NEWS
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NYPA President Carey Urges
Emphasis on Clean, Efficient Energy Use Contacts: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALEXANDRIA BAY—New York Power Authority (NYPA) President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy S. Carey called Tuesday night for environmental protection and energy efficiency to play increasingly critical roles as NYPA and the electric utility industry take on present and future challenges. “The development of new clean energy technologies and a strong commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability are essential to cut our dependence on foreign oil and to combat global warming and other threats to our environment,” Carey said in a speech at the state Municipal Electric Utilities Association’s (MEUA) 76th Annual Conference. He said that New York State, NYPA and the MEUA are well positioned to address these issues, thanks to Gov. George E. Pataki’s “leadership in promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean transportation and in moving aggressively to improve air quality.” Carey said NYPA and the MEUA are working to carry out a landmark 2003 agreement providing for increased cooperation in advancing energy efficiency and clean transportation, as well as economic development. In addition, he said NYPA is planning a major project to use hydroelectric power to produce hydrogen in an emission-free process and is a key participant in Governor Pataki’s program to encourage private-sector development of one or more clean-coal power plants in New York State. He also said NYPA is on track to receive a new federal license next year for its Niagara hydroelectric project, a major source of renewable energy, and to complete a $300 million upgrade of the project on schedule this December. The Niagara project, near Niagara Falls, is the main power supplier for the state’s 51 municipal electric systems and rural cooperatives. Carey noted that the Power Authority last May approved participation by the municipal systems and cooperatives in its statewide energy services program, enabling them to receive financial and technical assistance from the Authority for energy efficiency projects. “All of this is in keeping with the Authority’s emphasis on energy efficiency,” Carey said. “To date, we’ve completed projects at some 2,400 public facilities. And next month, we expect to pass the $1 billion mark for overall investment in energy efficiency.” He said NYPA has concluded a major energy efficiency project at its administrative office building in White Plains and is undertaking additional measures required to win certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program, for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. “Sustainable development is something that’s very close to my heart,” said Carey, who, as president and chief executive officer of the Battery Park City Authority, directed construction of the nation’s first “green” high-rise residential building--the Solaire, which earned LEED Gold certification in 2004. Carey said municipal systems and cooperatives thus far have used loans from the Power Authority to purchase 19 electric and hybrid-electric vehicles at a total investment of $460,000, helping further to clean the air and reduce dependence on oil. He also reported that more flexible guidelines for allocations of low-cost NYPA hydropower for economic development in the municipal and cooperative territories await approval by the systems and NYPA. The new guidelines encourage greater participation by small businesses and systems, expand the types of eligible businesses and permit allocations both for job creation, as at present, and job retention. They also call for aggressive marketing of the program. About NYPA: ■ NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. ■ NYPA is a leader in promoting energy-efficiency, new energy technologies and electric transportation initiatives. ■ It is the nation’s largest state-owned electric utility, with 18 generating facilities in various parts of the state and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines.
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