November 17, 2010

New North Country Coordinators to Help Spread Word About Energy Programs from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

WATERTOWN, NY (November 17, 2010) — The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has hired two new educators to spread the word about energy-related programs available to North Country residents.

Richard LeClerc of Alexandria Bay and James Juczak of Adams Center were recently hired to represent NYSERDA's New York Energy $martSM Communities Program, an initiative to help local consumers and business owners learn how NYSERDA programs can save them money and cut their energy costs. They will work out of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County in Watertown, covering 10 counties – an area totaling a quarter of the state.

Both local coordinators have a long history with environmental, technological, management and community initiatives.

Richard LeClerc has an extensive management background. Now retired from a career as an Army civilian employee, he has also worked in a variety of other federal jobs related to natural resources and environmental management. More recently, he has had roles running several community programs in the area.

James Juczak, a former middle- and high-school technology teacher, lives “off the grid” in a round house he built himself which is heated with a 35-ton, hand-built stove made from sand and recycled concrete.

NYSERDA offers a wide variety of programs and funding to help consumers make energy efficient choices through energy efficiency improvements to homes and businesses and incentives for renewable energy technologies. NYSERDA also works to develop job training programs that prepare individuals for work in the clean energy economy.

LeClerc (pronounced “Le-CLAIR”) said there has been a positive response from the public to presentations he’s made about energy programs available through NYSERDA.

“There's tremendous interest,” he said. “That's what makes this so exciting. There are very few times where we go and speak that they’re not enthusiastic.”

NYSERDA works with 24 community coordinators in 10 regions throughout the state.

Contact Jefferson County community coordinators at 315-788-8450. For Richard LeClerc call ext. 320 or email RRL55@cornell.edu; for Jim Juczak call ext. 274 or email JSJ58@cornell.edu.

Contact:

Alan Wechsler
(518) 862-1090, ext. 3561