January 11, 2012—New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has put promoting energy efficiency within state facilities and rebuilding infrastructure as key steps in his economic blueprint for the state, and outlined his goals during his recent 2012 State of the State Address.
During the address, Governor Cuomo said, “Our challenge for 2012 is this: How does government spur job creation in a down economy while limiting spending and maintaining fiscal discipline? The answer is forging public-private partnerships that leverage state resources to generate billions of dollars in economic growth and create thousands of jobs.”
As part of the economic blueprint, Governor Cuomo made many proposals, including:
- New York Will Build the Largest Convention Center in the Nation: To build on New York’s strength as an international tourist destination, Governor Cuomo proposed a project to build the largest convention center in the country at the Aqueduct Race Track venue in New York City. The 3.8 million-square-foot convention center would accommodate the nation’s largest events, drive demand for hotel rooms and restaurant meals, and create new tourism revenues. The project would be a $4 billion private investment that is estimated to generate tens of thousands of jobs and create new economic activity throughout the state.
- Master Plan for the Jacob Javits Site: With plans for a new convention center in New York City, the Governor called for a master plan for the Jacob Javits site to create a mixed-use facility and revitalize New York City’s West Side with 18 acres of planned development. The plan would follow the successful Battery Park City model and involve more than $2 billion in estimated private sector development funds to create a new 21st century neighborhood on the West Side.
- Master Plan for Energy Efficiency in State Facilities: To promote energy efficiency, save taxpayer money, create jobs, and reduce pollution, Governor Cuomo announced that the state has developed a master plan for accelerating energy-saving improvements in state facilities. The plan is designed to save millions of dollars through new economical energy efficiency measures and would come at no cost to the state, as the upfront investment would be repaid from the energy savings. The program will create thousands of highly skilled jobs and reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 8.1 million metric tons.
- Master Plan for the Jacob Javits Site: With plans for a new convention center in New York City, the Governor called for a master plan for the Jacob Javits site to create a mixed-use facility and revitalize New York City’s West Side with 18 acres of planned development. The plan would follow the successful Battery Park City model and involve more than $2 billion in estimated private sector development funds to create a new 21st century neighborhood on the West Side.
