NYSAC to Host Municipal Energy Coalition's Bid Opening for Renewable Energy Credits

May 31st, 2007

On Tuesday June 26, 2007 at 2 p.m., a 13 county municipal energy purchasing consortium will open bids for renewable energy credits in Albany at the offices of the New York State Association of Counties (111 Pine Street). The Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance (MEGA), a municipal coalition formed to cooperatively buy low cost power in Upstate communities, issued a request for bids on June 5th.

"Getting the best price on renewable energy credits (RECs) through our open, competitive bidding process will allow our local government participants to support domestic green power options, and all they mean for the environment and energy independence, at the lowest cost to the taxpayer," said Barbara Blanchard, executive director. This will be MEGA's second procurement for renewable energy, Blanchard added. 

"We are pleased to host our innovative partners from MEGA, as they work to provide lower cost power to the residents of several of our member counties," said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. "Increasing energy costs have a direct impact our county governments and local taxpayers, and innovative programs like MEGA provide an avenue to reduce costs through cooperative buying."

MEGA's bid opening is being held at NYSAC's offices to highlight the role of competitive energy markets in offering choices to municipal energy consumers throughout the state. Most recently, through its competitive bidding for electricity and natural gas, the consortium saved its participants more than $3.3 million in the two years through April 2007. 

"With MEGA's help, some of our members have already committed to using a portion of their savings to buy wind power or other renewables," said Blanchard. Renewable energy credits represent a financial commitment by energy consumers to purchase all or a portion of their requirements from wind, solar, biomass, hydropower or other environmentally sound, renewable sources. Such purchases help encourage investment in more renewable generation, and bring down the cost of such power as more facilities are built and technology improves.

MEGA was established by Tompkins and Tioga Counties in 1997 to cooperatively purchase energy supplies and services for municipalities, businesses and residential customers. It has grown to include 13 counties, more than 100 municipalities, and several hundred non-governmental customers. Blanchard said new participants are able to join MEGA at any time. MEGA is headquartered in Ithaca.

The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving all 62 counties of New York State including the City of New York. Organized in 1925, NYSAC's mission is to represent, educate and advocate for member counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public.