BC Legislature Holds Over Vote Preston's Office of Energy

1/18/2013 (Updated 9:52:19 PM)

BROOME COUNTY -- As anti-fracking activists question it's real purpose, what's next for Broome County's proposed Office of Energy Development?
 
The Broome County Legislature held over a vote Thursday night that would have created the office, amid criticism that County Executive Debbie Preston is creating the office to cater to the fracking industry.

Both Preston and the legislator who held over the vote, 9th District Majority Leader Republican Ron Keibel, said the office will encompass all forms of energy to spurn economic development.

"If we can prove that businesses can come here and the energy efficiency we can offer them and the different types of energy efficiency we can offer them (is real) - that will help," said Preston.

"We're afraid that the information that was out there wasn't accurate and that people still had questions. We're trying to develop a comprehensive office that looks at all aspects of energy," said Keibel.

Democratic Minority Leader Dan D. Reynolds said he doesn't feel it's appropriate to spend taxpayer money to fund new offices after a tough budget process.

The energy office would cost $200,000, with half the funds coming from the county's hotel/motel tax reserve and the other half from the industrial development agency.