Governor George E. Pataki has announced New York State is leading the nation in an effort to create an Energy Technology Park in Malta, adjacent to the site of the former Malta Test Station. The tech park, entitled the Saratoga Technology & Energy Park, or STEP, is a joint effort of The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the University at Albany, and the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).
"Through creative and innovative partnerships, New York State is setting a national example encouraging economic development and job growth while continuing to preserve our environment," Governor Pataki said. "NYSERDA, University at Albany, and the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation have combined resources to provide new businesses with the full Spectrum of financial, technological, and business resources they need to develop the kinds of new, cleaner energy technologies that will power our future economy while protecting our environment for future generations."
The Saratoga Technology & Energy Park will provide companies with technology development and prototyping support through University at Albany, funding opportunities to support technology development and commercialization through NYSERDA, and expanded economic opportunities through SEDC. The Tech Park is being created in response to a growing interest and need for cleaner energy technologies that can address concerns over energy supply and reliability issues as well as environmental impact concerns with energy production and consumption.
Congressman John Sweeney said, "In more ways than one, this initiative represents New York's entrepreneurial approach to attracting businesses to the region. By focusing on the emerging business sectors of high technology and energy, the Capital Region is now primed to lead the way as a hub of job-growth and innovative businesses working to generate solutions that will protect our environment and conserve energy."
Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said, "The Saratoga Technology Energy Park will further strengthen the local economy and give the Capital Region another foothold in the development of groundbreaking, high-technology businesses. In addition to creating new jobs, these businesses will also develop new, clean, efficient and reliable sources of energy that will benefit the entire nation."
Assemblyman Bob Prentiss said, "I applaud the partnership efforts of the Governor, NYSERDA, UAlbany and SEDC to develop the Saratoga Technology & Energy Park. This innovative high-tech park will not only encourage economic growth and create well-paying jobs in the Capital Region, but also help foster the development of new, clean energy technologies. As the nation struggles with the increasing demand for energy, it is vitally important to support entrepreneurial companies that are developing energy technologies aimed at protecting our environment and natural resources."
National statistics indicate that the energy technology sector grew by 134% in 2000 and the market for clean energy technologies is projected to grow from $7 billion per year to about $82 billion per year by 2010. The Capital Region, already home to more than 20 leading energy technology companies, is well suited to take advantage of this rapid growth.
Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chair Anita Daly said, "In some ways, this is just one more example of the successes that Saratoga County and our Economic Development Corporation have enjoyed by creating partnerships with Governor Pataki. Our constituents demand that we stay on the cutting edge of technology, and the development of this high tech park may well lead to the creation of thousands of high paying, technical jobs for all of the residents of the Capital District."
Malta Town Supervisor Dave Meager said, "The Town of Malta is pleased that the NYSERDA site will be used as a research and development tech park. This plan will bring the property back onto the tax rolls and provide high-paying employment for our county and community. This exciting project conforms to the Town Master Plan, and will be a positive enhancement to our town.
NYSERDA President William M. Flynn said, "The Saratoga Technology & Energy Park is a perfect example of how the State can use its resources to partner with local communities and create opportunities for new jobs and new businesses. Working with the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation and University at Albany, we can attract new businesses and jobs to the Capital Region that can address the growing need and demand for clean-energy and energy-efficient technologies. This is a partnership that benefits the State, benefits entrepreneurs and small businesses, benefits the local community, and ultimately benefits the environment."
NYSERDA has invested more than $60 million over the past three years to help businesses develop and commercialize new energy technologies that are more efficient or take advantage of renewable resources. Funding opportunities would be available to businesses moving into the Tech Park to reduce the risks associated with developing these new technologies and create additional partnerships that will better enable these small businesses to accomplish their objectives.
University at Albany President Karen R. Hitchcock said, "We are delighted with the Governor's announcement of the Saratoga Energy &Technology Park as one of the first of its kind in the nation to focus on energy technologies. This partnership between NYSERDA, the SEDC., and UAlbany builds on UAlbany's recent federal designation as clean energy incubator to provide cutting edge infrastructure to support energy industry-driven technology development and deployment, as well as company spin-off, attraction, and retention. We are extremely grateful to Governor Pataki, Majority Leader Bruno, and Congressman Sweeney for their proactive leadership and key investments in support of research universities and high-technology industry in New York." University at Albany, which was recently designated by the U.S. Department of Energy as a member of the national Clean Energy Incubator Program, has extensive technology development and prototyping capabilities for small businesses and start-ups. University at Albany's Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics and its Energy and Environmental Technologies Applications Center will play large roles in helping businesses in the new park develop the new technologies.
The Saratoga Economic Development Corporation was instrumental in garnering local support and interest in the new Tech Park and will continue to market the park to help lure new businesses to the area.
President of SEDC Kenneth A. Green said, "The companies that will locate in the Saratoga Technology & Energy Park will provide thousands of high-paying jobs for the people of Upstate New York. It is appropriate that the Malta site be the home to what is expected to become the nation's premier energy park because of the long history of scientific research conducted at this location. Saratoga County is located at the 'Technology Crossroads of Northeast North America.' We stand ready to serve the world.
"I want to thank Governor Pataki, Senator Bruno, University President Hitchcock, NYSERDA President Flynn, Saratoga County Chair Anita Daley and Malta Town Supervisor Dave Meager for providing the vision for creation of the Tech Park"
"The Capital Region is already home to a number of leading companies in the rapidly emerging energy technology area, including Plug Power, General Electric, Intermagnetics General, Silicon Power, X-Ray Optical Systems, and Starfire," the Governor said. "The Saratoga Technology & Energy Park offers the potential to attract many more companies to the region that will support the kinds of well paying, high-tech jobs required in the new economy."
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