BRENTWOOD: NYPA Gives Boost to LIPA in Meeting Demand—Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Chairman Richard Kessel on May 29 expressed his appreciation to Gov. George E. Pataki and the New York Power Authority for their key role over the last two years in helping LIPA provide for Long Island's growing demand for electricity. In discussing LIPA's plans for meeting the Island's power needs, Kessel thanked NYPA President and CEO Eugene Zeltmann for spearheading the completion of a NYPA gas turbine-generator in Brentwood in time for last August's heat wave and lending key personnel to expedite LIPA's Powering Long Island 2002 project, scheduled to bring 10 new turbines on line this summer. "The fact of the matter is, we never would have been able to advance the turbine projects fast enough without the backing of Governor Pataki and without the day-to-day help of NYPA," Kessel said. Zeltmann noted that the Power Authority's Richard M. Flynn Power Plant in Holtsville and a NYPA electric cable under Long Island Sound supply more than 800 megawatts of electricity to LIPA for use by Long Island consumers. He added that NYPA has cut peak demand on the Island and saved taxpayers $12.5 million annually through energy-efficiency projects at some 340 schools and public facilities.

NORTH BLENHEIM: Lansing Manor Reopens After Renovations—Tours, varied foods and entertainment were scheduled to add to the festivities June 8 at the reopening of historic Lansing Manor, an early 19th century mansion on the grounds of the Power Authority's Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project, following a year of major renovations. NYPA President and CEO Eugene Zeltmann and Schoharie County officials were slated to join guests at the 1819 manor, which was originally restored by NYPA in 1977 and opened to the public. During the latest, $600,000 renovation, NYPA crews did interior and exterior painting and other decorative work, installed a new, historically correct roof and made energy-efficiency improvements. The manor complex includes a dairy barn, added in 1881, which serves as the Blenheim-Gilboa project's visitors center. Both the manor and the visitors center are admission-free.

MASSENA: New St. Lawrence-FDR Visitors Center Planned—With the popular visitors center at its St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project closed for security reasons, the Power Authority is planning to construct a new visitors center at Hawkins Point here. In the meantime, the current center will remain closed except to school groups, which can continue to visit by reservation only. NYPA will set up a temporary exhibit, featuring a movie describing the project, in the St. Lawrence Seaway's visitors center at the Eisenhower Lock. In response to the continued threat of terrorism and to assure the safety of the public, its staff members and the facilities themselves, the Power Authority has restricted public access to the project's switchyard and transmission lines, as well as its power dam and adjacent visitors center.

LEWISTON: NYPA Microturbines Set to Be Dedicated June 15—An open house scheduled for June 15 at the Town of Lewiston Water Pollution Control Center will feature the dedication of two NYPA microturbines, the first in municipal use in Western New York. Fueled by anaerobic digester gas, a byproduct of wastewater treatment, the microturbines supply about a third of the electricity needed to run the facility and save more than $40,000 a year on its electric bills. Heat from the microturbines is also used to produce hot water for the plant. The microturbines, which began operation last June, are expected to cut the plant's air emissions by 90 percent, eliminating 30 tons of pollutants annually. Gov. George E. Pataki's Executive Order No. 111, issued in 2001, provided impetus for such projects by establishing energy efficiency and renewable energy goals for state buildings and vehicles. The order also encouraged local governments to pursue similar goals and authorized NYPA and other state agencies to assist municipalities.

SCHOHARIE: NYPA Honors Local Emergency Services—
Fire departments and rescue squads serving communities around NYPA's Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project received financial support and a heartfelt "thank you" May 31 at this year's Emergency Services Appreciation Day. During a dinner here, checks totaling $20,000 were presented to nine emergency services organizations by James McCarthy Jr., the Power Authority's regional manager for Central New York, who recognized the volunteer groups for their dedicated service. The fire departments and rescue squads also respond to emergencies and other needs at Blenheim-Gilboa, such as providing standby coverage for public events at the project's visitors center. The recipients were the Blenheim Hose Company, the Conesville Fire Department, the Conesville Rescue Squad, the Grand Gorge Fire Department, the Grand Gorge Rescue Squad, the Jefferson Fire Department, the Jefferson Rescue Squad, the Middleburgh Fire Department and the Middleburgh Rescue Squad.

ASTORIA: NYPA Helps Queens Celebrate Independence Day—NYPA President and CEO Eugene Zeltmann presented a $35,000 contribution to the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition on May 15 to help fund the coalition's annual Independence Day Celebration, to be held Tuesday evening, July 2, in Astoria Park. Julian Wager, president of the coalition, received the funds at NYPA's Charles Poletti Power Project here. The Power Authority has sponsored an Independence Day celebration in Queens for 18 consecutive years. This year's event, dedicated to the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, will begin at 7:30 p.m. with a concert by the West Point Band. Fireworks will follow at about 9:15 p.m.

COBLESKILL: Weedsport Repeats as State Envirothon Champ—In a repeat of last year's contest, Cayuga County's Weedsport High School reclaimed the state Envirothon championship in a close victory over Tioga County's Candor High School in a Power Authority-co-sponsored competition May 29 at the state university here. Onondaga County's Skaneateles High School placed third, as five-member teams from 50 schools across the state answered questions on forestry, aquatics, soils, wildlife and current environmental issues. Weedsport will go on to the national Canon Envirothon, July 29 to Aug. 4 at Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass. NYPA also helped sponsor regional competitions around the state.

In the Community: Scheduled events at NYPA visitors centers included a scholarship fund-raiser by the Links Association, an international women's organization, at the Niagara Power Project, Lewiston, and the Community Environmental Research Poster Session and Symposium, featuring presentations by Cobleskill-Richmondville High School and Middleburgh High School students, at the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project, North Blenheim, both on June 8….A NYPA electric vehicle was on display at Howe Cavern's Parking Lot Career Safari, Howe's Cave, June 5….Garden City’s Gerard Loughran, assistant general counsel and NYPA's 2002 Volunteer of the Year, was honored with other corporate volunteers at a luncheon sponsored by the Friends of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Manhattan, June 4….NYPA provided an electric vehicle for a parade and sponsored the Wild Encounters animal show at the Niagara Falls Community Fair, June 1-2.…The Power Authority presented an electric vehicle at the Niagara Falls Arts Council's Kids Fest, June 1, and an energy-services exhibit at the Pollution Control Conference, Albany, May 31….Exhibits on the Blenheim-Gilboa project and Lansing Manor Museum were on view at the Saratoga Dressage, a yearly event in support of the Saratoga Association of Retarded Citizens, May 24-26.