Senator Sean Ryan Announces Passage Of Bill That Expands ‘Recharge NY’ Program To Benefit More Small Businesses

SENATOR SEAN RYAN ANNOUNCES PASSAGE OF BILL THAT EXPANDS ‘RECHARGE NY’ PROGRAM TO BENEFIT MORE SMALL BUSINESSES

Legislation Allocates An Extra 50 Megawatts To New York Power Authority Program To Help More Small Businesses And Not-For-Profit Organizations In New York

ALBANY – Today, July 2, 2021, New York State Senator Sean Ryan announced the Governor has signed into law Senator Ryan’s legislation (S.5992), which increases the amount of low-cost power available to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations through the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) ReCharge NY program. Effective immediately, the amount of power available through the program has risen from 100 megawatts to 150 megawatts.

NYPA had previously allocated the entirety of the 100 megawatts available to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations. The higher statutory cap enacted by Senator Ryan’s legislation will allow more businesses throughout New York to take advantage of the low-cost power provided by the program.

The Recharge NY program, launched in 2011, boosts the state's economy by retaining and creating jobs, and sparking capital investment statewide. The program lowers energy expenses for eligible organizations by providing them with low-cost NYPA power set aside by the state government for economic support. Lowering these organization’s energy expenses creates an economic development benefit that currently supports 680 businesses and non-for-profit organizations throughout New York, including 84 that operate in Western New York.

To participate in the ReCharge NY program, companies must make commitments such as remaining in the state, growing employment, expanding operations, or making significant local investments in their businesses.

Senator Sean Ryan said, “Organizations supported by the ReCharge NY program are responsible for more than 23,000 jobs in Western New York. The program is especially helpful to small businesses and nonprofits, who operate on the tightest margins and therefore reap the greatest benefits. Allocating more low-cost power to the program will allow us to assist more local companies and keep more jobs in New York.”

Tara A. Ellis, President and CEO of FeedMore WNY said, “FeedMore WNY supports Senator Ryan’s efforts to expand the amount of low-cost power available to non-profits and small businesses through the ReCharge NY program. FeedMore WNY has been fortunate to participate in ReCharge NY for the past seven years. In 2020 alone, we were able to save $1,792 on power through the program. The ReCharge NY program makes a huge impact on our organization; every dollar saved allows us to provide more nutritious food, friendship and skills training to our Western New York neighbors in need.”   

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