According to the Times Union, Assembly Energy Committee chairman Kevin Cahill hopes to expand and lend permanence to Gov David Paterson's Energy Planning Board through new legislation. Cahill said his proposal wouldn't scrap work done by the current board but that the membership would expand, with appointments by the Assembly speaker and Senate majority leader. The governor would be allowed to appoint a chairman of the board, a position currently held Paul DeCotis, who is Paterson's deputy secretary for energy."I think we have to strengthen the board," Cahill said. "I think we have to give them statutory authority."

Cahill announced the proposal yesterday at a conference hosted by Independent Power Producers of NY (IPPNY ). "The current board includes the heads of many state agencies and members of the governor's inner circle. We believe they should have more stakeholders at the table," Cahill said. Gov Paterson created the 13-member body through an executive order last month and the group is expected to create a wide-ranging state energy plan by June 30, 2009.