WHITE PLAINS: Energy Projects Save Taxpayers $92 Million—Energy-saving projects completed by the Power Authority at schools and other state, county and local government buildings in the state since the early 1990s now save more than $92 million in energy costs each year and eliminate nearly 730,000 tons of greenhouse gases. Work has been performed at more than 2,300 facilities in 46 counties. Projects are tailored for facilities as varied as public libraries, police precincts, fire stations, correctional and court facilities, aquariums, parks, zoos and nature centers, exhibit halls, museums and regional municipal electric utilities. During 2005 NYPA completed work on 49 projects, ranging from energy-efficient lighting at dozens of schools to installation of chillers, boilers and energy management systems at hospitals and medical centers. At the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo a major project to install energy-efficient double-pane windows was finished, and at SUNY Albany new controls were installed on a chiller. In Westchester County, major projects in 2005 included a new central boiler-chiller system for SUNY Purchase and a new mechanical aerating system for the Ossining Wastewater Treatment Plant. Among projects completed in New York City were lighting upgrades for numerous New York Police Department precincts and a major boiler system replacement for the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.

WHITE PLAINS: Power Authority Joins King Book, Food Drives— The Power Authority staff is participating in two events designed to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The MLK Literacy Initiative and Book Drive began this month and will run through Feb. 26. Launched last year by Gov. George Pataki, the drive seeks donations of new and gently used books for children from pre-kindergarten through the eighth grade. Last year, NYPA employees contributed 1,100 books at the White Plains office, one of several drop-off centers in the New York City area. The drive also is being conducted in Albany and Buffalo. During a second event, the MLK Holiday Food Drive that concluded in mid-January, Power Authority staff in White Plains donated 458 pounds of food, plus cash. The donations were turned over to a food bank in Westchester County.

NORTH BLENHEIM: New Trails Enhance Project Wetlands— NYPA has added explanatory signs, literature and new crushed-stone pathways to wetland areas being developed on the grounds of the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project in Schoharie County. The new wheelchair-accessible paths, bridges and signage are expected to enhance the area's appeal as an environmental laboratory for regional school groups, and broaden the education programs of the project's nearby visitors center. The four-year-old wetlands, covering more than six acres, now feature native flowers, waterfowl and nesting birds, insects, deer and other wildlife. Seeded with wetland plants, the aquatic habitat is expected to add new dimensions to the Schoharie Valley's plant and wildlife diversity. The wetlands are also valued for enhancing flood control, water quality and groundwater replacement.

NEW YORK CITY: NYPA Programs Ease City Power Gap— A coalition of business and environmental groups says New York City needs between 6,000 and 7,000 megawatts of new electricity resources in the years ahead to avoid a power shortage and to supply all of the major new office, commercial and residential projects that are now planned or proposed. The report by the New York Building Congress also said a critical threshold could be reached as early as 2010 if the supply of locally produced electricity falls below state-mandated levels. Various Power Authority programs are making a contribution to the city’s power supply and reducing the potential power deficit. New power plants, energy-efficiency projects for public facilities, and NYPA’s Peak Load Management (PLM) program are generating or saving a total of 600 megawatts, equal to the power demand of 600,000 homes. Under PLM, customers agree to reduce use of electricity during times of peak summer demand.

In the Community: Adrienne Gable, senior tour guide at the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project’s visitors center, gave a presentation on the Basics of Electricity to students at the Coeyman-Selkirk Middle School, Ravena, Jan. 26, and a demonstration of one of NYPA’s hybrid-electric vehicles as part of an energy awareness day at SUNY Cobleskill, Jan. 24…NYPA sponsored a hydrogen education workshop for high school science and technology teachers to help them teach students about the potential benefits of hydrogen as a fuel, Bronx Community College, Jan. 21…Nearly 60 New York State troopers attended an anti-terrorism training session at the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project Hawkins Point Visitors Center, Massena, Jan. 17. (All visitors centers at Power Authority facilities may be used for community meetings or events. Call the center to schedule an appointment.) More than 100 people attended the free movie day at the Hawkins Point Visitors Center on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Jan. 16.