WHITE PLAINS: NYPA One of Cleanest Power Producers— The New York Power Authority ranks among the cleanest utilities in the nation, according to a comparative analysis of the air emission rates of the nation’s 100 largest electricity producers. The report measured 2004 data submitted by the power companies to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Information Administration for nearly 2,000 power plants. A national coalition known as Ceres, consisting of environmental and investor groups and others, scored the utilities on the basis of their emissions and generating output. The report indicates NYPA’s generating output makes it the 40th largest electric power producer in the nation, yet its total emissions and emission rates place it in the top 10 percent of the very cleanest generators. NYPA has significantly invested in modernizing its major hydropower projects, which produce emission-free renewable power, and has installed the latest pollution controls for the remaining portion of its electrical generation.

CANTON: North Country Energy Fair Set for Early May— NYPA will be a co-sponsor of the 2006 North Country Sustainable Energy Fair at the State University of New York (SUNY) Canton on May 5-7. The admission-free event will feature 40 speakers, workshops, panels and demonstrations on topics from solar and wind power to energy conservation and “green” (energy sustainable) buildings, climate change, municipal energy and do-it-yourself energy-efficiency improvements. Other exhibits will include vehicles that run on solar energy, electricity, hydrogen, biodiesel and vegetable oil. There will be an exhibit on the Power Authority and its new state-of-the-art $5 million Hawkins Point Visitors Center in Massena. NYPA joins the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Community Energy Services, SUNY Canton, Seedcorn Inc. and North Country Public Radio in co-sponsoring the fair.

NORTH BLENHEIM: ‘Troops’ Reenact Revolutionary Battles — Volleys from vintage muskets will reverberate through the hills of “Schohary” when “war” breaks out on May 6-7 at the Power Authority’s Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project Visitors Center. More than 300 “soldiers” and civilians in Revolutionary War-era dress will demonstrate 18th-century life, and will simulate battles on the Visitors Center grounds. The event, complete with the 18th-century spelling of the region’s name, is hosted by the 2nd Regiment, Albany County Militia, McCracken’s Co., 1st New York, with support from the Northern Department, Continental Line, the Burning of the Valleys Military Association (BVMA) and the Northern Brigade. According to John Osinski, a NYPA staff member and BVMA member who is helping to organize the event, the power project’s 400 acres of mixed ground cover are an ideal setting for reenactments of battles and raids typical of America’s War for Independence. The Visitors Center grounds also provide plenty of room for the more than 130 “wedge” tents to be erected as homes for the weekend warriors. Besides the battle simulations, demonstrations of treatment of wounded soldiers, and discussions of local politics of the time, there will be offerings of a more “genteel” nature, such as an 18th century ladies tea, a country dance and an ecumenical worship service. All events are free, and the program begins at 9 a.m. each day.

LEWISTON: Niagara Project Upgrade Heads Toward Completion— A 15-year program to renovate NYPA’s Niagara Power Project has entered its final phase, with completion expected by the end of 2006. This spring, workers began dismantling the 13th and final turbine-generator scheduled for replacement as part of the $300 million upgrade at the project’s main Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant. All 13 turbine units are being renovated, with other equipment either replaced or completely refurbished as well. When completed, the upgrade will extend the lifespan and improve the efficiency of the Moses plant, permitting production of more electricity at times of greatest consumer demand without significantly increasing its overall output. The Moses plant and the adjacent Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant together produce 2,400 megawatts of hydroelectricity, making the Niagara project New York State’s largest power producer.

COBLESKILL: Heart Facility Gets Continued NYPA Support— Making good on a promise, NYPA President and CEO Timothy Carey presented officials of Bassett Hospital of Schoharie County with a $10,000 check, the third installment of a five-year commitment of support from the Power Authority for the hospital’s cardiac care services. Joining Carey at the recent ceremony were Barbara DiCocco, chairwoman of the hospital’s board of trustees, and Horace Horton, NYPA’s regional manager for Central New York. Bassett is the closest hospital to NYPA’s Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project. Its recently opened Heart Care Institute provides upgraded cardiology services including diagnostic procedures and echocardiograms. Future expansion will include nuclear stress testing and cardiac rehabilitation.

WHITE PLAINS: Books Galore Collected for MLK Program— In support of the Martin Luther King Jr. Literacy Initiative and Book Drive, workers in NYPA’s White Plains office building donated more than 800 new and gently used books for distribution to children in elementary schools and medical programs in New York City under Reach Out and Read of Greater New York and the city’s Department of Literacy. This was the second year for the NYPA Book Drive, which brought total contributions to more than 2,000 books. Reach Out and Read trains doctors and nurses to advise parents about the importance of reading and to give free, quality books to children from 6 months to 5 years at pediatric checkups.

WHITE PLAINS: NYPA Receives Three Communications Awards— Three communications projects completed in 2005 have earned Mercury Awards for the Power Authority, presented by MerComm, Inc., which organizes an international competition for achievement in professional communications. NYPA received a Silver Award for its 2004 Annual Report, which featured an innovative design concept and custom folder so the report could be used for multiple purposes. A Silver Award also went to two brochures NYPA produced for its Niagara and St. Lawrence-FDR hydropower projects. The third award, an Honors Mention, was presented for a poster designed and produced for NYPA’s participation in the state’s Martin Luther King Jr. Literacy Initiative and Book Drive. The original illustration, developed for local use during the 2005 campaign, was chosen by state officials to promote this year’s statewide effort. All three winning entries were produced by the communications and marketing services division of NYPA’s Public and Governmental Affairs Department.

In the Community: The upper and lower reservoirs at the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project have reopened to boaters who display special permits on their boats and boat trailers. Permits are good from April 1 through Sept. 30. Both reservoirs are closed to boating the rest of the year. Applications for permits may be obtained by calling 1-800-724-0309...Power Authority staff demonstrated a hybrid-electric vehicle, part of the Power Authority’s fleet, at the Earth Day events at Howes Cavern, Howes Cave, April 21, and at SUNY Cobleskill, April 19. The staff also participated in a reading program at the Lincoln Titus School, Crompound, April 19, and in a Career Day at the Jefferson Central School, April 13.