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Remembering Barbara Blanchard, Founding Champion of MEGA

The Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance (MEGA) joins municipal leaders, colleagues, and friends across New York in celebrating the life and legacy of Barbara Blanchard, whose vision, dedication, and leadership helped lay the foundation for the organization that continues to serve municipalities, school districts, and public entities across New York State. She was 91.

What began as a chance encounter with a conference presentation on energy deregulation in 1998 led Barbara to help establish what would become the Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance. Through persistence, collaboration, and a commitment to finding practical solutions for taxpayers, she helped build a program that has enabled hundreds of municipalities, school districts, and public entities to save millions of dollars on energy costs.



Barbara later served as MEGA's Executive Director and Member Relations Manager, helping expand the program across New York State while fostering the relationships and partnerships that remain at the heart of MEGA today. Her impact can still be seen in every community, school district, and public agency that benefits from the program she helped create.

Iran Ceasefire Unravels: What It Means for New York Energy Prices

The brief optimism from June’s ceasefire has faded. Iran resumed attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz; new U.S. strikes followed, and President Trump declared the truce effectively over in early July. Mediators are working to revive negotiations, but traffic through the strait remains well below pre-conflict levels, putting New York’s winter energy outlook back at risk.

For both natural gas and electricity, the implications are direct. The Northeast’s dependence on imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) during winter means global disruptions translate into higher heating costs, and the brief price dip from June has already begun to reverse. Because natural gas also fuels roughly half of New York’s power generation, any further escalation will flow into electric bills this fall and winter as well.

For MEGA participants, the window that opened in June is narrowing. Locking in supply agreements now, before winter premiums fully return, remains the most effective hedge against continued uncertainty.

For more details, or to discuss your individual energy strategy, please reach out to us at info@megaenergy.org.

Use Less, Invest More: Cost-Neutral Energy Efficiency for Your Building Stock

Thursday, July 23

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Free Registration

Local governments and school districts across New York are facing rising energy costs, aging facilities, and increasing pressure to plan for cleaner, more efficient operations. This MEGA webinar is designed to demonstrate how energy efficiency projects can be completed in a cost-neutral way by aligning project scope, available incentives, financing strategies, and long-term operational savings. By reducing energy consumption, public entities can create savings that help offset capital project costs over time, thus answering that age-old question… “How do I pay for it?”

This webinar will also:

• Introduce two key NYSERDA funding programs, the Flexible Technical Assistance Program (FlexTech) and the Clean Green Schools Initiative. These grant programs can help public entities identify practical, cost-neutral energy efficiency opportunities that can be considered part of long-term facility investments. 
• Review types of energy conservation measures that are common to public buildings and schools in New York.
• Provide an update on pending legislation in New York State that will make energy efficiency projects more financially attractive to school districts.

Energy 101: Understanding Your Electricity Supply Costs

Tuesday, July 28

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Free Registration

Since New York deregulated its electricity market in the 1990s, municipalities, school districts, and other public entities have had the ability to choose their electricity supplier rather than relying on the utility's default rate. But making a good choice means understanding what you're actually paying for.


This 30-minute session breaks down the components that make up your electricity supply price, including energy, capacity, transmission, ancillary services, congestion, and compliance costs, and explains how each one affects what your organization pays. We'll also cover how fixed, variable, and hybrid pricing structures align with different risk tolerances and budgeting needs, and what to watch for when reviewing a supplier contract, from broker fee disclosure to red flags like vague pricing or unfavorable auto-renewal terms.

This session is open to anyone looking to better understand their electricity supply costs, whether you're new to the topic or simply want a refresher.

Clinton County Students From Peru and Beekmantown Picked for 2026 MEGA Member Scholarship

The Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance (MEGA) is proud to announce that outstanding students from the Peru Central School District and Beekmantown Central School District have been selected as recipients of the 2026 MEGA Member Scholarship. Peru’s Lauren Davey and Beekmantown’s Loghan Strickland have each received $3,000 toward their college freshman-year expenses.

Wayne County

This month’s Member Spotlight features Wayne County, a region defined by its connection to Lake Ontario, the Erie Canal, and New York’s apple industry. From waterfront communities along Sodus Bay to the dramatic shoreline of Chimney Bluffs State Park and the historic villages that line the Erie Canal, the county offers a variety of ways to experience the outdoors, local history, and rural character. Learn more about the landscapes, traditions, and attractions that make Wayne County a distinctive part of upstate New York.

2026 New York Energy Market Update Webinar (Recording Available)

NRG, MEGA's energy supply partner for natural gas, recently hosted a webinar focused on the evolving New York energy market. As market conditions become more complex, this session offered insights into key drivers like supply and demand, infrastructure developments such as the Champlain Hudson Power Express, and emerging state policies that could affect pricing. The webinar also covered purchasing strategies and options to help businesses manage risk and stay on budget in a changing energy landscape. Click below for the full recording and the key takeaways of the webinar.

As a nonprofit local development corporation, our mission has always been to serve public entities in New York State. For 27 years, MEGA has helped more than 250 members achieve meaningful savings on the supply portion of their energy costs while improving budget stability. Predictable energy costs can support more effective financial planning and help ensure that limited resources remain focused on core municipal priorities.

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MEGA is featured on NYSAC's County Conversations podcast! Click to listen.

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