NIAGARA FALLS: NYPA Initiates Hydrogen-Fuel Study—The Power Authority has teamed with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to study the feasibility of producing hydrogen as a fuel for a fleet of clean-fueled vehicles stationed at the Niagara Falls State Park. “The road to energy independence might be paved with hydrogen. Exploring the use of emission-free, renewable hydropower to produce hydrogen fuel for clean transportation is another example of the way New York State is working to reduce petroleum dependency under the leadership of Governor George E. Pataki,” NYPA Chairman Joseph P. Seymour noted in the announcement of the effort. The production plant would use low-cost hydropower from NYPA’s Niagara hydroelectric project for a process involving electrolysis to separate hydrogen from water molecules to produce hydrogen fuel. The analysis will also determine types of park vehicles that would be capable of operating on hydrogen. Longer term, the study could lead to a model hydrogen vehicle fueling station that could be replicated elsewhere within New York State. Potentially the project could help educate the public on the promise of hydrogen and help stimulate future in-state hydrogen production and distribution capabilities. In a separate development, Shalom Zelingher, NYPA’s chief technology development officer, has been elected to the board of directors of the National Hydrogen Association.

NEW YORK CITY: Housing Agency Upgrades Hot Water Tanks—The New York City Housing Authority has asked NYPA to replace 200 hot water storage tanks, some more than 60 years old, at some of its more than 2,700 buildings in the five boroughs. Work on the $25 million project, to start in late March following completion of asbestos abatement, will involve removing old hot water storage tanks and installing new, more energy-efficient instantaneous hot water heaters. NYCHA, the nation’s largest public housing agency, operates more than 340 developments with more than 180,000 apartments. The Power Authority estimates annual energy savings per installation at about $6,500, or a total of $1.3 million per year.

POTSDAM: Geophysics Lab Grant for SUNY Potsdam—Teaching, research and equipment for a new geophysics lab at the State University of New York-Potsdam will get a boost from a $50,000 NYPA grant. The donation honors four decades of work by Dr. Frank Revetta, an acknowledged seismology expert. The lab will form the heart of a nine-station Potsdam Seismic Network established by Revetta in 1971 to monitor and analyze frequency and severity of North Country earthquakes. The network is an integral part of the college’s courses in earth science, physical geology, geophysics and seismology. Allen Schriver, NYPA’s regional manager Northern New York, said the lab’s work would benefit the Power Authority’s neighboring St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project.

NEW YORK CITY: Peak Load Management Readies for Summer—During a presentation at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art, Power Authority officials briefed more than 100 customer representatives of New York City business and government electricity customers on NYPA’s planned summer-long Peak Load Management (PLM) energy conservation program. Participants, including city agencies, banks, major universities and transportation agencies, receive a $40-per-kilowatt incentive for trimming electricity use at NYPA’s request on the hottest summer weekdays, largely by cutting back on discretionary load. A new Web link will give customers access to late-breaking PLM event notices, and let them update load reduction commitments and download graphics showing performance of individual facilities. NYPA coordinates with the New York State Independent System Operator, which is in charge of the transmission grid, to encourage customers to enroll in additional conservation programs.

SYRACUSE/UTICA: Events Feature Consumer Energy Tips—Suggestions on how to conserve energy and reduce power costs for homes and businesses were hot topics at two events in Central New York in March. NYPA teamed up with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and National Grid to present energy-saving ideas during the Syracuse Home Show at the New York State Fairgrounds March 16-19. Two days later the group joined the Mohawk Valley Chamber Alliance and the Genesis Group of the State University of New York Institute of Technology to host “You Have the Power” at the Hotel Utica, a seminar for commercial and light industrial businesses on how to meet energy challenges in the Mohawk Valley, including facts on energy cost control, conservation and automation. In Southeastern New York, NYPA, NYSERDA, the New York State Department of Public Service and a dozen local businesses were to take part March 25 in a “2006 Energy Fair” at the Croton-on-Hudson Town Hall, featuring the latest in energy-saving programs and sponsored by area community organizations.

UTICA: NYPA Electric Vehicle Highlights Science Fair—High school students from Oneida and Herkimer counties took part in a Science and Technology Fair on March 9 that was hosted by the State University of New York Institute of Technology and featured a Power Authority electric vehicle. The zero-emission GEM (Global Electric Motorcar) is designed for off-road use, such as in parks and on campuses, to replace polluting gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles in carrying personnel and equipment. NYPA staff members also described the Power Authority’s partnership in a “Green Zone Program” with the City of Utica’s Department of Parks and Recreation. NYPA has co-funded three GEM vehicles and battery-charging equipment for the vehicles with the department in an ongoing effort to introduce clean technologies that are pollutant-free and reduce foreign oil dependency. During the fair the youngsters competed in a number of technology competitions, in areas such as paper-constructed planes, soap-box derby-style vehicles, and wooden bridge models.

LEWISTON: Air Force Base Supporters Celebrate—NYPA joined area groups and organizations in sponsoring a celebration dinner March 18 to recognize those who helped keep the Niagara Falls Joint Air Reserve Station open. The air base came under review by the Congressional Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) in 2005. Recognizing its status as the last Air Force installation in the state, and its importance to the economic health of the Niagara community with its 3,000 jobs, the Niagara Military Affairs Council (NIMAC) and area elected officials, community leaders, and countless volunteers led the charge to successfully remove the base from BRAC’s closure list. The dinner is the latest in a series of measures NYPA has taken to demonstrate its support for the base. Under recommendation from Gov. George Pataki’s Task Force on Military Bases, the NYPA Board of Trustees in December 2003 approved a plan to provide 2,300 kilowatts of low-cost Niagara Project hydropower to reduce energy costs at the air base. In 2005, NYPA helped sponsor a “Save the Base Rally” and letter-writing campaign.