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| NEWS |
| 18-01-2006 |
ALL NEWS |
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Albany: Pataki energy incentives a boon |
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Governor's budget would promote high-tech projects and consumer tax breaks for saving on gas, power |
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Tens of millions of dollars in new research funding, tax credits and other incentives could flow into Capital Region businesses under the proposed budget Gov. George Pataki unveiled Tuesday.
Up to $50 million over five years for advanced "clean coal" power plants could boost research in technology being conducted at General Electric's Global Research Center in Niskayuna.
"There's a lot to like regarding clean energy," said research center spokesman Todd Alhart. "It's very encouraging."
Another $24 million to develop a state-of-the-art alternative-fuel vehicle research laboratory at the Saratoga Technology & Energy Park in Malta could attract major vehicle manufacturers, said Ken Green, president of the Saratoga Economic Development Corp.
"I'm sure what we'll see is joint venture R&D," he said. "It wouldn't be out of the question to hear the next announcements come from Detroit and other companies like Hyundai."
Pradeep Haldar, director of the Energy and Environmental Technology Applications Center at the University at Albany, which finds ways to use nanotechnology in the energy industry, agreed.
"We look at that as serving as a magnet not only to attract researchers but companies," he said.
Meanwhile, developers of biofuels plants could get up to $1 million annually per facility in tax credits for producing renewable fuels. Two biodiesel plants are proposed at the Port of Albany.
And while crops such as corn are often used in the production of ethanol, a $20 million program to develop cellulosic ethanol would see the development of a pilot plant to make the fuel using materials ranging from willow trees and agricultural detritus to paper pulp and waste.
"These proposals are ones we've championed with Gov. Pataki for a couple of years now," said Jeff Williams, legislative director for the New York Farm Bureau. "We are very supportive of the plant production (credit) and the cellulosic fuels incentive."
But the governor's plan also offers something for consumers.
Owners of vehicles that can use such renewable fuels as E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline) or B20 (20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent petroleum), could see all state taxes on those fuels waived. That's a saving of about 40 cents a gallon.
Operators of so-called flex-fuel vehicles, and those who drive hybrid vehicles, could receive a $2,000 personal income tax credit. And the drivers of hybrid vehicles getting at least 45 mpg and meeting certain emissions standards would also get a 10 percent discount through a new "green" E-Z Pass program from the state Thruway Authority.
One more perk: Lanes for high-occupancy vehicles, known as HOVs, would be open to the alternative-fuel vehicles and those meeting the 45 mpg threshold, primarily on downstate expressways.
"The era of cheap oil is over," said John Corlett, director of government affairs for AAA New York State. But he worried about the impact on the dedicated highway trust fund that the fuel tax breaks might have.
Consumers also could get a tax break on their appliances and other energy-using products. Pataki is proposing two sales tax-free weeks for Energy Star products, including light bulbs, air conditioners, and other appliances. Other tax breaks would go to homeowners buying high-efficiency heating equipment, to a maximum of $500. (Eric Anderson ----- can be reached at 454-5323 or by e-mail at eanderson@timesunion.com.)
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