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| Week of June 6, 2004 |
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WHITE PLAINS: Energy-Efficiency Investments Top $750 Million— The
cumulative investment in the Power Authority's energy-efficiency
projects—close to 1,400 have been completed at about 2,200 locations
statewide since 1991—has grown beyond the $750 million mark. NYPA-directed
crews focus on energy savings from improvements such as advanced lighting,
heating and cooling systems, electric motors and energy-management and
climate-control systems at public schools, state university campuses and
other local, county and state government facilities from Long Island to
Niagara County. The projects have resulted in annual savings to taxpayers of
nearly $88 million, with cumulative savings of more than $600 million. With
about 125 projects completed each year, the Power Authority has paid about
$675 million to nearly 200 private-sector contractors and suppliers,
supporting, in turn, about 500 full-time positions. By reducing energy use,
the improvements also avoid sending about 630,000 tons of greenhouse gases
into New York's air each year. NYPA typically funds part or all of the
projects' costs and recovers its investment through energy savings. WESTERN NEW YORK: Low-Cost Power to Create 140 Jobs— Gov. George Pataki announced on May 27 that allocations of low-cost NYPA hydropower to two companies in Niagara and Erie counties will help create nearly 140 new jobs. NFB Carbon Products in Niagara Falls will receive 13,000 kilowatts (kw) from the Niagara Power Project in return for creating 132 new jobs, and Upstate Farms Cooperative in West Seneca will obtain 1,000 kw of Niagara power to expand and create seven new jobs while maintaining its current work force of 127 employees. Power Authority trustees approved the allocations following recommendations by the Western New York Advisory Group, consisting of NYPA, the Empire State Development Corp., the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise, Niagara County and Niagara Mohawk. Members of the group signed a memorandum of understanding last October for allocations of available Niagara power on a continuous basis to maximize the project’s economic development benefits. NYPA has since allocated Niagara electricity to 18 Western New York companies, which have committed to create 1,330 jobs. ALBANY: Governor's Bill Targets Cuts in School-Bus Emissions— Landmark legislation introduced by Gov. George Pataki on May 24 builds on other state and Power Authority initiatives to protect the health of school children by reducing school-bus emissions. The legislation would establish a comprehensive program to purchase clean-fueled buses, utilize ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel in older, diesel school buses and develop best management practices to significantly reduce exposure to diesel bus emissions. Under the state's Clean Air School Bus Program, $5 million has been awarded from the governor's 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act to 75 school districts across New York to retrofit 2,194 diesel school buses with emission-reducing technologies. The Power Authority administers the $6 million Clean School Bus Emission Offset Project, which is working to reduce pollution from school buses through the installation of emission-control devices such as diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel particulate filters, as well as the use of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel. NYPA has installed diesel oxidation catalysts on 246 buses to date and is currently providing cleaner-burning fuel for 2,800 buses. MASSENA: NYPA Awards Contract to Build Visitors Center— The Power Authority has awarded a $3.5 million contract to H. Schickel General Contracting Inc. of Malone to build a new visitors center and recreational improve- ments at NYPA's St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project here. The new center, expected to open in time for next year's tourist season, will be located at Hawkins Point, facing the Robert Moses-Robert H. Saunders Power Dam from across the south channel of the St. Lawrence River. The 14,000-square-foot facility will include public displays, interactive exhibits, a theater and a community room. The project's previous visitors center was closed as a result of a systemwide security assessment conducted by NYPA after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The recreational improvements, to be constructed at the same time as the visitors center, will consist of a boat ramp, a handicapped-accessible fishing pier and a parking area. ALBANY: Power Authority Aids Caribbean Flood Victims— Gov. George Pataki announced that the Power Authority will contribute up to $100,000 for emergency generators to produce electricity in areas of the Dominican Republic and Haiti that were devastated by floods and landslides in late May. Governor Pataki also said that the New York Air National Guard would be ready to assist if called upon, and he appealed for individual contributions. Donations can be sent to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, 1-800-HELP-NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). They can also be mailed to local Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. WHITE PLAINS: Purchasing Fair Links Minority Firms, Buyers— The Power Authority has scheduled its 14th Annual Purchasing Exchange here on June 17, bringing qualified minority- and women-owned suppliers together with purchasing agents from large buying organizations in the tristate area. NYPA President Eugene Zeltmann will give keynote remarks to kick off the event at noon in the Jaguar Room of NYPA's 123 Main St. office. The Power Authority has held annual purchasing exchanges in either New York City or Westchester County for the past 13 years and since 2002 has expanded the program to upstate locations. The Authority's supplier-diversity efforts have resulted in more than $380 million in NYPA business, and other significant opportunities, for minority- and women-owned firms. For more information, log on to www.nypa.gov or call (914) 681-6974 or 6453. ASTORIA: NYPA Sponsors Independence Day Celebration— Power Authority President Eugene Zeltmann on May 24 marked the 20th anniversary of NYPA's sponsorship of Astoria's Independence Day Celebration by presenting a $30,000 contribution to the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition to help fund this year’s event, on July 1 in Astoria Park. He made the presentation at NYPA's Charles Poletti Power Project here. This year's event will include music by Joe Battaglia and the New York City Big Band, Lenny Coco and the Chimes, and Randy and the Rainbows. Fireworks will follow the performances at 9:15 p.m. The Power Authority, which is building a new generating plant next to the Poletti project, has also provided high-efficiency lighting and other energy improvements at more than 180 municipal and not-for-profit facilities in Queens. In the Community: The Power Authority has reopened the upper reservoir at its Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project to boaters who obtain and display special permits on their boats and boat trailers, North Blenheim. Permit applications can be obtained by calling 1-800-724-0309 or by visiting the project's webpage at NYPA's website, www.nypa.gov ....NYPA electric-drive vehicles were on display at the Saratoga Dressage, a Power Authority co-sponsored event in support of the Saratoga Association of Retarded Citizens, Saratoga Springs, May 28-30, and at the state Department of State's Quality Communities/Quality Coastal Conference, Albany, May 25-26. |