Governor George Pataki has proposed legislation that would allocate 183 megawatts of power to extend the successful Power for Jobs program, which provides reduced-rate power to employers that promise to create or retain jobs.
The Governor said the program has helped create or retain some 300,000 jobs statewide since 1997.
The proposed extension of the program would enable employers with expiring Power for Jobs contracts to apply for new allocations. Similar legislation extending the program passed in 2000.
Power for Jobs offers 10 to 25 percent savings on electricity bills, the Governor said in a release. To get this power, employers must pledge to meet specific job-creation or job-retention levels. Employers must also submit employment data annually to ensure that they are meeting those commitments.
Overall, Power for Jobs customers have achieved an average of about 105 percent of their total job commitments, the Governor's release said.