POUGHKEEPSIE - Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus said today he will continue to press the Democrat majority in the County Legislature to approve his latest proposal for alternate energy that the Democrats to date have stonewalled.

 “Four months ago, I sent the Legislature a proposal to build a geothermal alternate energy system and instead of getting Democrats’ prompt attention and support, it has been buried by Legislative Democrats with no commitment they have any intention of adopting the funds for its construction”, Steinhaus claimed, in a release issued Thursday.

The geothermal system would provide heating and cooling from the ground to serve the county government’s Highway Operations and Engineering Headquarters located on RT. 44 in the Town of Poughkeepsie. It would save taxpayers a projected $33,000 in fuel costs annually and this savings is only anticipated to grow as energy costs continue to rise.  

“When I sent this proposal to the Legislature back in March, crude oil was $110 a barrel and today its $143 per barrel”, Steinhaus noted.   “Overall energy costs have risen 25 to 30%.   With the cost of energy hitting historic highs almost daily, the taxpayers should be able to count on the Democrat leadership of the County Legislature to jump on an opportunity for alternate energy but instead Dutchess Democrats are all talk and no action, unwilling to match their empty environmental rhetoric with votes.”

The bond totals $3,325,930 for the various elements of the reconstruction and upgrades to buildings and facilities.  This amount would include funds for necessary facility infrastructure projects without incurring costly additional taxpayer expense, as costs have been increasing 12 to 18% on an annual basis.