New York Power Authority Helps Queens Independence Day Celebration for 21st Year

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Joe Leary
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joseph.leary@nypa.gov

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June 2, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

QUEENS—Eugene W. Zeltmann, president and chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority (NYPA), Wednesday (May 25) presented a $30,000 contribution to the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition to help fund the Coalition’s annual Independence Day Celebration to be held Friday evening, July 1, in Astoria Park. The contribution was presented to Julian Wager, president of the Coalition, at NYPA’s Charles Poletti Power Project in Astoria.

“This year, 2005, has special meaning for Queens and the Power Authority as it marks the 21st anniversary of NYPA’s proud sponsorship of the Coalition’s annual Independence Day Celebration,” said Zeltmann. “On behalf of Chairman Louis P. Ciminelli, our other trustees and the staff at the Poletti Project, we are very pleased to continue our role as a good neighbor in Queens, by supporting what is always an outstanding and patriotic family event.”

“We are sincerely appreciative of this generous Power Authority contribution, allowing us to host one of the premier summer events in Queens highlighted by a dazzling display of fireworks and a marvelous selection of musical performances,” said Wager. “The Power Authority’s history of dedicated involvement in our community which ranges from this wonderful event to supplying the lower-cost power used by our subways, police and fire stations, schools, hospitals and municipal buildings, shows how government, business and the community can work together to achieve benefits for all.”

The Coalition’s annual Independence Day Celebration is dedicated this year to Astoria as an international community renowned cultural mosaic. It begins at 7 p.m. with music by Lenny Coco and the Chimes, and Joe Battaglia and the New York Big Band, which is the featured act. The fireworks will follow at about 9:15 p.m.

The Power Authority has also provided high-efficiency lighting and other energy improvements at some 188 schools, hospitals and other government facilities in Queens for a total investment of almost $80 million. Other NYPA support in Queens includes $2 million for the Queens Clean Air Project for innovative neighborhood energy efficiency projects, funding for Clean School Bus program and the new 500 MW combined-cycle facility, which will be the cleanest large power plant ever built in New York City. NYPA is the nation’s largest state-owned power organization, and operates generating facilities throughout the state and about 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines.