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On Thursday, April 22, NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., held a Roundtable discussion to inform local small businesses, civic leaders and Chamber of Commerce presidents about vital energy cost-saving strategies they can use to save thousands of dollars a year.
Lillie Manjarrez, Community Relations from National Grid, Anne Krzyzanowshi, Representative from NYS Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan; NYS Assemblyman Mike Miller and NYS Senator Joe Addabbo.
As part of a broader movement to go green this Earth Day, the Senator was joined by NYS Assemblyman Mike Miller, NYC Councilwoman Liz Crowley and representatives from Con Edison and National Grid to discuss what local businesses can do to go green and cut costs.
Today, only a fraction of eligible businesses take advantage of free Con Ed and National Grid energy surveys that can substantially reduce their energy costs, from anywhere between 8 and 40 percent. For example, of Con Ed's 280,000 eligible customers, only 21,000 have requested surveys, less than 8 percent.
Con Ed offers an expansive array of affordable energy-saving options to businesses including a free on-site energy efficiency survey and free energy savings upgrades. Additionally, they cover 70 percent of installation costs for energy-saving upgrades. Similarly, National Grid has several programs to enable businesses to reduce carbon emissions, go green, and cut costs.
Some small businesses have already taken advantage of such savings. A survey conducted by Con Edison of a catering business in Queens showed how they could easily obtain annual cost savings of $12,750 for only a one-time cost of $974.
Lillie Manjarrez, Community Relations from National Grid; Anne Krzyzanowshi, Representative from NYS Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan; NYS Senator Joe Addabbo.
“Small businesses across Queens stand to save thousands of dollars a year through taking advantage of these simple and affordable measures,” said Senator Addabbo. “We need to make an aggressive effort to assist our small businesses in our communities. Also, as we move into the 21st century, we must continue to explore new ways to protect our planet.”
NYS Assemblyman Mike Miller said, “Every little bit helps, whether we are talking about a small business's bottom line or protecting our environment.”
"I commend Senator Addabbo and my colleagues for bringing together this important roundtable in support of our small businesses. Our City’s economic recovery will be driven in large part by our small businesses, making it in our best interest to support them," said NYC Council Member Elizabeth Crowley.
Con Ed Representative Ryan Southard said, “With Con Edison footing upwards of 70% of the tab for energy conservation measures, our Small Business Direct Install Program is a great win for small businesses and for the environment. We’re grateful to Senator Addabbo for convening the roundtable and working diligently with us to promote energy efficiency for small businesses in Queens .”
“National Grid is happy to work with businesses to help them save energy, improve efficiency and reduce the bottom line," said Joe Rende, Vice President of Energy Solutions Delivery at National Grid. "The Roundtable discussions are a great opportunity for us to provide information about energy efficiency programs and other initiatives and learn more about how we can help our customers.”
Pearle Vision's owner, Anthony Presti, expressed delight with his past Con Edison energy survey. "It was seamless, they went in to survey, were out fast and it was simple. I heard about it from a nearby business owner who had big savings. Con Edison changed my light bulbs--I saved 40% or better. I saved $20,000 in 4 years. My other store in Jackson Heights is five times larger than my Ozone Park location, but now I only have a $1,100 monthly bill. I'll put my kids through college with $20K saved here and there."
Addabbo concluded, "These programs have been underutilized and we need to continue to encourage small business owners to take advantage of these free services provided by Con Ed and National Grid. There is no central place for business owners to go to research energy efficient savings measures, which is why I am hosting two informational sessions later this month.”
The Senator's two informational sessions for small businesses, where they can sign up for a free energy survey with Con Edison and National Grid, will be held on May 6 at St. Mary Gate of Heaven School Auditorium, 104-06 101 Avenue, Ozone Park, from 7-9 PM. The other will be on May 13 at Glendale Memorial Building, 72-02 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, from 7-9 PM.
ROCKAWAY RESIDENTS are criticizing National Grid for being unresponsive to community concerns as the utility giant prepares to clean up the site of a former gas plant.
The company will begin remediating the site along Beach Channel Drive next month and is expected to excavate more than 130,000 tons of toxin-laden soil from the 9-acre property.
Neighbors believe that excavating the soil, instead of using new remediation technology, is putting the community at risk.
"When toxins become unearthed, they become volatile," said Ronald Joseph, 46, a Verizon worker and homeowner who lives less than 100 yards from the site. "If the remediation is done incorrectly, then we'll be the ones paying for it."
A state Department of Environmental Conservation report in 2004 identified seven probable human carcinogens at the site, which operated as a gas plant from the 1870s until 1958.
"There's a limited amount of monitoring devices near where people live," said Noreen Ellis, a member of the Rockaway Park Homeowners and Residents Association. "Let's test and find out what's in the ground and where it has moved."
National Grid, which inherited the largely barren site from its corporate predecessor KeySpan, said the company "protects the public and on-site workers."
It also has started a Web site and sends updates to more than 9,000 addresses, said company spokeswoman Karen Young.
"National Grid maintains a Web site with a weekly update of activities on the site, particularly those that may have a community impact," said Young. "The weekly update also includes the results and an analysis of the 24-hour-a-day air monitoring done at the site perimeter."
Ellis, however, disputes the company's numbers.
"Since the first meeting, we've asked for more communications about the meetings," she said. "Why don't they send notices with our bills?"
"We've made numerous requests for more up-to-date testing and it's gone unanswered," she added.
Joseph said he had a problem getting a response to a letter he sent the DEC in November.
"Their response didn't answer any of my eight particular questions," said Joseph, who resubmitted the questions a second time through Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer's office in January.
Some community members are concerned that the contaminants have migrated underground to neighboring properties and into Jamaica Bay. Those toxins have been detected in a marsh nearly a mile from the site, said Dan Mundy Sr., head of the Jamaica Bay Eco Watchers.
"It seems like [National Grid] didn't want to explore alternatives or listen to any community input," he said.
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