EDITORIAL: Speed up change at top of LIPA and LIA

Removing just one consonant from LIPA, which provides the power for Long Island, spells LIA, the regional business group that badly needs a power surge. Since both are critical to the future of Long Island, it would be best if each had a new leader in place as soon as possible.

This week, Long Island Power Authority chief Kevin Law announced that he'll take over the Long Island Association in September. Why wait? The directionless LIA needs to quickly develop an agenda for making the region competitive and ensure that candidates running for statewide office this fall will support it.

At LIPA, Law let in some fresh air, was specific about the cost of projects, skillfully managed the debt and emphasized the need for a green-energy economy. Sticking around for a few more months and then leaving in the middle of the hurricane season, however, doesn't make sense.

Gov. David A. Paterson should select an energy expert as an interim chief, someone with smarts and experience, who could use the next six to eight months to oversee operations as well as prepare a briefing book on LIPA's future.

The next governor and his chosen LIPA president face tough decisions. Should LIPA be part of the state power authority or privatized? Should National Grid still operate the system? Does it make sense to build a new power plant, so inefficient ones can be shut? How much wind and solar power should be in the mix?

Both LIPA and the LIA need to get on the starting blocks now - not months from now. hN