| NYPA
Home Page |
| Week of Nov. 21, 2004 |
|
|
LEWISTON: Niagara Project Upgrade Moves Into Homestretch—A 15-year
program to upgrade power-generating equipment at the Power Authority's
Niagara Power Project is entering its final phase. In October, workers
completed installation of a new turbine and transformer and other
refurbishments on the 11th of the 13 turbines at the project's main Robert
Moses Niagara Power Plant. Work on the remaining two turbines will be
completed by 2006. The $300 million upgrade project began in 1991.
Meanwhile, NYPA has decided not to pursue an upgrade of the auxiliary
Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant at Niagara after determining that the
improvements could raise the costs of electricity to customers by $339
million and provide no additional power for economic development. However,
NYPA is proceeding with a $20 million maintenance overhaul of the Lewiston
plant, including inspection and repair of its pump-turbines and other
equipment. The Niagara Power Project is the largest generating facility in
New York State and produces some of the nation's least-expensive
electricity. NORTH COUNTRY: Energy Services Set for SUNY Campuses—Two years of Power Authority analyses of energy costs at two State University of New York (SUNY) campuses have produced an energy upgrade plan that will reap close to $170,000 in total annual savings. At SUNY Canton, a planned $987,000 replacement of boilers and burners at the end of their useful lives with new high-efficiency equipment at four dormitories will save more than $95,000 in annual fuel costs. The work will include the installation of smaller auxiliary systems to run during limited-occupancy recess periods. On the SUNY Plattsburgh campus, the Feinberg Library's existing oil-fired absorption chiller will be replaced with a new electric centrifugal chiller, resulting in significant savings due to the relatively lower cost of electrical energy compared with the cost of oil. The library's cooling tower will also be replaced during the $654,000 project, which will save close to $70,000 annually. Work on both campuses is scheduled to begin in 2005 and take about one year. The colleges anticipate additional savings from reduced operating and maintenance costs. NYPA has completed energy services projects at more than 80 SUNY campuses, producing annual savings of close to $60 million. NEW YORK: Sanitation Garages in Line for Energy Upgrades—The Power Authority will launch a diversified energy-services program in December targeting lower energy and maintenance costs and cuts in fuel consumption and emission levels at nine New York City Department of Sanitation garages. The $4 million project will save more than $400,000 annually when work at the garages, in all five city boroughs, is completed early in 2006. The facilities will receive new energy-efficient lighting in offices and garage bays; new electric motors and pumps; and electronic combustion controls for boilers, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. NYPA-installed rapid roll-up garage doors will help retain heat during the winter months, when many of the department's 5,700 vehicles must respond quickly in snow emergencies. Four of the facilities are located in Brooklyn, two in Queens, and one each in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island. NEW YORK: Peak Load Management Effort on the Upswing—The Power Authority's cooperative effort with electricity customers to reduce summer peak electrical demand in New York City closed its fifth year with rising membership.For the season ended Sept. 30, Peak Load Management (PLM) customers committed nearly 62 megawatts of load reductions at 91 locations, up from 75 sites last year. Starting June 1, participants reduced their energy use at the Power Authority's request, either by operating their own on-site generation or by reducing their discretionary load, for example, by shutting lights, decorative fountains or elevator banks. NYPA provides an incentive of $40 per kilowatt saved per season. New customer facilities include six additional colleges within the City University of New York (CUNY), bringing total CUNY participation to 15 campuses; The New York Times; Bear Stearns; and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's Goethals Bridge operation. Major public hospitals, the Long Island Rail Road and New York City Transit are also participants. MARCY: NYPA Employees Help Fill Community's Food Pantry— Employees at NYPA's Clark Energy Center (CEC) have rallied once again on behalf of the Utica Food Bank, gathering more than 5,500 pounds of food and topping last year's record by more than 1,500 pounds. Ken Anderson, a CEC journeyman operator, food-bank board member and organizer of the NYPA food drive for the past six years, bought 4,000 pounds of potatoes, 260 pounds of chicken, 240 pounds of bananas, 425 pounds of carrots and 350 pounds of onions for delivery to some of the 1,600 Central New York residents who depend on the food bank. The Power Authority provided other volunteers, equipment and supplies for the food-collection effort. Anderson will also preside over the Food Bank's annual fundraising telethon on Nov. 24, which will cap this year's drive. For six years running, the Power Authority has contributed more food per employee than any other regional source. The CEC, the hub of the Power Authority's transmission network, coordinates NYPA system operations. NORTH BLENHEIM: Visitors Center Offers Holiday Events— This holiday season, the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project's visitors center will stage its second annual Festival of Trees, featuring Christmas trees with various themes. The colorful display will be on view during December. On Dec. 11, Santa will stop by the visitors center to hear Christmas wishes and pose for pictures with children. Visitors will also be able to take sleigh rides, weather permitting, (or horse-and-cart rides) and meet a reindeer, all from noon until 3 p.m. Call 1-800-724-0309 for more information. In the Community: NYPA sponsored the U.S. Curling Association National Wheelchair Championship, Utica Curling Club, Nov. 18-20….Power Authority Speakers Bureau members spoke to community groups on various topics: Steve Ramsey, senior community relations representative, to the Middleburgh Rotary Club on the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project; John Markowitz, infrastructure engineer, to the East Yonkers Rotary Club on NYPA's electric transportation program; and Sobeida Cruz, director of public and governmental affairs, lower Hudson Valley, to the Brewster Rotary Club on Power Authority initiatives in the lower Hudson area, all on Nov. 16….Ed Birdie, public and governmental affairs representative, made a presentation to the Glen Cove Rotary Club on NYPA's role on Long Island, Nov. 9; and Brian Warner, senior policy specialist, spoke to the Bronxville Rotary Club on new energy technologies, Nov. 8….An exhibit featuring the Blenheim-Gilboa project's visitors center was on view at the 25th annual Winter Getaway Travel Show, Empire State Plaza, Albany, Nov. 17. |