NORTHERN NEW YORK: Energy Upgrades Generate Savings— Close to 20 diversified NYPA energy-efficiency projects, from new lighting for Salmon River and Thousand Island schools to installation of a new air compressor to enhance snowmaking at Whiteface Mountain, save more than $1.4 million annually for schools and other government facilities—and taxpayers—throughout the North Country. Six school districts and community colleges in the region enjoy brighter, energy-saving lighting as a result of NYPA’s efforts, and Watertown's Dulles State Office Building saves $350,000 a year with NYPA-installed boilers and other efficiency improvements. In May, NYPA announced that with help from State Senators Ray Meier and Jim Wright, it was providing $2.4 million in financing for climate control and lighting upgrades that will generate $770,000 in annual savings for Clarkson University in Potsdam. The Power Authority’s energy services program is a key component of Gov. George E. Pataki’s efforts to encourage energy efficiency at state and local government buildings across the state.

MEDFORD: Power Authority President Cites Agency's Benefits to L.I.—Low-cost electricity supplied through Gov. George E. Pataki's Power for Jobs^TM program and other NYPA economic-development initiatives helps support nearly 450,000 jobs statewide, including more than 25,500 on Long Island, the Power Authority's president, Eugene Zeltmann, told a Long Island Energy Summit audience on July 12. Long Island participants in the NYPA-administered Power for Jobs and other Authority economic development initiatives include Brookhaven National Laboratory, Hazeltine Corp., Kozy Shack, Symbol Technologies and Central Suffolk Hospital. Zeltmann said the Power Authority will invest in excess of $100 million statewide this year in energy-efficiency and clean-energy projects, more than two and a half times its 1994 level, and is strengthening the statewide electricity transmission network to assure that New York will have an adequate and environmentally sensitive power supply. He said five of NYPA's 19 solar energy projects and about $75 million worth of public facility energy-saving projects, providing taxpayer savings of more than $12 million annually, are located on Long Island.

OSWEGO: NYPA-Sponsored Tall Ships To Star at Harborfest—A majestic group of Power Authority-sponsored tall ships will tower above the many attractions at Oswego's renowned annual summer celebration held this year from Thursday, July 26, to Sunday, July 29. The ships, which will be docked at the Port Supervenue site on the Oswego River, will engage in a mock battle on Sunday, starting at noon. Other Harborfest attractions include music, dancing and entertainment on five stages scattered along the lake and river fronts, a children's parade, food galore and a world-class fireworks display. Admission is free and a button, which allows the wearer unlimited travel throughout the festival on a fleet of historic trolleys, is available for a nominal fee. For more information on festival events call (315) 343-free (3733) or log onto the web site at www.oswegoharborfest.com

MIDDLETOWN: NYPA ‘Threads’ Fiber Optic Line for O & R Customers—A "state-of-the-art" fiber optic communications cable has been installed by NYPA-directed crews along a 44-mile stretch of the Marcy-South transmission line between Coopers Corners in Sullivan County and Rock Tavern in Orange County. The cable, which was installed in response to the building of a new Orange and Rockland (O & R) Utilities substation here, is a hollow 1/3 inch aluminum-clad steel conductor "ground" wire which has the fiber optic line running through the middle to guard against service disruptions. The new cable, which was strung 150 feet in the air by helicopter through the transmission towers, allows data transfer at the speed of light, is virtually immune to distortion and will enhance both network stability and safety. The new substation was part of an agreement between NYPA and O & R in the late 1980's that provided an easement through O & R-owned land to build Marcy-South in return for the right of the utility to "tap" into the transmission line at a later date. The new Middletown substation was added in order to provide adequate supplies of electricity for the residents and businesses in the area. The two-month fiber optic cable project was completed June 30.

PEEKSKILL: Power Authority Sponsors Peekskill's Opening Night ‘Celebration’— NYPA, a major sponsor for the last five years of the city of Peekskill's annual summer riverfront festival “Celebration,” will host this year's free opening night act, Tommy James and the Shondells, at Riverfront Green Park Thursday evening, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. The festival, one of the largest in the area, runs until Sunday, Aug. 5 and features tall ships, music, fireworks, a Victorian ice cream social, a river tour, a planetarium exhibit, arts and crafts, carnival games, rides for the kids and food specialties from around the world. Free shuttle bus service will be available during the event between the two main venues, Riverfront Green and Charles Point parks. For more information visit www.peekskillcelebration.com   or call (914) 736-2000.

In the Community: Over 4,100 people viewed 305 cars in the Schoharie Valley Antique Auto Show held at the Blenheim-Gilboa project visitors center, North Blenheim, July 15. An $8,000 contribution to the Schoharie Valley Animal Shelter was generated through admissions…. Power Authority President Eugene Zeltmann spoke to the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America Security Analysts Conference, Colorado Springs, Colo., July 14….NYPA personnel gave Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer and his staff a tour of the turbine-generator units that were installed in the Bronx, July 12…. Luis Rodriguez, Director of Southeast New York Public and Governmental Affairs, spoke to the Great Kills Kiwanis Club on the energy crisis facing New York City, Staten Island, July 11…. Bob Hadler, community relations manager in Northern New York, spoke to the Governeur Kiwanis Club about the St. Lawrence-FDR relicensing program, July 10.