CENTRAL NY BUSINESS NEWS

International and Local Business News, Economics & Finance

National Grid has proposed spending $85 million over the coming three years on energy-efficiency programs to be paid for by its electric and gas customers. If approved by regulators, the new programs would start as early as Oct. 1 and would provide incentives for homeowners and small businesses to add energy-efficient equipment.

Two staff members coordinating the state comptroller's $500 million Green Strategic Investment Program will join other experts on green investing at a Sept. 9 forum in Syracuse on "Emerging Investment Opportunities in Green & Renewable Technologies."

John Stouffer, who leads the state fund, and Brad Woolworth, senior investment officer, will lead a panel discussion on what makes for viable, investment-grade green business opportunities. Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli created the fund in April to enhance the state pension system's investments in green technology.

The Syracuse forum, coordinated by the Upstate Venture Association of New York, will be held 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Syracuse Technology Garden, 235 Harrison St. The event is open to the public at a cost of $50 in advance or $65 at the door. To register, go to www.uvany.com.

Other speakers will include three entrepreneurs, Rob Simpson of the Metropolitan Development Association, and a member of the Central New York "green team" of economic developers.

Dick Blume / The Post-StandardMatt Sears, of Cortland, gets a spring yearling named Maddie ready for competition at the New York State Fair.

A group of entrepreneurial volunteers in Fabius is working on a municipal renewable energy project to benefit residents, farmers and the environment by creating methane gas from the manure from the cows on nearby farms.

For more stories about environmentally-friendly projects in Central New York, check out the Green Finder Blog

New York state Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith says an investigation has found more than 1,200 backstretch workers at Saratoga Race course have been underpaid, overworked and required to live in unfit conditions.

The investigation finds the low-wage workers, including horse walkers, grooms and watchmen, were underpaid about $7,000 a week at the track that every summer attracts the rich and famous.

The track is operated under a lucrative state franchise by the New York Racing Association, which also runs Belmont and Aqueduct. NYRA President Charles Hayward says the private enterprise shares the concern for the workers and is cooperating with the state.

NYRA expects to emerge from bankruptcy protection with the help of a multimillion dollar state bailout.

Gloria Wright / The Post-StandardJoe Rahn, president of Lakeland Boatworks, has purchased a vacant building at 499 S. Warren St. and plans to open a showroom there for high-end wooden boats.

A Michigan boat manufacturer has signed a 13-year lease to rent the ground floor of 499 S. Warren St. and plans to renovate the former bank lobby into a 4,000-square-foot showroom featuring four boats and an assortment of nautical merchandise.

Talk about this story and other downtown revitalization news in the economic development forum.

More CNY business:

» Store Front: Web retailer refuses to collect NY taxes
» Fabius project mulls cow power
» Public urged to avoid wildlife contact

AP File Photo An American flag waves in the breeze above the Entergy logo in New Orleans. Entergy has 12 nuclear units across the country, including the James A. FitzPatrick plant in Oswego.

New York State will receive up $432 million under revenue-sharing agreements with Entergy from the company's FitzPatrick and Indian Point nuclear plants. The company had been trying to extricate itself from the agreement.

State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo drew attention to the potential loss of NYPA's revenue payments in a brief he filed at the PSC opposing Entergy's spin-off.

» Learn more about Entergy Nuclear
» Talk about this story in the business forum

Paul Sakuma / APA box of Tide detergent is shown on top of a washing machine. Procter & Gamble Co., the maker of Tide detergent, Pampers diapers and Crest toothpaste, is getting into the retail dry cleaning business.

Syracuse, NY -- This was a new one on me -- household products supplier P&G getting into the retail business directly. In two different arenas. Here:

From The Associated Press:

P&G to try Tide dry cleaning stores

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Procter & Gamble Co. plans to try its hand at the dry cleaning business under the Tide detergent brand.

Gary Coombe, vice president for new business development, said in an interview Monday that three Kansas City-area Tide Dry Cleaners are set to open in September.

He said: "This is very much a test." But he said P&G sees opportunities in the dry cleaning business because of its laundry and fabric care experience after more than six decades of Tide, and after extensive research into consumers' feelings about dry cleaning.

P&G is building a new Tide store and will operate two other dry cleaning facilities that were already open in partnerships.

The Cincinnati-based consumer products maker has also been trying out Mr. Clean-branded car washes, with three businesses operating in its home area.