NEW YORK CITY: NYPA Completes 17 More Energy Upgrades— During the first three months of 2005, the Power Authority completed 17 energy-efficiency projects at public facilities in the New York City area, creating energy savings of nearly $1 million a year and avoiding the release of more than 6,500 tons of greenhouse gases annually. In one project, NYPA installed high-efficiency lighting and room occupancy sensors at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. At the A. Philip Randolph Houses, also in Manhattan, NYPA replaced old, inefficient refrigerators with units that use one-third the energy, part of a program with the New York City Housing Authority in which the Power Authority has replaced more than 180,000 refrigerators. To date, NYPA has completed energy-services projects at more than 2,200 public facilities statewide, saving taxpayers more than $90 million annually and eliminating more than 660,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year.

COLONIE: Recycling Event Kicks Off Energy $mart Summer— The Power Authority teamed with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), WNYT-TV and the Town of Bethlehem to give Capital Region residents a chance to aid the environment at the Earth Day 2005 Computer, Electronics and RAC Turn-In Event, scheduled for April 23. The event was intended to collect for recycling old, inefficient room air conditioners (RACs) and other electronic equipment—such as televisions, computers, printers and keyboards— dropped off, without charge, by residents. A similar event last year yielded more than 70 tons of electronic waste otherwise destined for crowded area landfills. The turn-in effort is part of the Stay Cool! campaign, created by NYSERDA and the Power Authority in 2000 to educate New York’s consumers about smart energy use during the summer, when the power supply is under the most strain. The program has resulted in the replacement of more than 260,000 inefficient RACs with new ENERGY SMART models. For more information on the Earth Day collection event and Stay Cool!, visit www.GetEnergySmart.org or call 1-877-NY-SMART.

STATEN ISLAND: NYPA Sponsors Economic Conference— NYPA will be the primary sponsor on Tuesday, April 26, when the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation convenes SI CONFERENCE 2005, the borough’s only all-day business-to-business economic development conference, at the Hilton Garden Inn. Scheduled speakers at the conference, which will help chart the course for economic growth on Staten Island, include Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Borough President James Molinaro, New York Yankees President Randy Levine and Power Authority President Eugene Zeltmann. “NYPA’s involvement is particularly fitting since it builds on our ongoing efforts to benefit Staten Island’s economy and environment by supplying economical electricity to business and government agencies and by promoting energy efficiency, clean new energy technologies and electric transportation,” Zeltmann said.

ALBANY: Annual Report Highlights Energy Partnerships— The Power Authority’s 2004 Annual Report, posted online at www.NYPA.gov, focuses on the Authority’s key role in achieving vital state objectives for increased energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energy, clean new technologies and electric transportation. The report highlights NYPA’s energy partnerships with public schools, the New York Police Department and municipal and rural cooperative electric systems and shows how the Authority is helping them and scores of other state and local governmental entities to save energy and tax dollars and improve the environment. Other topics include the role of the economical electricity supplied by NYPA in securing more than 400,000 private-sector jobs and the Authority’s efforts to boost the reliability of New York’s power supply. To hold down costs, NYPA has limited the number of printed copies and will distribute the report primarily via the Internet.

BATH: Loan Program Helps Village Acquire Hybrid-Electric SUV—The Village of Bath’s municipal electric system has taken possession of the newest entry into the hybrid-electric sport-utility-vehicle market—the Ford Escape—through the Power Authority’s Municipal Electric-Drive Vehicle Program. The Escape’s 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery, augmented by a 2.3, liter four-valve engine, is recharged by capturing energy released during braking. The SUV runs only on electric power at low speeds, eliminating most in-city driving emissions. Working with the state’s Municipal Electric Utilities Association (MEUA), NYPA has established a $1.2 million loan fund to help New York’s 47 municipal utilities and four rural electric cooperatives purchase electric or hybrid-electric vehicles. The MEUA itself and electric systems in Boonville, Fairport, Rouses Point, Spencerport and Springville have also ordered cars.

HERE AND THERE: NYPA Co-sponsors Student Envirothons—Students from several Northern and Western New York counties will gather May 4 at Power Authority-co-sponsored envirothons, hands-on competitions testing their environmental knowledge. The Northern Adirondack Regional Envirothon will be held at Paul Smith’s College, Paul Smiths, and the Niagara Orleans Regional Envirothon at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County in Lockport. At both events, students from local high schools will work in teams, rotating from one outdoor station to another to answer questions on aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and a current environmental issue. The winning teams from these and other New York envirothons will travel to the statewide competition in Oswego, May 25 and 26.

In the Community: Evelyn Evans, public and governmental affairs representative, gave presentations on energy conservation to Middle School 331, Bronx, April 21, and on NYPA’s programs in Westchester County to Mount Vernon’s AARP Chapter 2619, April 19….An exhibit on the Niagara project’s visitors center was on view at the Niagara Region PTA Exhibition, Skateland Family Fun Center, Lockport, April 19….The Power Authority sponsored and participated in the judging at the Niagara County Science Fair, Stella Niagara, April 16, and the second annual Region 7 Science Expo at the Michael Petrides Educational Complex, Staten Island, April 15….NYPA representatives gave a Basics of Electricity presentation at the Adventure in Science Day at St. Mark’s School, Buffalo, April 15, and told students about careers in the utility industry at the Lincoln-Titus Elementary School’s Everyone’s a Reader Day, Crompond, April 13….Sobeida Cruz, director of public and governmental affairs, lower Hudson Valley, spoke to the Somers Rotary Club, April 12, and to the South Orangetown Rotary Club on NYPA’s initiatives in the lower Hudson Valley, April 6.