RENSSELAER: Former NYPA Official Joins NYISO Board— Robert Hiney, former executive vice president for power generation at the Power Authority, has been elected to the board of directors of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), which is responsible for the power transmission system in New York State. Hiney will fill the board seat of John "Bill" Boston, a former executive vice president and director of power operations for NYPA, who will retire from the NYISO board this month. Hiney, a 35-year NYPA veteran, joined the Power Authority as an assistant hydraulic engineer, and held positions of increasing responsibility in power system operations, power supply planning, marketing, electric rates, research and development and energy efficiency prior to his 2005 retirement. Hiney has served as vice chairman of the Northeast Power Coordinating Council, a trustee of the North American Electric Reliability Council and chairman of the NYISO Management Committee. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

MASSENA: NYPA Wins Award for Recreational Stewardship— The National Hydropower Association (NHA) has chosen the Power Authority for a Hydro Achievement Award in recognition of NYPA’s work in creating and improving recreational facilities at its St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project. When the hydropower project was built 50 years ago, NYPA set aside about 7,800 acres for public parks, wildlife habitats and recreational facilities. During the project’s relicensing, completed in 2003, NYPA committed $19 million to improve, expand and enhance these sites, which are operated and maintained by state agencies and local communities. Work on 17 town parks is scheduled for completion this year; improvements at two state parks are expected to be finished by 2009. The NHA award noted the challenges NYPA faced in coordinating its efforts with multiple stakeholders while overseeing a fast-track construction schedule timed for the off-season when fewer visitors use the sites. NYPA’s licensing staff received the award during a luncheon on April 3 in Washington, D.C.

SYRACUSE: Expo Scheduled for Minority-Owned Businesses— The Power Authority will sponsor an “Upstate Purchasing Exchange” for minority- and women-owned businesses that is designed to unite qualified vendors with large buying organizations. Set for April 20 at the Hilton Garden Inn in East Syracuse, the noon-to-4 p.m. event will allow suppliers to exchange information and arrange sales opportunities with each other, while also pursuing potential contracts with purchasing representatives from NYPA, other utilities, public agencies, and private corporations. In keeping with its mission to promote economic development throughout the state, NYPA established its Supplier Diversity Program in 1983. Since then it has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to qualified minority- and women-owned businesses for various products and services. Additionally, NYPA has hosted numerous “purchasing exchanges” both upstate and downstate. For more information, visit www.nypa.gov.

WHITE PLAINS: Sculpture Exhibit Extended At Library— A popular Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition at the Public Library Plaza has been extended through September, prompted by continuing praise for the exhibit from the White Plains community. The Power Authority supported the exhibit, originally installed in 2004, by printing a full-color catalog of the show, which is now available online at http://www.wppl.lib.ny.us. More than a dozen pieces, both figurative and abstract works, showcase the talents of internationally known artists including George Rickey, Bruno Lucchesi and Chaim Gross. The New York Sculptors Guild assisted White Plains’ Department of Recreation and Parks in selecting and installing the art works. Sculpture on the Plaza is part of a city effort to enlist corporate and community support to transform downtown White Plains into a business and cultural center.

LEWISTON: Student Experiments Highlight Science Fair— Students from schools throughout Niagara County demonstrated their scientific know-how during a Science Fair on April 1, sponsored by the Power Authority and coordinated by the Environmental Leadership Institute at Niagara University and Stella Niagara Education Park, where the event was held. About 75 youngsters participated in the day-long competition, which featured scientific research projects developed by students in grades five through eight. Fifty-eight medals were presented for excellence, honor and merit, with two youngsters receiving an Environmental Award from the Institute for projects related to global warming and air pressure. The event was intended to increase students’ interest in science so they will pursue science-related professions. Two staff members from NYPA’s Niagara Power Project presented programs on the basics of electricity, and also served as judges.

ALBANY: NYPA’s Annual Report Looks to New Technologies— The Power Authority’s 2005 Annual Report, posted online at www.nypa.gov, marks NYPA’s 75th anniversary by noting the Authority’s tradition of innovation in helping to develop efficient and environmentally sound energy technologies for the benefit of New York State. The report focuses on the Authority’s contributions toward achieving vital state objectives set by Gov. George E. Pataki for increased energy efficiency and the greater use of renewable energy, clean new technologies and electric transportation. It includes NYPA’s involvement with fuel cells, solar photovoltaics, electric and hybrid-electric vehicles and the potential for a hydrogen economy. To hold down costs, NYPA has limited the number of printed copies and will distribute the Annual Report primarily via the Internet.

In the Community: The Easter Bunny visited the Niagara Power Project’s visitors center in Lewiston and helped with the Easter egg hunt during the ‘Eggs’travaganza event, April 8…Speakers bureau members spoke to students at Andes Central School on the basics of electricity, April 7, and demonstrated one of the hybrid-electric cars in NYPA’s fleet to Baldwin Elementary School students, April 4…Staff from the Niagara Power Project displayed a visitors center exhibit at the first annual Harvest Wild Game Dinner, Conference Center of Niagara Falls, March 29…The Hawkins Point Visitors Center at the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project hosted an economic development meeting for the Business Development Corporation of Greater Massena, March 28… Brian Warner, senior policy specialist, spoke to the Mount Kisco Rotary Club on new energy technologies, March 22.