Auburn's mayor was to visit Albany today to make sure an alternative energy strategy is part of the new beginnings Gov. Eliot Spitzer spoke of during his inaugural speech Monday.
Today marks another important event during his short career as governor, the 2007 State of the State address.
Mayor Timothy Lattimore was invited to hear the speech at noon and meet with Spitzer later.
Lattimore planned to encourage the governor to make renewable energy a priority in Spitzer's term.
“The cost of energy is 38 percent higher than the states around us,” Lattimore said. “We've almost lost some economic development because of this.”
Lattimore wanted Spitzer to see inexpensive, accessible power, along with the state's access to 95 percent of the fresh water in the country - between the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes water systems - as the keys to industrial growth.
In a press release issued Tuesday, Spitzer's office announced an effort to “spark an economic resurgence in upstate New York,” a region he likened to Appalachia during his campaign. One of these elements included a low-cost power program and projects to generate energy throughout the state. The press release pointed specifically to wind turbines.
“Central New York could be the capital of renewable energy for the world,” Lattimore said.
The mayor sees the energy industry as a way to draw more jobs to the area. The city has lost 40 industries in more than half a century, he added.
“(Spitzer)'s very concerned with upstate and he wants to hear how he can to stimulate growth,” Lattimore said. He added that Lieutenant Gov. David Paterson's campaign platform including adopting an alternative energy statewide strategy.
Lattimore also attended the inauguration Monday in Albany, along with Paterson and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. He and his sister, Cayuga County legislator Michelle Sedor, met Spitzer after he spoke.
“We are making a commitment at the start of the new administration to do something about a long-standing problem that affects millions of new Yorkers,” Gov. Spitzer said in a news release. “The turnaround we seek won't be easy and won't occur immediately, but we will keep at it until the job is done.”
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be contacted at 253-5311, ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
Mayor Timothy Lattimore was invited to hear the speech at noon and meet with Spitzer later.
Lattimore planned to encourage the governor to make renewable energy a priority in Spitzer's term.
“The cost of energy is 38 percent higher than the states around us,” Lattimore said. “We've almost lost some economic development because of this.”
Lattimore wanted Spitzer to see inexpensive, accessible power, along with the state's access to 95 percent of the fresh water in the country - between the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes water systems - as the keys to industrial growth.
In a press release issued Tuesday, Spitzer's office announced an effort to “spark an economic resurgence in upstate New York,” a region he likened to Appalachia during his campaign. One of these elements included a low-cost power program and projects to generate energy throughout the state. The press release pointed specifically to wind turbines.
“Central New York could be the capital of renewable energy for the world,” Lattimore said.
The mayor sees the energy industry as a way to draw more jobs to the area. The city has lost 40 industries in more than half a century, he added.
“(Spitzer)'s very concerned with upstate and he wants to hear how he can to stimulate growth,” Lattimore said. He added that Lieutenant Gov. David Paterson's campaign platform including adopting an alternative energy statewide strategy.
Lattimore also attended the inauguration Monday in Albany, along with Paterson and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. He and his sister, Cayuga County legislator Michelle Sedor, met Spitzer after he spoke.
“We are making a commitment at the start of the new administration to do something about a long-standing problem that affects millions of new Yorkers,” Gov. Spitzer said in a news release. “The turnaround we seek won't be easy and won't occur immediately, but we will keep at it until the job is done.”
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be contacted at 253-5311, ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net