The Legislature's Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality Committee received a briefing on the Draft Report of the Tompkins County Energy and Economic Development Task Force, from Task Force chair Charlie Trautmann and Martha Armstrong, Vice President of Tompkins County Area Development (TCAD).  The briefing came shortly before a public input session on the report. The Task Force is inviting public input on the draft, with comments due by May 27.

The Energy and Economic Development Task Force is comprised of local business leaders, government officials, and environmental advocates brought together by Tompkins County Area Development (TCAD) at the request of County Legislature Chair Mike Lane.  The group has studied ways to advance the County's greenhouse gas emission goals over the next five years while supporting the growth of jobs and the economy.  Having met 16 times since June of last year, Mr. Trautmann told the committee the group has "worked very, very hard" in what has been "a very grassroots community-based effort."

That work led to six high-level strategy actions recommended in the Draft Report:

• Reduce dependence on natural gas;
• Provide reliable energy to local industry;
• Reduce fossil fuel use in commercial buildings;
• Develop infrastructure to support renewable energy;
• Reduce fossil fuel use in transportation; and
• Reduce energy use in housing.

As part of reducing dependence on natural gas, the Task Force recommends requesting that the State Public Service Commission, in cooperation with NYSEG, establish a model process in Tompkins County to reduce peak and sustained gas usage through a coordinated weatherization, industrial process design, conservation, and conversion program—similar to the State's Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) program, focused on electricity.

Lansing Legislator Mike Sigler said the Task Force recommendations are fine, but are several years in the future.  He questioned what will be done in the interim, when communities such as his are out of natural gas.  Committee Chair Martha Robertson said there is "a special urgency" in reaching out to the PSC.

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