NEW YORK: Customers Fine-Tune Load-Reduction Program—A preview of the Power Authority's summer 2003 Peak Load Management (PLM) program drew some 90 attendees to the City University of New York's midtown Graduate Center on Feb. 27. Headed for its fourth summer, PLM spurred energy cutbacks at 59 customer locations on 12 days last summer, reducing New York City's power demands by an average of 57 megawatts and earning the customers incentives of about $2.25 million. Customers, including the New York City government, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, city and state university campuses and selected businesses, shut off or dimmed non-essential lighting; adjusted air conditioning settings; shut down non-essential elevators, fans, pumps or motors; or turned on their own generators. The February meeting emphasized PLM's speed and cost advantages over new construction in easing power strains. As in last year's conservation effort, the 2003 PLM program will be coordinated with the statewide Coordinated Electricity Demand Reduction Initiative, established by Gov. George E. Pataki. Last summer, energy savings achieved through PLM and other NYPA load-reduction commitments upstate represented about one-third of the statewide total.

NORTH HEMPSTEAD: NYPA Re-energizes Underwater Cable—An electric cable carrying economical electricity across Long Island Sound to Long Island was returned to service by the Power Authority on March 8, more than a week after an anchor is believed to have snagged one of the cable's four underwater lines. The three other lines, buried approximately nine to 15 feet under the floor of the Sound, were re-energized after high-voltage tests determined they were not damaged in the Feb. 27 incident. Since the cable uses one line as a backup, service to Long Island is not affected with the fourth line out of service. KeySpan and the Pirelli Cable Corp., the cable's manufacturer, are working with NYPA to repair the damaged line. The Power Authority completed the installation of the 26-mile Long Island Sound Cable in 1991. It extends from New Rochelle to North Hempstead, with an eight-mile underwater crossing of the Sound.

WHITE PLAINS: Now's The Time to Place Tree Power Orders—The Power Authority is mailing letters in March to its governmental customers in New York City and Westchester County inviting participation in NYPA's 2003 Tree Power Program. Participants have until April 25 to take advantage of a "buy-one, get-one-free" offer for nine different types of trees available through the program, which NYPA administers with the New York State Nursery/Landscape Association. The Power Authority began its Tree Power Program in 1991 for the state's municipal electric systems and rural electric cooperatives. It later expanded the offer to NYPA's downstate governmental customers, which use the Authority's economical power to run subways and commuter rail lines, light the streets and serve schools, hospitals and other public facilities. The customers also benefit from NYPA energy-efficiency measures. Studies show that strategically planted trees can help conserve energy while improving aesthetics. In 2001, when the program was last offered to the governmental customers, more than 1,300 trees were planted. Trees ordered through this year's program will be delivered in the fall.

NEW YORK: Energy Upgrades Set for Downtown Office Building— A downtown Manhattan office building at 100 Gold St., housing New York City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development and a unit of the Mayor's Office, will see a 39 percent drop in its annual energy costs as a result of an $8.6 million NYPA energy-services project set to begin in mid-April. The replacement and upgrade of aging climate-control systems at the 10-story building will provide savings of $484,000 a year. As part of the work, NYPA will replace deteriorating steam-driven chillers with three new 800-ton electric units, plus new chilled-water pumps and cooling towers. Two new low-pressure steam boilers, fueled primarily by natural gas, will replace utility-supplied steam for heating. New York City and other governmental customers served by the Power Authority in the city and Westchester County save $54 million a year from NYPA energy-efficiency improvements at public facilities in the region.

WHITE PLAINS: NYPA Demonstrates Electric Vehicles at Schools— As an added attraction the next time they visit an area elementary or middle school, NYPA Speakers Bureau representatives will bring along for show and tell an electric-drive vehicle from the Power Authority's fleet. In line with Gov. George E. Pataki's efforts to keep New York "Clean and Green," the Power Authority has been promoting all-electric and hybrid vehicles for a variety of uses around the state. In an effort to reach tomorrow's drivers, Speakers Bureau members are available to bring an electric-drive vehicle to nearby schools in Westchester County to show students how they work and describe the innovative ways they are being used. For more information, contact Maryann Falls, Speakers Bureau manager, at (914) 390-8173.

HERE AND THERE: NYPA Co-sponsors Envirothons for Students— High school students on Long Island and in New York City will test their knowledge of the environment at Power Authority co-sponsored envirothons on April 9 in Babylon, at Belmont Lake State Park, and April 11 in Brooklyn, at the Prospect Park Zoo. Envirothons are daylong hands-on competitions that test students' problem-solving abilities in the areas of forestry, aquatics, soil wildlife and current environmental issues. NYPA will also co-sponsor the Oneida County Envirothon, at Verona Beach State Park, April 30. The regional winners will compete in the statewide envirothon at the State University of New York at Morrisville on May 28 and 29.

In the Community: A Power Authority exhibit was scheduled to be on view at the Greater Niagara Community Expo, Kenan Arena, Lockport, March 20 - 22….NYPA was slated to co-sponsor the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Benefit Game, Niagara University, Dwyer Arena, Niagara Falls, March 21….An exhibit on the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Plant was on display at the 20th annual Travel Expo, Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, March 19 - 20….Carol Simpson, senior community relations representative, made presentations on the Basics of Electricity to the Peru Elementary School, March 19; St. Mary's Elementary School, Canton, March 18; the Lawrence Avenue Elementary School, Potsdam, March 14; and St. Marguerite D'Youville Academy, Ogdensburg, March 13.…Ron Ciamaga, regional manager, Western New York, and Joanne Willmott, community relations manager, spoke to the Kenmore Rotary Club on the history and operation of the Niagara Power Project, March 17….Carol Rodino, community relations manager, spoke about the electric utility industry at Career Awareness Day at Sauquoit Middle School, March 7….Ed Birdie, public and governmental affairs representative, spoke to the Flushing Rotary Club on NYPA's initiatives in New York City, March 6.