ARRA You There?

Almost every day, stimulus funds are being put directly to work on behalf of all New Yorkers. One of the best ways to ensure transparency in funding is to tell you exactly how we are investing these taxpayer dollars.  

Yesterday, I was proud to take part in the announcement of an exciting $15 Million public-private partnership between our Empire State Development (ESD), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and General Electric (GE’s).  

If GE’s plan for stimulus funding is approved, it would lead to the establishment of a new sodium battery manufacturing facility in the Capital District that would create 350 new jobs in Upstate New York, many in the cutting-edge clean energy sector. These batteries would be used for plug-in hybrid electric cars and medium and heavy-duty transportation applications.

This plan rightly focuses on two principal hallmarks of the Senate Majority: 

- Economic Revitalization

- Job Creation in the Green and Clean-Tech economic sectors

I am proud to support this partnership, and other sound, long-term, added-value investment vehicles that will benefit the people of the State of New York.