§ 1875. Legislative findings and declaration of intent. The legislature hereby finds and declares that energy is essential to maintain the industrial vitality of New York state. The legislature further finds that, because of the state's limited indigenous energy resource, efficient energy use is especially crucial to sustain its competitive posture.

The legislature finds that many of the issues related to energy efficiency in industry are associated with high temperature operations and that insufficient research has been conducted to discover technologies to increase the efficiency of these operations.

The legislature therefore declares that a coherent research program focused on high temperature technology be established under the auspices of the authority within a major university of the state. The legislature further declares that such program shall further the energy conservation objectives of the state and is an appropriate use of petroleum overcharge restitution funds.