NEWS
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Applications to be Accepted for Greenway Projects in Erie County Contact: October 16, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LEWISTON—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced that the new schedule for submission of applications for funding from the Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee is now available. Applications detailing proposed Greenway projects to be considered for the next round of funding by the Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee should be submitted no later than Dec. 10. Guidelines for applications and all review procedures are available at http://niagara.nypa.gov/RelicensingGreenwayFunds/BuffaloErieGreenway/buffcommitteeprotocoals.htm. Approved projects and funding levels will be announced on Feb. 10, 2009. The Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee receives two million dollars a year for 50 years under an agreement with NYPA. In July, the announcement was made of the first three projects approved by the Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee, all of which were deemed consistent with the Niagara River Greenway Plan. They are: the Shoreline Trail Signage submitted by Erie County, which received $205,000; Scajaquada Creekside Trail Improvements presented by the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, which was given $1,210,467; and Fisherman’s Landing developed by Town of Grand Island, which got $400,482. The Buffalo & Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee is one of four standing committees established by agreements that will distribute funding from NYPA for projects that are deemed consistent with the Niagara River Greenway Plan by the standing committees. The other committees are: Greenway Ecological Standing Committee; Host Community Greenway Fund Standing Committee; and the State Parks Standing Committee. Greenway funding to the committees from NYPA adds up to $9 million annually over the 50-year license term for a total of $450 million. The funding for the committee-approved projects is provided by NYPA pursuant to a 50-year license for the Niagara Power Project, issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which took effect on Sept. 1, 2007. Provisions of the license and a comprehensive settlement agreement include a range of benefits for Western New York, including environmental improvements, recreational enhancements, new power allocations from the Niagara project, funding to support the Niagara River Greenway, a college scholarship program for Tuscarora students, and other annual and one-time payments serving local communities. 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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