants' efforts in supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion. The consideration of an applicant's impact on DEI is aligned with policies outlined in NYPA's VISION2030 strategic plan to support and encourage a culture of inclusion, a diverse supplier base, and a commitment to environmental justice.
The new criteria are also consistent with provisions of New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act)—the nation's most aggressive climate change legislation—to provide state support in a manner designed to achieve a goal for disadvantaged communities to receive forty percent of overall benefits of spending on clean energy and energy efficiency programs.
To learn more about business growth opportunities with the Power Authority and NYPA's ongoing efforts to support diversity, equity and inclusion, please visit NYPA on the web.
Senator Joseph A. Griffo said, "The Recharge NY program has been an effective and useful tool for many communities and businesses. I am pleased that the program continues to support jobs and investment in New York State."
Senator Patty Ritchie said, "Now more than ever, our region is in need of support to revitalize our economy and grow jobs. These New York Power Authority economic development awards and power allocations are helping to accomplish both of those goals and at the same time, promoting energy use that is clean and efficient. I look forward to seeing how these investments benefit the North Country and our state as a whole."
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