PES and Con Edison are urging New Yorkers in selected zip codes and targeted load areas who are using 25 or more incandescent light bulbs in their buildings to sign up for free Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) through Operation Kill-A-Watt (table lamps are excluded). CFLs reduce energy costs by consuming 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer. Operation Kill-A-Watt will pay eligible customers for each replaced incandescent bulb by its wattage. "Operation Kill-A-Watt provides New Yorkers with a perfect opportunity to upgrade their lighting systems," says Keith Hartman, president of PES. "Free bulbs and free money -- it's a no-brainer."

Energy Commission Awards $3 Million to UC Davis for PHEV Research Center The California Energy Commission recently approved $3 million to University of California, Davis, for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) research center. The goals of the center are to enhance the commercial viability of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; identify strategies to accelerate an effective adoption of PHEVs; support demonstration and related activities; and provide information on decision-making and alternative vehicle transportation technologies. These goals will be achieved by creating a plan that will identify, conduct, and contract the necessary R&D; developing an advisory council to provide strategic direction; establishing partnerships with other institutions; and fostering connections with stakeholders. This funding comes from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. The PIER program, the largest in the nation, awards up to $84 million to conduct energy research annually. The program supports energy research, development, and demonstration projects that improve the quality of life in California.

New York Town May Require Apprentice Training Program for Electrical Contractor Firms
The Hyde Park, N.Y., town board has recently come out in support of passing a law that requires any electrical contractor hired by the town to have an apprentice training program. The reasoning behind the law is so the town can pay less in labor costs and promote the training of qualified electricians. While only 15 of 100 apprentice programs in the state are union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is in favor of the proposed law. "We're saying 'Do the right thing,'" says James Jay Bodrato, IBEW's local business representative. "Put the money into the training so that the men and women learn the right way."

Current state law requires the town to pay the prevailing hourly wage of $58.10 for any electrician it hires. Under the proposed law, the town would be able to pay less to the apprentices on the job. Based on what year of the program they are in, apprentices would be paid from $11 to $31.45 an hour. Typically, contractors with programs have one apprentice on a job for every three journeymen or skilled electricians. Town board members are concerned about depriving contractors without apprentice programs of town-sponsored projects. The members agree that if they pass the law, local contractors must be given sufficient time to adopt an apprentice program. The town will hold a public hearing on the proposed requirement in January and vote to adopt it in February.

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