Assemblyman Hevesi got an early start to the legislative session by introducing eleven pieces of legislation during the pre-filing, or pre session, filing period. One of these bills, A.261, is slated to move through the Assembly Energy Committee during their first meeting of the year on Tuesday, January 11, 2011.

Assembly bill A.261 requires the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to report on data collected on the effectiveness of energy efficiency grants awarded through their organization. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority appropriates grant funding to recipients in New York State to achieve energy efficiency savings through capital improvements or other energy saving measures. In our current climate of economic uncertainty, New York State cannot afford to spend money on projects that fail to meet their objectives; in this case, reduction in energy consumption. The report delivered through this legislation will allow policy makers to evaluate the effectiveness of these grants, and if necessary, to make adjustments to the process of awarding these funds.

“New York State faces a tremendous budget deficit this year, close to 10 billion dollars,” Hevesi said. “Too often, grants are awarded for projects that are not completed, do not fulfill their stated purpose, or for projects that fail altogether. The data collected and reported on in this legislation will allow lawmakers to review the effectiveness of taxpayer dollars that are spent on these programs, and make necessary adjustments or cancellations to grants awarded. We need the transparency and fiscal accountability that this bill will help to achieve.”