Senate Looks to ‘Power’ Upstate Jobs

Energy Committee Seeks Ways to Create a 21^st Century Energy System to Fuel Growth

State Senator Patty Ritchie joined fellow Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee members in Western New York Tuesday at a public hearing aimed at finding ways the state can improve its current energy infrastructure and create jobs.

“This hearing was all about discussing ways to create jobs by building a modern energy generating and transmission system to fuel our economy into the future,” said Senator Ritchie.

“The Central and Northern New York regions are among the state’s biggest energy generators, with everything from hydro plants in the north, to the biomass facility expected to open on Fort Drum, to the three nuclear plants in Oswego County.”

“These facilities have the potential to grow and to create jobs.  I’m working with my colleagues to make sure we find ways to make that happen,” Senator Ritchie said.

Witnesses included representatives of power generating plants across the state, as well as business leaders and representatives of unionized electrical workers.