Jan. 11, 2005: Oswego County Offers
Low-Cost Power to Businesses that Create New Jobs
Oswego County’s Public Utility Service
is now offering low-cost electrical energy to new and expanding
businesses in Oswego County. The goal of the low-cost power program
is to create jobs using low-cost electricity produced by Entergy
Nuclear Northeast at the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant
in Scriba.
The Oswego County Public Utility Service
will allocate up to 10 megawatts of low-cost power per year for
the next five years. Entergy is providing the electrical power as
part of the tax agreement for the FitzPatrick plant.
“This exciting new program is unique for a local government,”
said County Legislature Chairman Russ Johnson, District 25, Fulton.
“It provides a substantial cost savings to new and expanding
businesses that create jobs in Oswego County. Any unallocated power
can be used by local governments and school districts to save on
their energy costs.”
County Legislator Greg Osetek, Vice Chairman
of the Legislature and an ex-officio member of the Oswego County
Public Utility Service board, said it is “one of the most
exciting projects that Oswego County has ever undertaken.”
“Business and industry in New York
State frequently cite the relatively high cost of energy as an obstacle
in their ability to compete,” he said. “Eligible businesses
in Oswego County will be able to purchase power at a rate that is
well below the current market rate.”
Entergy Nuclear Northeast will provide up
to 10 megawatts of electricity a year, at $32 per megawatt-hour,
between 2005 and 2010. Current day-ahead prices range between $45
and $50 per megawatt-hour.
“As part of the PILOT agreement and
Entergy’s commitment to the community, we are pleased to offer
low-cost power to boost the county’s economic growth by helping
to attract new jobs and new business,” said Marc Potkin, Entergy
Nuclear Northeast’s Director of Business Development. “Low-cost
power will contribute to the economic stability of Oswego County
for the future.”
Businesses may request an allocation through
the Oswego County Public Utility Service. Applicants are asked to
provide detailed information about the new project they are undertaking,
their job creation plans, and their power usage requirements. To
be eligible, businesses must meet certain minimum usage requirements
and commit to create permanent new jobs.
The County Legislature has appointed a Public
Utility Board to review applications and select eligible businesses.
Preference will be given to businesses that are not eligible for
other low-cost power programs.
“The citizens selected for the board
are a talented group with excellent insight,” said board chairman
Andrew Curran Jr. of Hannibal. “Their expertise includes facility
management, business development, and various facets of the energy
industry. Applications for electricity allocations will be reviewed
thoroughly, with impartiality, and with an eye on the future economic
benefits to the community.”
In addition to Curran, board members include
County Legislator Osetek (District 15, Oswego), Jerry DeSantis,
David Buske, Lawrence Perras, James Hotchkiss, Dale Currier, and
Daniel Dougherty.
“This low cost power allocation is
a unique incentive in upstate New York that could be structured
in economic development finance packages to expand and compliment
existing incentive programs such as the Empire Zone program, Industrial
Development Agency and Small Business Administration financing,
and Empire State Development and Niagara Mohawk economic development
funding programs," said L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, executive
director of Operation Oswego County, Oswego County’s designated
economic development agency.
Legislature Chairman Johnson noted that Oswego
County citizens are already benefiting from this program.
“One of the goals of this program is to reduce the burden
of high energy costs on county taxpayers. Oswego County government
and the City of Oswego are already using unallocated power to reduce
their energy costs,” he said.
Other municipalities and school districts
in Oswego County are also eligible to use low-cost power until all
10 megawatts are allocated to business. All municipalities in Oswego
County have been invited to participate.
“This is an opportunity for local governments
to temporarily lower their electricity costs and pass the savings
on to taxpayers,” said Legislator Osetek. “As power
allocations are made to businesses, allocations to government will
be reduced.”
Select Energy, a leading provider of energy
solutions in the Northeastern U.S., has been chosen by Oswego County
to administer the low-cost power program on behalf of the county.
Annette Durnack, Select Energy vice president,
NY Sales and Marketing said, “Select Energy is thrilled to
be a part of such an innovative program that will provide benefits
and grow jobs in Oswego County.”
Businesses, municipalities and school districts
that are interested in applying should contact Select Energy through
its agent, Natural Gas Business Associates of Liverpool, phone 453-2482.
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