LISBON: Governor Presents $4 Million to Northern Communities—Gov. George E. Pataki on May 22 presented a $4 million down payment on what ultimately will be more than $100 million provided to municipalities and school districts in the area of the Power Authority's St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project as a result of a settlement agreement to relicense the hydroelectric facility. The $4 million came from a Community Enhancement Fund established under the agreement between NYPA and the Local Government Task Force, whose members are the towns of Lisbon, Louisville, Massena and Waddington; the villages of Massena and Waddington; the Massena, Madrid-Waddington and Lisbon school districts; and St. Lawrence County. The governor noted that the overall settlement also includes agreements on long-standing land issues, stabilization of the shoreline, navigation hazards, significant improvements to recreational facilities in the four towns and the proposed St. Lawrence Aquarium and Ecological Center. NYPA is seeking a new federal license for the St. Lawrence-FDR project, which began operation in 1958 as the Authority's first generating facility. The project's original license expires in 2003.

BROOKLYN: NYPA Fuel Cell Energizes New York Aquarium—The Power Authority unveiled its latest clean-energy fuel cell on May 15 at the New York Aquarium, further demonstrating a technology that produces electricity without combustion and creates virtually no pollution. The fuel cell generates 200 kilowatts of electricity—about 20 percent of the aquarium's daily requirements—through a chemical process by combining hydrogen from natural gas with oxygen from the air. It also provides 700,000 British thermal units to preheat water for the administration building's boiler and support-system tanks. With more than 350 aquatic species, from beluga whales to penguins and seals, the aquarium must operate an elaborate water- storage and -filtration system around the clock. Funding for the $1.1 million fuel cell came from NYPA, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. Other Power Authority natural-gas fuel cells are located at the New York Police Department's Central Park precinct and North Central Bronx Hospital. The Authority also installed, at the Westchester County Wastewater Treatment Plant in Yonkers, the world's first commercial fuel cell to run on waste gases.

ORANGE COUNTY: Projects Save Energy, Dollars for Schools—Gov. George E. Pataki on May 10 cited the completion of NYPA energy-efficiency programs in the Monroe-Woodbury and Cornwall school districts as a "great example of New York's ongoing effort to conserve energy, improve efficiency and save money and resources." The $4.7 million Monroe-Woodbury project, including new lighting and windows and improvements to boilers and other mechanical equipment, will save more than $227,000 annually. In Cornwall, a $700,000 project resulted in lighting upgrades and improved controls for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, with annual savings topping $26,000. State Sen. Bill Larkin and Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun noted that besides reducing taxpayers' costs, the projects will provide a better and safer learning environment. The Power Authority is financing the school districts' shares of the costs, which have been reduced through grants from the Petroleum Overcharge Restitution Fund and state aid. NYPA will recover its investment by sharing in the savings. Both projects are part of the Authority’s $100 million-a-year commitment, under the governor's direction, to improve energy efficiency at public facilities.

NIAGARA FALLS: NYPA Donates Computers to Schools—
The Power Authority was scheduled to deliver 30 refurbished computers to Niagara Falls public schools this month as part of Gov. George E. Pataki's efforts to revitalize the Niagara Frontier. "Every year, Governor Pataki has committed greater support to public education and this new Power Authority program helps enhance that commitment by giving many New York school children even greater access to the resources needed to prepare for productive lives and careers," said NYPA Chairman Louis Ciminelli. The Power Authority uses about 1,700 computers in its normal operation and replaces about 400 to 500 each year. The surplus equipment earmarked for the schools has been thoroughly cleaned and tested and provided with a minimum of 64 megabytes of memory. Any missing or broken parts have been replaced. NYPA is also planning to provide computers to other school districts in the state.

HERE AND THERE: Tree Power a Beautiful Way to Save Energy—The Power Authority's Tree Power Program has completed another delivery of saplings to NYPA customers looking to save energy while beautifying their communities. This spring, in the 11th year of the program, 1,144 trees were delivered as part of an annual offer to participating members of the state's municipal electric systems and rural cooperatives. Governmental entities in Southeastern New York that receive Power Authority electricity are also eligible for the program on a biennial basis; 1,367 trees were delivered to them last fall. Working with the New York State Nursery/Landscape Association, NYPA provides a free tree for each one purchased by program participants. More than 34,000 trees have been planted thus far. Among the species available through the program are six types of deciduous trees, including the Sugar Maple, New York's state tree, as well as a variety of spruces. Strategically planted trees have been proven to lessen the need for summer air conditioning.

NEW YORK: Rain Can’t Cancel American Tour de Sol Finale—A cold, windy rain could not dampen the spirits of participants of this year's American Tour de Sol electric-vehicle road rally, which culminated with an environmental street fair on May 18 at Hudson River Park and Pier 84. The approximately 40 vehicles competing in the weeklong race from Washington, D.C., to Manhattan, organized by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, crossed the finish line that morning as supporters and curious onlookers shivered on the sidelines. A longtime co-sponsor of the Tour de Sol, the Power Authority made a Ford Motor Company TH!NK city electric car, featured in the NYPA/TH!NK Clean Commute Program, available for ride-and-drive demonstrations at the finish-line festival. The Clean Commute Program is the nation's largest demonstration project for electric station cars.

In the Community: An exhibit on the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project's visitors center was on view at the 2002 Summer Getaway Travel Show, Empire State Plaza, Albany, May 22….Randy Crissman, regional manager for Northern New York, presented a check on behalf of the Power Authority to the Massena Memorial Hospital Association during the hospital's Radio Telethon, May 18….The Niagara Power Project's visitors center played host to the Lewiston-Porter Community Ambassador Program's annual fund-raising event, Lewiston, May 18….The Niagara project's visitors center was also the location of a meeting of the Business Council of New York State's Occupational Safety and Health Committee, May 16-17….The Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project's visitors center, North Blenheim, provided its facilities for meetings of the Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors, May 16, and the Catskill Mountain Crafts Collective Group, May 15….Roma Buel, a tour guide at the Blenheim-Gilboa project's visitors center, spoke to members of the Cobleskill Exchange Club on community events scheduled at the center this summer, May 14….The St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project's visitors center, Massena, is open to school tours by appointment only. For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact Bob Hadler, community relations manager, at (315) 764-0226, x300.