MASSENA: Strong Support for New St. Lawrence-FDR License— With what Gov. George E. Pataki termed "an unprecedented level of community support," the Power Authority on Oct. 31 applied for a new 50-year federal license to operate its St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project, which produces some of the nation's cleanest and least expensive electricity. The application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission provides for the return of additional project land to local communities; a community enhancement fund to give localities and school districts at least $115 million; enhanced tourism opportunities; improvements to state and local parks, campgrounds, boating sites and other recreational facilities; and environmental enhancements. "Our North Country communities will not only benefit from having access to clean, low-cost energy, but will also enjoy enhanced recreational opportunities and additional compensation from NYPA for years to come," the Governor said. U.S. Rep. John McHugh, state Sens. Jim Wright and Ray Meier and Assembly members Dede Scozzafava and Chris Ortloff strongly endorsed the application, with Meier saying: "This application meets pressing community needs and preserves NYPA's ability to preserve jobs with low-cost power. Thanks to Governor Pataki, longstanding land and community investment concerns have been met." The St. Lawrence-FDR project began operation in 1958 as NYPA's first generating facility.

NORTH COUNTRY: Land Return, Park Improvements on Tap—As part of the Power Authority's license application to operate its St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project, Gov. George E. Pataki has announced agreements with federal, state and local officials to support NYPA's return of an additional 600 acres to four St. Lawrence County towns and that the Authority has agreed to provide $12 million for state park improvements. Joining U.S. Rep. John McHugh, state Sen. Ray Meier and Assembly members Dede Scozzafava and Chris Ortloff in supporting the moves, state Sen. Jim Wright commented, "Governor Pataki has kept his promise to St. Lawrence County by returning to local control all available NYPA land." The return of the 600 acres to the towns of Lisbon, Waddington, Louisville and Massena would be in addition to about 900 acres of project land currently being transferred to the towns. The proposed improvements at Robert Moses and Coles Creek state parks include rehabilitation and expansion of boat launches and docking areas and replacement and renovation of camping facilities, bathhouses and restrooms. NYPA developed the parks in conjunction with the power project.

NEW YORK: Hearings Conclude on Combined-Cycle Proposal—The public hearing and comment process for the Power Authority's proposed 500-megawatt combined-cycle plant, to be built adjacent to NYPA's Charles Poletti Power Project in Astoria, Queens, is nearing completion. Scheduled Article X (10) licensing hearings concluded on Oct. 11 before a state Public Service Commission (PSC) judge in Manhattan. A state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) judge was also on hand for the final Article X hearing, which examined the projected environmental benefits of the proposed plant. The DEC portion of the record remains open pending appeals. Closing arguments were filed with the PSC judge on Oct. 24, and rebuttals are due on Nov. 5. The plant is needed to continue to supply economical power to NYPA's governmental customers in New York City and Westchester County.

HICKSVILLE: Clean Commute Program Comes to Long Island—The NYPA/TH!NK Clean Commute Program, North America's largest demonstration project for electric station cars, rolled into Nassau and Suffolk counties on Oct. 25 with a news conference at the Long Island Rail Road station here. The New York Power Authority and the Ford Motor Company are teaming up with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), local communities and other government agencies to make 100 of Ford's new TH!NK city electric cars available for leasing at commuter rail stations. Thirty of the cars are earmarked for Long Island. Assembly members John Flanagan and Marc Herbst joined Town Supervisors Frank Petrone and John Venditto, of Huntington and Oyster Bay, respectively, in saluting the initiative, with Flanagan stating, "This program highlights Governor Pataki's commitment to working with the private sector and our local government leaders to find smart, innovative solutions to improve the quality of our air and conserve energy." At the Hicksville and Huntington stations, participants will get parking spaces equipped with electrical hookups to supply complimentary electricity for their vehicles during the workday. LIPA will also install charging stations at participants' homes. For more information, call 1-800-252-4221 or visit www.nypa.gov/ev.

NORTH BLENHEIM: Back to the Future at Lansing Manor—With a new historically accurate roof, as well as state-of-the-art energy-saving equipment, historic Lansing Manor is returning to its original 1819 splendor, with some modern touches. Energy upgrades undertaken by the Power Authority at the manor, on the grounds of its Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project, include the addition of storm sashes to double-hung windows to reduce air leakage and installation of a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. Plastering, painting and wall papering, with designs that reflect the manor's history, are taking place this fall. The two-story structure, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, was restored by NYPA in 1977 and is operated as a museum in conjunction with the Schoharie County Historical Society. The museum is scheduled to reopen next spring.

MARCY: NYPA President Cites Three-Part Safety Strategy—Power Authority President Eugene Zeltmann told a utility safety group on Oct. 18 that NYPA's outstanding worker safety record reflects a commitment by the Authority's top management to "caring, coaching and collaborating." "Because we care about our employees, we aggressively address hazardous conditions and reckless approaches that may endanger them as they work to help the Power Authority attain its goals," Zeltmann said at a meeting of the New York State Public Utility Safety Directors Association at NYPA's Frederick R. Clark Energy Center. Coaching is intended to build awareness of safety issues, he said, and collaborating includes building relationships with federal and state safety agencies. Noting that the Power Authority has won the American Public Power Association's top safety award for the nation's largest publicly owned electric utilities in each of the past five years, Zeltmann attributed its success to "personal accountability coupled with ongoing vigilance."

In the Community—Power Authority Chairman Joseph Seymour presented a $48,791 check to a representative of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at NYPA's White Plains office, Oct. 30, to aid families of Port Authority employees killed in the World Trade Center disaster. The donation came from Power Authority employees, NYPA vendors and contractors and tenants of the Authority's White Plains building….The Power Authority received a Pacesetter Club award from the Westchester County chapter of the American Red Cross in recognition of NYPA's support for the chapter, at its annual donors' luncheon, Tappan Hill, Tarrytown, Oct. 17…. NYPA is collecting donations of quality-of-life items such as cold drink mixes, tea bags, coffee, small board games and paperback books at its Blenheim-Gilboa project visitors center, North Blenheim, for U.S. troops stationed overseas. Donations to Operation Remember the Troops will be accepted until Nov. 9.