$3.8 Million Energy Project at SUNY Purchase to Cut Fuel Costs and Reduce Emissions

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Brian Warner
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August 12, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will be doing a “ballet” of sorts to get a giant new hot-water boiler installed at the State University of New York’s famed performing arts campus at Purchase in time for the fall semester. The $3.8 million project will ultimately involve three boilers, but the deadline for the first one is Sept. 1.  This is the largest hot water boiler ever installed by NYPA engineers under its statewide energy services program.

“It is a tight schedule, but our engineers are confident they can do the job and do it right,” said Louis P. Ciminelli, chairman of the Power Authority. “Under Governor Pataki’s leadership we have been partners with the State University on a series of projects destined to improve energy efficiency in SUNY buildings. We have completed 46 projects at 82 SUNY facilities that have produced annual savings of more than $58 million and reduced electricity consumption by 93 million kilowatt hours each year.”

“I very much appreciate the assistance of NYPA in helping the State University of New York to achieve its energy, environmental and economic efficiency goals, and I would like to thank Governor Pataki, NYPA Chair Ciminelli and NYPA President Zeltmann for their leadership in the important areas of energy and the environment,” said SUNY Chancellor Robert L. King. “System-wide, SUNY’s energy management practices have been outstanding and saved $22 million since 1995.” 

“This isn’t the first time NYPA’s tackled an energy-efficiency project at the Purchase campus.  We have completed $6.5 million worth of energy services projects that save the college $1.2 million annually. This newest project is expected to save the campus about $107,000 annually,” said Eugene W. Zeltmann the Power Authority President and Chief Executive Officer.

“The work being undertaken by NYPA will provide the College with significant fuel cost savings and help us to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions and improve fuel efficiency,” said Thomas J. Schwarz, President of Purchase College. “We appreciate the assistance of Governor Pataki and NYPA in making these necessary improvements to our campus.”

The 25-building Purchase campus has been relying on a single, older boiler and a temporary boiler. When the energy project is completed later this year, the college will have two large 1500 horsepower boilers capable of producing high temperature hot water — 300 degrees Fahrenheit — at atmospheric pressures of up to 400 pounds per square inch.

A third, smaller boiler will operate in reserve.  As an added environmental benefit, the boilers will operate primarily on natural gas, with clean burning No. 2 oil as the back up fuel. This fueling regime will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,025 tons annually.

At their July meeting NYPA trustees increased funding for energy efficiency projects for city and state facilities in New York City and Westchester County by $230 million, bringing the state wide funding level to $1.33 billion.

In addition to providing energy efficiency services, NYPA is largest state-owned power supplier in the United States. In the metropolitan New York region, NYPA supplies electricity to government buildings, schools, hospitals, public housing, subway and commuter trains.