MARCY: Lt. Governor Lauds Transmission Breakthrough— Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue said the Power Authority's installation of the world's most advanced transmission control device at NYPA's Clark Energy Center here will help strengthen power supplies in the state this summer and could ultimately have national and international impacts. Donohue spoke during June 21 ceremonies marking completion of the first phase of NYPA's convertible static compensator (CSC), which has bolstered voltage support on the transmission system, permitting increased power flows. NYPA Chairman Joseph Seymour said that by using existing transmission lines more efficiently, CSC technology will reduce the need for new lines, avoiding associated environmental impacts. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, state Sen. Raymond Meier and Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito were among the public officials in Washington and Albany who welcomed the completion of the CSC's first phase, which has increased transmission capacity by 60 megawatts (mw) on the heavily used lines between Utica and Albany, and by 114 mw statewide. When fully operational next summer, the CSC will permit increases of 120 mw on the Utica-Albany lines and 240 mw statewide.

ALBANY: Power for Jobs^TM Creates 2,000 New Jobs—Gov. George E. Pataki announced that the latest low-cost electricity allocations under his Power for Jobs program will help create nearly 2,000 new jobs and protect 39,000 existing ones. With the new allocations, approved by NYPA trustees on June 26, all of the available Power for Jobs electricity has been assigned, with a total of 717 businesses and not-for-profit organizations benefiting from the power. The actions raised the number of jobs directly tied to Power for Jobs to more than 300,000—far exceeding the initial expectations of 40,000 jobs when the program was introduced in 1997. Of the 70 new recipients, 63 were first-time Power for Jobs participants, including Remarketing Services of America in Amherst, which pledged to create 294 jobs; Aimtronics in Ogdensburg, with 185 new slots; and Hudson RCI in Argyle, with 125 additions. Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute, which committed to add 90 positions, was among 10 non-profit organizations assigned power. Legislation last year provided an additional 300,000 kilowatts (kw) of power for current and new Power for Jobs recipients. This followed the allocation of 450,000 kw during the first three years of the program.

MASSENA: NYPA Funds to Spur Creation of Aquarium—Power Authority trustees on June 27 authorized Chairman Joseph Seymour to enter into a $20 million agreement that will pave the way for the construction and operation of the St. Lawrence Aquarium and Great Rivers Center at Robinson Bay here. In announcing the agreement, Gov. George E. Pataki said the project will create new jobs, attract 60,000 visitors annually and establish new ecological research opportunities in the area. Rep. John McHugh, state Sen. Jim Wright and Assembly members Chris Ortloff and Dede Scozzafava also hailed the agreement for its potential economic and educational benefits. Since its inception more than a decade ago, the proposal to build the aquarium and the later addition of the Great Rivers Center component have enjoyed strong support from local communities and elected officials. The agreement will provide the project’s organizers with funding to begin planning, engineering and design work, as well as fundraising, Seymour said. NYPA's funding is contingent on the Power Authority's receiving a new federal license for the St. Lawrence-FDR project. The project's current license expires in 2003.

MORRISVILLE: Heat-and-Power Systems Slated for College—The Power Authority will provide SUNY Morrisville with three new combined heat-and-power (CHP) systems, as well as other energy-efficiency upgrades, under a plan announced by Gov. George E. Pataki. CHP systems provide heat captured during electricity production for heating, hot water and air conditioning. At Morrisville, the new systems will include 30-kilowatt (kw) and 60-kw microturbines, fueled, respectively, by anaerobic digester gas from wastewater treatment and by methane from manure. NYPA will also install a natural-gas-powered 2,500-kw CHP plant, which will serve as the college's main generating source. State Sen. Larraine Hoffman, who chairs the Senate's Agriculture Committee, provided support for the project. The college initially received an $80,000 Petroleum Overcharge Restitution Fund grant, which allowed it to apply for $8 million in financing from NYPA. The Authority will recover its costs by sharing in the energy savings, preliminarily estimated to be up to $400,000 annually.

NEW YORK: Public Hearing Set on Battery Park City Allocation— The Power Authority has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed sale of electricity to the Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority for use in parks and public spaces. The hearing will be held in NYPA's office at 501 Seventh Ave. here at 11 a.m. on Aug. 14. Under a proposed contract, the electricity would be used to light and power the parkland and other public spaces at Battery Park City—a load estimated at about 375 kilowatts. As a public benefit corporation, the Battery Park City Authority is eligible for Power Authority electricity for its New York City public facilities. It anticipates savings of about 25 percent on its electric bills.

BRONX: Energy-Efficiency Savings Add Up at BCC—A variety of energy-efficiency projects initiated by the Power Authority at Bronx Community College (BCC) will save the City University of New York facility more than $740,000 annually. NYPA's efforts have included retrofitting of lighting, upgrading of electric motors, installation of an energy-management system to automate heating and air conditioning throughout the campus, replacement of steam traps and repairs to condensate systems. As at other locations, NYPA has provided up-front funding for the improvements and will recover its investment through a share of the energy savings. In addition to serving 8,000 full-time students at the University Heights campus, BCC provides evening, weekend and extension courses for more than 24,000 people.

In the Community: Steve Ramsey, senior community relations representative, gave a presentation on NYPA's Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project to the Schoharie Kiwanis Club, July 2….Power Authority electric vehicles and a Niagara Power Project display were on view at the Niagara Air Show 2001, at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, and the Snickers Eastern Regional Soccer Tournament, Old Fort Niagara State Park, Youngstown, June 30-July 1….NYPA’s Blenheim-Gilboa project visitors center played host to a mobile mammography van from Cooperstown’s Bassett Hospital, North Blenheim. Osteoporosis screening tests were also offered....NYPA co-sponsored the annual Yonkers Puerto Rican Day Festival and Parade, which featured a Power Authority electric vehicle, June 24-25….NYPA presented an energy-education program at the Sacandaga School, Scotia, June 20….Power Authority staff members provided briefings to Brooklyn Community Board #1, June 20, and Staten Island Community Board #1, June 28, on the emergency generators NYPA is installing in New York City to meet this summer's peak energy demand….Bob Hadler, community relations manager for Northern New York, spoke to the Malone Kiwanis Club on the relicensing of NYPA's St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project, June 19.