Matthew Cordaro Reappointed To LIPA Board

Matthew Cordaro

Matthew Cordaro has been reappointed to the board by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), Silver's office confirmed Monday. Cordaro, a board member since February, has questioned whether a LIPA downsized by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo can handle its responsibilities.

Silver used his other pick for the nine-member board to select former Long Island Assemblyman Marc Alessi, who represented parts of Suffolk County from 2005 to 2010. Silver's selections complete the newly fashioned governing board for the utility.

The Cuomo administration earlier named five new appointees: Thomas McAtee Jr., Mark Fischl, Sheldon Cohen, Elkan Abramowitz and outgoing Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi.

Last week, Senate co-leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) said he will reappoint Jeffrey H. Greenfield (first appointed in 2012) and Suzette Smookler (board member since 2006) as his representatives.

Under a reorganization plan advocated by the governor last year, Cuomo has five board selections, Silver two and Skelos two.

The old 15-member board will be abolished as of Wednesday.

Under the plan that takes effect Wednesday, PSEG, a New Jersey-based utility company, will take over not only the day-to-day operations but also management duties including budgeting and power-plant planning. LIPA is being scaled back to essentially a financial holding company while maintaining ownership of the transmission and distribution system.  (Long Island Newsday, 12/30/2013)

LNG Stations Proposed for New York

If you want to add your thoughts to New York's proposal to add liquefied natural gas stations throughout the state, you have until 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 4.

The state's Department of Environmental Conservation is in the midst of establishing rules for the fueling stations, which could serve large haulers bringing goods into and across New York.

Proponents of liquefied natural gas say the natural gas engines burn cleaner than diesel ones. New York is the only state that bans new construction of these fueling stations.
Critics say the entire process of producing the super-cooled gas is as problematic as using other fossil fuels. And critics worry the state's interest in building liquefied natural gas stations could be a sign toward allowing hydrofracking into the state.

To comment on the proposed rules, email here or write to:

Russ Brauksieck
NYSDEC
Division of Environmental Remediation
625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-7020

(Syracuse Post Standard, 12/2/2013)