Sen. George Maziarz has been named the new chair of the State Senate's Energy Committee, affirming a promise that Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson made to appoint some Republicans to leadership positions in the Senate.

Sen. George Maziarz is one of two Republicans named to chair Senate committees.Maziarz, who represents Niagara, Orleans and Monroe County in northwestern New York, replaces Democratic Sen. Darrel Aubertine, who will continue as chair of the Agriculture Committee. 

"Considering my district is home to the Niagara Power Project, energy issues are of the utmost importance to my constituents," Maziarz said in a statement announcing the appointment. "There is a time for politics and there is a time for government. In the chambers of the Senate, I have always welcomed the opportunity to work across the aisle with my colleagues whenever possible if it benefited the people of Western New York. I will continue that philosophy as Chairman of the Energy Committee.”

NYLCV expects 2010 to be a very busy year for energy policy in New York and for the Legislature's Energy Committees. Last month, Gov. David Paterson accepted the State Energy Planning Board's 2009 energy plan. The NYLCV Education Fund has also published a report detailing many ways in which the state can reform its energy policies.