NEW YORK: Former WTC Power to Aid Downtown Businesses—Gov. George E. Pataki on June 12 announced the allocation of lower-cost Power Authority electricity to assist downtown businesses displaced or otherwise affected by the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The power, which had been supplied by NYPA to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for the center, will be provided to companies employing a total of more than 25,000 workers in Lower Manhattan. The Power Authority, in consultation with the Port Authority and the Empire State Development Corporation, approved allocations totaling 42 megawatts (mw) for American Express, Century 21, FC Battery Park Associates and Brookfield Financial Management (a property management firm whose allocation will benefit more than 40 large and small businesses and other organizations). Under the World Trade Center Economic Recovery Power program, eligible businesses will receive up to 80 mw of NYPA electricity, saving them about $6 million a year.

NEW YORK: Zeltmann Cites Benefits of Combined Heat, Power—By recovering heat from the generation of electricity for heating, cooling and other purposes, combined heat and power (CHP) systems can play an important role in increasing efficiency, lowering costs and reducing power-plant emissions, NYPA President and CEO Eugene Zeltmann told an energy conference here June 20. In opening remarks at the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Conference, he said that because they are located at or near a customer's facilities, CHP and other forms of distributed generation “can yield large savings, not only by reducing the need to build power plants but also by avoiding upgrades to local distribution systems.” Zeltmann noted that CHP projects, including fuel cells, microturbines and reciprocating engines, can help achieve Gov. George E. Pataki's ambitious energy-efficiency targets for state agencies and that NYPA is installing such technologies at a growing number of locations. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority organized the June 20-21 conference, whose co-sponsors included the Power Authority.

ALBANY: Keep Cool Rebate Program Heats Up Across State—One month into this summer's Keep Cool campaign, more than 20,000 New Yorkers have traded in their old, inefficient air conditioners for a new model and a $75 rebate from the state. The campaign, part of the state Energy Research and Development Authority's Energy $mart program, is helping conserve energy during the hot weather months, when electricity demand is at its highest. This year's rebate program, co-sponsored by the New York Power Authority, the Long Island Power Authority and the state Public Service Commission, has generated a response nearly 20 times greater than at the same time last summer, when 1,100 old air conditioners had been turned in to participating retailers. To qualify for a $75 bounty check, New York residents must buy a new Energy Star-labeled air conditioner before taking their old, working unit to an official drop-off location. Details of the program are available at www.GetEnergySmart.org or by calling 1-877-NY-SMART.

PEEKSKILL: Clean Commute Garners Environmental Award—The Westchester Municipal Planning Federation presented its Achievement Award for Environmental Conservation here on June 6 to the Town of New Castle and the City of White Plains for their participation in the NYPA/TH!NK Clean Commute Program, the nation's largest demonstration project for electric station cars. Since 1974, the federation has presented awards for outstanding contributions to the field of planning, basing its decisions on a nominee's innovation, relevance and value to the community. NYPA launched its Clean Commute program with the TH!NK city electric car, built by the Ford Motor Company, last October, making 100 of the emission-free vehicles available for leasing to commuters at eight Metropolitan Transportation Authority train stations, including White Plains and Chappaqua, which is in New Castle.

RYE: McCullough Elected Vice Chairman of Power Authority—Frank McCullough, a Rye attorney and a NYPA trustee since 1997, was elected vice chairman of the Power Authority at a trustees' meeting in May. He succeeds Louis Ciminelli, who was elected the Authority's chairman in April. McCullough is a senior partner in the law firm of McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP, with offices in White Plains. He has served as attorney for developers in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, including work on facilities and sites for PepsiCo, Avon, Prudential Insurance Company of America, Hudson National Golf Club and MasterCard International. McCullough's numerous affiliations with civic and volunteer organizations include membership on the boards of United Hospital and the Westchester College Foundation.

HERE AND THERE: “And the Rocket’s Red Glare”—
A series of Power Authority-sponsored Independence Day concerts and other special celebrations—all free and most including fireworks—will open July 2 at Astoria Park in Queens with a performance by the U.S. Military Academy Concert Band at 7 p.m., followed by fireworks. The festivities will continue on July 3 at White Plains High School, where the White Plains Recreation and Parks Pop Band will perform at 7 p.m. and fireworks are scheduled at around 8:45. On July 4, the Yonkers River Festival, an all-day event offering music, entertainment and food on the downtown waterfront, will conclude with fireworks at about 9 p.m. July 6 will bring America the Beautiful, a concert featuring Glen Colton, at noon to the Niagara Power Project visitors center, Lewiston. On July 9, a concert by the Orchestra of Northern New York at 7 p.m. in Springs Park in Massena, followed by fireworks at Bushnell Field, will mark NYPA Day at Massena's bicentennial celebration.

In the Community: An exhibit on the Niagara Power Project and a NYPA electric vehicle were scheduled to be on view at the Taste of Lewiston community event, June 23, and a NYPA EV was also to be displayed at the Staten Island Waterfront Festival at St. George's Ferry Terminal, June 22….The Niagara project's visitors center played host to a Leadership Buffalo seminar, Power and Transportation, Lewiston, June 20....NYPA Chairman Louis Ciminelli presided over the dedication at the Town of Lewiston Water Pollution Control Center of the first microturbines in municipal use in Western New York, June 15. The Power Authority provided funding and technical support for the project....Niagara County Head Start held its annual meeting and staff recognition luncheon at the Niagara project's visitors center, June 14….Christopher Copeland, account executive, demonstrated an electric vehicle at Horace Greeley High School, Chappaqua, and Lori Presti, senior tour guide, gave a presentation on The Basics of Electricity at Newfane Elementary School, both on June 13….The Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project's visitors center, North Blenheim, played host to the Stamford Central School’s Earth Days event, June 13-14, and the Sunship Earth program for 7th and 8th graders in Middleburgh, June 10.….Luis Rodriguez, director of Southeastern New York, public and governmental affairs, spoke about the Power Authority's initiatives in New York City, at the Energy Summit 2002, sponsored by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, June 10.