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| Week of Dec. 21, 2003 |
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WASHINGTON: Blackout Report Cites Positive NYPA Role A U.S.-Canadian
task force's interim report on the August blackout cites the Power
Authority's key role in maintaining electric service in parts of upstate New
York and helping to restore the systems on both sides of the border. NYPA's
Niagara and St. Lawrence-FDR hydroelectric projects were the only major
generating facilities that kept operating in New York throughout the
blackout. Those projects, along with two large hydro stations in Ontario and
NYPA's 765-kilovolt transmission line to Quebec, "remained connected to the
western New York system, supporting demand in upstate New York," the interim
report says. As a result, "one relatively large island remained in operation
serving about 5,700 MW [megawatts] of demand, mostly in western New York,"
it adds. "This island formed the basis for restoration in both New York and
Ontario." The interim report, issued on Nov. 19, focuses on the causes of
the blackout. It was the subject of public forums in Cleveland, New York
City and Toronto in early December. The task force's final report is
expected to be issued in late January. YONKERS: New Windows Help Spur Rebirth of Historic Building A historic but rundown recently abandoned factory has been reborn, with NYPA's assistance, as the Nepperhan Valley Technology Center in the city's industrial heart. The city turned to the Power Authority for an essential first step in the restoration, a six-month, $2.5 million energy-efficiency project, completed in November, to replace more than 400 deteriorated, oversized steel windows. The 116,000-square-foot factory, constructed in the 1860s as the Alexander Smith Carpet Mills, is in a historically important but underutilized 100-acre industrial area between downtown and the Hudson River. The Power Authority weather-sealed the four-story structure with double-insulated windows that will save the city more than $90,000 in annual energy costs. NYPA teamed with the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure that the new windows were compatible with the historical character of the building, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Fordham University, financial institutions and law, accounting and high-tech firms have committed to locate in the complex, scheduled to open in April 2004. NEW YORK: NYPA Sells $213 Million of Revenue Bonds NYPA sold $213 million of Series 2003A Revenue Bonds on Dec.10 in the form of federally taxable, fixed-rate obligations. The new bonds, which are insured, will be paid off over 25 years, beginning Nov. 15, 2008. Proceeds will finance a portion of the relicensing costs of the Power Authority's St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project in Massena and some of the costs of a life extension and modernization (LEM) program begun there in 2002. In October, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a new 50-year license for the project. Under the LEM program, the project's 16 turbine-generators are being refurbished, with completion scheduled in 2013. A team of six underwriters, led by Goldman, Sachs and Co., marketed the 2003A bonds on behalf of NYPA. The bonds have an average coupon of 5.58 percent and are rated "AA" by Fitch, "Aa2" by Moody's and "AA-" by Standard and Poors. MASSENA AND LEWISTON: New Managers at Hydro Projects The Power Authority has announced the appointment of new regional managers at its large hydroelectric projects on the St. Lawrence and Niagara rivers, with both changes taking effect on Jan. 5. At the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project in Massena, Allen Schriver will become regional manager, Northern New York. A licensed professional engineer, Schriver worked for Alcoa and Reliance Electric before joining the Power Authority in 1985. He is replacing Randy Crissman, who will take over as regional manager, Western New York, at the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston. Crissman, also a licensed professional engineer, began his Power Authority career in 1986 at the Niagara project, where he assessed and implemented changes to NYPA's ice management procedures for Lake Erie and the Niagara River. Before joining the Authoritys staff, Crissman worked in the oil industry and as a consulting engineer. He replaces Ron Ciamaga, who retired this month after a 30-year career with NYPA. HERE AND THERE: Schools Across State Get NYPA Computers Nearly 200 surplus Power Authority computers, each completely refurbished with a new operating system, are acquainting students with technology skills at elementary, middle and high schools from the Niagara Frontier to the North Country and New York City. Working with the State Education Department, NYPA is closing the second year of a program providing late-model desktop computers, each with a minimum of 64 megabytes of memory, to selected schools. NYPA has donated computers in 2003 to the Niagara Wheatfield school in Western New York; the Massena Central, Madrid-Waddington and Lisbon Central schools in the North Country; the Utica City, Middleburgh Central and Gilboa Central schools in Central New York; and P.S. 84, P.S. 27, M.S. 88, the Family Life Academy Charter School and the New York Harbor School in New York City. NYPA replaces up to 500 of its 1,700 computers each year. The program will continue in 2004. Information: eddmznt.nysed.gov/cio/create/forms.htm. HERE AND THERE: NYPA Employees Capture Spirit of Holidays In the spirit of holiday giving, employees at Power Authority facilities around the state have "adopted" needy families, children and senior citizens in their communities, raising more than $10,000 to provide them with warm winter clothing and other items from their wish lists. Staff members at NYPA's Albany office have "adopted" three families with the help of Captain Youth and Family Services, and employees at the Clark Energy Center in Marcy have reached out to 70 children through the Thea Bowman House. Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project employees in Schoharie County worked with local schools to help identify 10 needy children for "adoption," and staff members at the St. Lawrence-FDR project in Massena are aiding 55 children at area schools and 63 senior citizens at nursing homes. Employees at the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston are working with the St. Vincent de Paul society to make the holidays a little brighter for 100 children in Niagara County. In addition, staff members at NYPA's White Plains office and Charles Poletti Power Project in Queens are continuing their long-standing participation in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots program. In the Community: Steve Ramsey, senior community relations representative, made a presentation on the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project to the American Legion, Delmar, Dec. 18 .The Power Authority gave an electric-vehicle demonstration to students at the Poland Elementary School, Dec. 16. The vehicle was also used as the pace car in the Lewiston Physical Therapy Run/Walk, Dec. 6 .Almost 190 people were on hand to greet Santa Claus and have their children's pictures taken with him at the Blenheim-Gilboa project's visitors center, North Blenheim, Dec. 14 .Nearly 600 people turned out at the Niagara Power Project's visitors center for the Photos With Santa holiday event, in which children had their photo taken with Santa, participated in holiday storytelling and designed colorful ornaments, Lewiston, Dec. 13 .Joe Leary, senior intergovernmental affairs representative, spoke to the Chinatown Rotary Club on the Power Authority's initiatives in New York City, Dec. 9 .The Power Authority gave Basics of Electricity presentations at the Lewiston Christmas Walk, Dec. 7; the Children's Holiday Festival at Niagara Falls High School, Dec. 6; and P.S. 19 in Albany, Dec. 2. |