Executive Speeches

Remarks of Joseph J. Seymour, chairman and chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority, at the launch of the NYPA/TH!NK Clean Commute Program, Grand Central Terminal, New York, New York.

October 17, 2001

Thank you, Peter, for that warm introduction. I can personally attest to the efficiency of the MTA’s rail service. I use it frequently and, in fact, rode the commuter rails to join you today… here in historic Grand Central Terminal… the most famous railroad destination in America.

As we unveil this program today, we do so with a strong and serious commitment to demonstrate that—in the wake of the events of September 11, 2001—New York is moving forward. We are open for business and ready to work.

In this particular instance, we are moving ahead with an innovative way to help New Yorkers get to work.

As New York and the nation strive to address the many issues involved with terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, energy policy has gained a new focus. The need to enhance our nation’s energy independence and security has attained renewed urgency.

Any energy policy must address the transportation sector, which accounts for the bulk of our nation’s energy consumption. By using fuels other than imported oil for transportation, we take important steps toward energy security.

Under Governor Pataki’s direction, the New York Power Authority has actively promoted the use of electricity as a clean, alternative transportation fuel. We have helped to deploy a range of electric vehicles, including hybrid-electric transit buses operated by the M. T. A., electric postal delivery vehicles, electric school buses and various other vehicles. The more than 200 electric vehicles the Power Authority has helped place in service have accumulated more than 1.6 million miles.

To this comprehensive assortment of electric vehicle success, we are proud to add Ford Motor Company’s TH!NK Mobility group and the TH!NK city EV.

The NYPA/TH!NK Clean Commute Program is an electric station car program featuring 100 TH!NK city vehicles. These vehicles will enable commuters from Little Neck and Kew Gardens in Queens, to Huntington and Hicksville on Long Island, to experience a reliable, non-polluting, all-electric commute from their homes to the office… and back again. Other station locations include Brewster North in Putnam County, Chappaqua and White Plains in Westchester, and Nanuet in Rockland County.

Participants will be able to "re-fuel" their vehicles for free at charging units NYPA will place at the railroad stations. The local governments that own and operate the parking facilities adjacent to the transportation hubs will provide prime parking slots for the Clean Commute participants.

This initiative is a direct result of Governor Pataki’s environmental leadership. His commitment to clean air has led to state tax credits and bond act financing for clean fuel vehicles. The Governor also issued an Executive Order requiring the state fleet to consist entirely of clean vehicles by the end of the decade. These measures have combined to present an unsurpassed array of incentives for environmentally sound transportation options in New York State.

Now, the Empire State will host the largest electric vehicle station car demonstration in the nation.

Each of you here today played an important role in this project. As I scan the faces in this crowd, I see several other members of the Governor’s Administration who have been active, enthusiastic partners in this endeavor. Leaders such as NYSERDA Chairman Vincent DeIorio and representatives from the our sister agency the Long Island Power Authority, as well as members of New York City’s delegation of state legislators. I want to thank you all for being part of this impressive team effort.

I’d like to ask Chairman Kalikow and TH!NK Mobility President Rob Stevens to join me at this time. Please accept this replica of our Clean Commute billboard as a token of the Power Authority’s appreciation for what each of you is doing to sustain and create clean, new transportation options for New York.

Thank you.

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