BUFFALO: Relicensing Agreement Benefits Buffalo, Erie County— A major milestone in the relicensing of NYPA’s Niagara Power Project has been reached with the signing of an agreement involving the Power Authority, the City of Buffalo, Erie County and other state and local interests. The agreement provides funding for revitalization of the Buffalo waterfront, creation of a Niagara River Greenway and other measures to enhance the area’s economy and environment. The terms of the agreement include support for the Niagara project relicensing; NYPA’s current federal license for the 2,400-megawatt hydroelectric facility in nearby Lewiston expires in August 2007. Over the course of a new 50-year license, NYPA will make annual payments to the Buffalo Waterfront Development Fund, the Erie County Greenway Fund and the Empire State Development Corp. As part of the agreement, NYPA will also seek a new site to store its Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom, which presently occupies a 14-acre waterfront parcel when not in use. If a new site is identified, NYPA will make the current location available for development. In May, the Power Authority announced a relicensing agreement had been reached with Niagara University, whose campus is adjacent to the Niagara project. Agreements have also been signed with federal and state resource agencies and environmental organizations, area municipalities, the Tuscarora Nation and other stakeholders.

LEWISTON: Low-Cost Power Creates Jobs in Western New York—Three Western New York companies have pledged to create 213 new jobs while undertaking major capital improvements in return for allocations of low-cost hydropower from NYPA’s Niagara Power Project in Lewiston. Hydro-Air Components, having outgrown its facilities in nearby Hamburg, will build a new $8.3 million plant to manufacture heat-transfer equipment in south Buffalo. The firm will add 150 jobs to its existing work force. Airgas Carbonic plans to invest more than $11 million in the construction of two new facilities in Shelby, Orleans County, where 35 employees will process carbon dioxide from a local ethanol plant for beverage production and other industrial purposes. P&G Steel Products has agreed to invest more than $1 million to expand its specialty metals business in Cheektowaga, Erie County, creating an additional 28 new jobs. The Western New York Advisory Group—consisting of NYPA, National Grid, Empire State Development Corp., Buffalo Niagara Enterprise and Niagara County—recommended the allocations, which Power Authority trustees approved in June. Low-cost hydropower from NYPA’s Niagara project is linked to 43,000 jobs at more than 100 companies in Western New York.

WHITE PLAINS: Power Authority Receives Poletti Portrait— As part of the commemoration of the Power Authority’s 75th anniversary this year, NYPA Chairman Frank McCullough, Jr. and President Timothy Carey were on hand July 10 for the official unveiling of a portrait of the late Charles Poletti, which will hang in a place of honor at the NYPA power plant in Astoria, Queens, that bears his name. The portrait, an informal likeness, was donated by Poletti’s son. Poletti is the only person to serve as both governor of New York (in 1942) and as a Power Authority trustee. During his career he was active in efforts to win federal approval of the Authority’s first power project, on the St. Lawrence River. He served as a Power Authority trustee from 1955 to 1960—a crucial time when the St. Lawrence project was built and the Niagara Power Project neared completion near Niagara Falls. Poletti’s early involvement predated all of those activities—in 1931, as a young attorney for a state commission recommending the creation of the Power Authority, he helped draft the legislation that brought NYPA to fruition. In 1982 the Astoria 6 plant, which NYPA had purchased from Con Edison in 1974, was renamed the Charles Poletti Power Project in recognition of his achievements.

NORTH BLENHEIM: NYPA Begins “Less Fuelin’’’ Travel Plan—The Power Authority has launched an energy-saving summer travel campaign focusing on destinations near the visitors centers at its major power projects. The campaign, “More Cruisin’ Less Fuelin’…No Foolin’!” encourages local travelers to visit destinations close to their homes, to reduce energy use and better cope with high gasoline prices. NYPA visitors centers here and in Lewiston and Massena offer free packets of information on nearby attractions to help plan a summer of memorable day-tripping adventures. At NYPA’s Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project here, activities start with a trip to the admission-free visitors center, and continue on to other nearby attractions in scenic Schoharie County. The visitors center, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., offers a fun-filled day with many hands-on exhibits on energy, electricity, history and the environment, in addition to the 2 1/2-mile Bluebird Trail for hiking, and many picnic areas. Boating and fishing are available, with advance permits, on the power project’s two reservoirs. On the NYPA grounds is historic Lansing Manor, a restored country home built in the early 1800s, and just down the road is the 650-acre Mine Kill State Park. For more information on the Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center and a schedule of events, call 1-800-724-0309 or 1-866-NYPA-FUN. And to learn about the travel program at all the visitors centers, go to www.nypa.gov.

MASSENA: Classic Car “Cruise-In” Set for Hawkins Point— Classic cars ranging from a 1939 Oldsmobile sedan to “muscle cars” of the ’60s and ’70s will be on display July 29th during a Classic Car “Cruise-In” at the Power Authority’s Hawkins Point Visitors Center. The Massena Olde Car Club will showcase some of its members’ cars during the event, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Power Authority hybrid-electric car, which operates partly on electricity, also will be on display. Before or after the “cruise-in,” the public is invited to see the wide array of interactive energy exhibits at NYPA’s new $5 million visitors center, and enjoy the panoramic views of the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project from Hawkins Point. Admission to both the “cruise-in” and the visitors center are free. NYPA’s 1960 fire truck, originally assigned to the power project, will also be on hand.

STATEN ISLAND: Free Concerts Offer Sounds of Summer—Residents of Staten Island are being treated to a summer-long series of free family events supported by funding from NYPA and spearheaded by Borough President James Molinaro in conjunction with the not-for-profit Staten Island Family Events. Through Sept. 1, on various Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, concerts will be held at most of Staten Island’s parks and beaches, including the newly renovated South Beach boardwalk and Ocean Breeze and Midland Beach shore fronts. Entertainment will feature the Beach Boys’ hits of the ’60s, the “Doo Wop” groups of the ’50s and the Big Band sounds of the ’40s, as well as blues, jazz, country, Latin rhythms, dancing under the stars, and even some silly crooners for the kids. Most events will be topped off by fireworks displays. Beach chairs and blankets are recommended at some locations. For details and a schedule of concerts and rain dates, call the Borough President’s Special Events Office at 718-816-2133.

In the Community: Jill Chamberlain, community relations associate, spoke to students at the Carthage Elementary School on the basics of electricity, June 20…Chris Copeland, account executive, spoke to students at the Lincoln-Titus Elementary School on careers in the utility industry, Crompond, June 19.