MONTICELLO - The Sullivan County Energy Conservation and Generation Commission Thursday unveiled the schedule for its upcoming public meetings on topics ranging from conservation and auditing to bulk purchasing and energy generation.

Legislature Vice Chairman Ron Hiatt, who chairs the commission, said, “This is an exciting and viable tax alternative. We look forward to generating revenue by generating and conserving power in an earth-friendly manner, per our Charter. Ultimately, it will be a benefit available to government, schools, businesses and homes. We mean business.”

The first public meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2008 at 12 noon in the Hearing Room of the County Legislature in Monticello. Patrice Courtney-Strong for Mid-Hudson Energy $mart and a representative from NYSERDA will speak about energy audits, retrofitting, new construction and the development of policy for energy conservations/schedule of audits.

On Thursday, June 5 at 7 p.m. in the Hearing Room of the County Legislature in Monticello, NY the Commission will hold a public hearing to discuss forming an electric cooperative, possible spinoff projects, and opportunities for agreements with the utility companies. A representative from the Delaware County Electric Cooperative and a representative from the Orange County Electric Cooperative are slated to speak.

On Friday, June 27 at 12 noon the Commission will turn its attention to Energy Generation through solar and wind power and other available opportunities. The meeting will again be held in the Hearing Room of the County Legislature in Monticello, NY, and a representative from Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development and a representative from NYSERDA are slated to speak.

The final public meeting will be held on Thursday, July 10 at 7 p.m. in the Hearing Room of the County Legislature in Monticello. The topic for this meeting is scheduled to be Energy Alternatives, and will deal with topics such as co-generation, landfill gasification, and other subjects in the field of sustainable energy development that have not been covered by previous meetings.