Senator Joseph Griffo Appointed As Senate Energy Committee Chairman

Senator Joseph Griffo is New York State's new Energy Committee Chairman.

Griffo was appointed to the position on Thursday and will oversee Energy law and legislation that covers energy, nuclear power, water companies and communications.

“Energy policy is a widely discussed and debated topic in my district,” said Griffo. “My district includes the Robert Moses Power Dam and the St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project in Massena, which includes 16 turbine/generator units that can yield up to 912 megawatts. For as long as I’ve been alive, state and local leaders have worked together to ensure a portion of that power stays in the north country and benefits our residents and businesses. I look forward to maintaining – and possibly strengthening – that relationship in my new role as chairman.”

 

“In addition, I hope to continue past Chairman Maziarz’s progress with regards to maintaining a diverse energy portfolio, keeping electricity rates low, trading low-cost power for new jobs and addressing the system failures exposed during recent hurricanes and other weather events, just to name a few,” added Griffo. “I also expect our committee to continue to weigh the benefits and challenges of our net metering initiatives and consider which ways we can spur development of fuel cells in the Empire State. I also expect my new position will include working closely with the Public Service Commission to find common ground between their energy vision and ours.”

As Energy Committee Chairman, Griffo will get a $12,500 stipend on top of his $79,500 base salary.

Griffo will also step down from his position as Chair of the Senate Banks Committee, but he was also named the chairman of the State-Native American Relations Select Committee and remains a member of the Science, Technology, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Select Committee.