NEW YORK: Low-Cost Power Slated for Trade Center Firms— Gov. George E. Pataki has directed the Power Authority to provide low-cost electricity to businesses dislocated as a result of the destruction of the World Trade Center. NYPA previously provided the power to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for use by companies located in the center. The reallocation of the 80 megawatts, announced by the Governor on Sept. 25, is part of the state's comprehensive efforts to assist local businesses in the wake of the attack. Power Authority Chairman Joseph Seymour said the NYPA power, about 25 percent less expensive than commercial rates, "can assist former World Trade Center businesses who received their electricity through the Port Authority to re-establish themselves in New York City." NYPA estimated that the firms will save more than $6 million a year. The Power Authority is coordinating the effort with the Empire State Development Corporation, the state Public Service Commission, the Port Authority, the City of New York and Con Edison. It has established a toll-free telephone number, 1-800-622-NYPA, that former Trade Center tenants can call to determine their eligibility for the power.

QUEENS: Poletti Project Collects, Distributes Recovery Supplies— Located just across the East River from Manhattan, NYPA's Charles Poletti Power Project here is serving as a collection and distribution center for materials needed by rescue and recovery teams at the World Trade Center. Two days after the Sept. 11 attack, Power Authority staff members at the natural gas- and oil-fueled generating facility assembled supplies from the Poletti warehouse, including goggles, respirators, hard hats and raincoats, for donation to rescue workers digging through the rubble and to utility crews restoring power to Lower Manhattan. Subsequently, procurement personnel at all NYPA sites have reached out to the Authority's vendors for additional materials. Eight firms, including one in England, have donated batteries, safety gloves, raingear and more respirators to the ongoing recovery effort in New York City.

ALBANY: NYPA Bond Sales to Complete Refinancing of Debt— NYPA trustees on Sept. 25 approved a new supplemental bond resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of two new series of tax-exempt bonds totaling up to $525 million. Once the sales of Series 2001 A and Series 2002 A Revenue Bonds have been finalized, the Power Authority will have completed its refinancing plan, begun in 1998, resulting in debt service savings of more than $700 million. The trustees' action marked "the successful completion of the Power Authority's refinancing initiatives, begun under Governor George E. Pataki, so we can continue to provide low-cost electricity and energy savings programs to our customers throughout New York," said NYPA Chairman Joseph Seymour. In addition to providing savings, the refinancing of all of NYPA's senior debt has given the Authority greater flexibility in its ability to pay down debt. As part of the refunding, NYPA issued its Series 1998 B Revenue Bonds, which are taxable.

BRENTWOOD: NYPA Donates $50,932 to Fire Department— The Power Authority made a $50,932 donation to the Brentwood Fire Department on Oct. 1 for the purchase of new firefighting equipment. Along with an extensive energy-efficiency program announced by NYPA for the Brentwood School District, the donation "shows the Power Authority's commitment to being a good neighbor, especially in communities that host our facilities," said Joseph Leary, the Authority's senior intergovernmental affairs specialist for Southeastern New York, in presenting a check to Fire Chief Chris Allen. NYPA's contribution will be used to provide additional training as well as buy new equipment for the fire department, whose 115 members operate five firehouses to serve the Brentwood and Bayshore communities. Brentwood is the location of a small, clean gas turbine-generator installed by NYPA to help meet Long Island's peak power needs. The Power Authority has also placed in service 10 similar units in New York City.

BALDWINSVILLE: Tree Power Program Trims Energy Use— The planting of 33,000 trees in communities across the state under the Power Authority's Tree Power Program is helping save energy and reduce costs to consumers. In discussing the program at the annual meeting of the Municipal Electric Utility Association held recently in Niagara Falls, NYPA Chairman Joseph Seymour cited a new study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that found summer air temperatures to be as much as six degrees cooler in tree-shaded neighborhoods than in others. "That has clear benefits in cutting demand for electricity to run air conditioners," he said. The Power Authority began the Tree Power Program in 1991 for the state's municipal electric systems and rural cooperatives and later expanded it to NYPA's governmental customers in Southeastern New York. The Power Authority provides the trees on a matching basis; for each tree a municipal system, cooperative or governmental customer purchases, the Authority provides one free. Customers submit their tree orders to the New York State Nursery/Landscape Association in Baldwinsville, and deliveries are scheduled for planting times.

BROOKLYN: NYPA Chills Municipal Building's Electricity Costs— A cooling-system upgrade completed by NYPA will provide chilled water for air conditioning at the borough's Municipal Building and Borough Hall while producing annual energy savings of more than $53,000. The energy-efficient and environmentally friendly chillers, replacing quarter-century old equipment at the end of its useful service life, will provide additional savings from reduced maintenance costs. NYPA provided up-front funding for the $6 million project and will recover its costs by sharing in the energy savings. In the past decade, the Power Authority has completed close to 180 energy services projects at public schools, hospitals and other public facilities in Kings County, producing annual energy savings of more than $8.1 million. Statewide, more than 1,000 similar NYPA projects save taxpayers more than $70 million a year.

In the Community: NYPA was scheduled to co-sponsor the 19th annual Timothy Murphy 10K run to benefit the environment, Max V. Shaul State Park, Fultonham, Oct. 6….Power Authority electric vehicles (EVs) were slated to be on display at the Apple Festival, Lockport, Oct. 6. NYPA EVs were also featured at the state Department of State Waterfront Rediscovery Conference, Albany, Oct. 2, and Ecofest, Manhattan, Sept. 23….Joanne Willmott, community relations manager for Western New York, and Norm Stessing, superintendent of operations at the Niagara Power Project, were scheduled to participate in a panel discussion at the Niagara Energy Update Breakfast, sponsored by the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce, at the Niagara project's visitors center, Lewiston., Oct. 5….Joe Leary, senior intergovenmental relations specialist, was scheduled to speak on the small gas turbine-generators the Authority installed in New York City this summer, at the Energy Buyers Forum, Columbia University, Manhattan, Oct. 4….Rick Chase, director of community relations, discussed changes in the electric utility industry, at the Beverwyck Men's Club, Slingerlands, Sept. 24….NYPA President Gene Zeltmann presented a $1,000 check to the Boght Community Fire Company at Memorial Town Hall. Loudonville, Sept. 9. The company is the first to respond to emergencies at NYPA's Crescent small hydro project, Colonie….Bob Hadler, community relations manager for Northern New York, spoke to the Malone Rotary Club on relicensing efforts at the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project, Massena, Sept. 20.