WHITE PLAINS: NYPA Main Office Gets Environmental Award—The Power Authority’s main administrative office in White Plains has earned Gold “LEED” Certification from the United States Green Building Council for many environmental improvements made to the 17-story structure. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The building is the first existing building in New York State to earn LEED Gold. Main LEED elements include energy-efficiency improvements such as a computerized energy management and control system and efficient lighting, and installation of solar energy rooftop panels and a microturbine. Building alterations now cleanse internal air, cut water usage and manage wastewater, and NYPA has begun using cleaning products that are biodegradable and low in toxicity. LEED credits were also earned for installation of window film insulation and room occupancy sensors.

ALBANY: Rollout Begins for ‘Power to Schools’ Program— The City School District of Albany has unveiled $2.3 million in energy-efficiency improvements at two of its facilities as part of NYPA’s “Power to Schools” program, which will expand to districts elsewhere in the state in coming months. State law has enabled the Power Authority to assist public and private elementary and secondary schools throughout New York in managing energy costs through energy-efficiency projects, installation of clean new energy technologies and purchases of economical power in the competitive electricity market. The two-part project in Albany includes $268,000 in improvements to the district office, completed earlier this month, and a $2.1 million upgrade at the high school later this year. Total cost savings once all work is done should reach $131,000 annually. On Jan. 23, in Fishkill, NYPA kicked off a series of regional forums to increase statewide awareness of the “Power to Schools” program; other forums are expected in later months. NYPA has already completed energy-efficiency projects at nearly 1,200 public school facilities under various other programs. These projects save taxpayers $32 million a year in energy costs and annually cut oil consumption by 420,000 barrels and prevent the emission of approximately 195,000 tons of greenhouse gases.

NIAGARA FALLS: NYPA Boosts Funding for Center for Joy— As part of its efforts to support the community, and working in partnership with other community groups, the Power Authority has contributed an additional $25,000 to the Center For Joy, which strives to improve literacy, employment readiness and parenting skills among residents of Niagara Falls. In 2005, the Power Authority contributed $25,000 to the Center for Joy, with a commitment for another $25,000 if the center could raise $50,000 elsewhere within three years. That goal was reached within one year, with grants from the Sisters of St. Francis Ministry, the Eastern Province Vincentian, Mercy Circle of Friends and Focus on Family. NYPA’s Western New York regional manager, Horace Horton, presented the promised additional $25,000 check to center officials in January at their offices at 1117 Michigan Ave. in Niagara Falls.

BATH: Co-op Seeks Energy Savings, One Light Bulb at a Time— The Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative hopes to save $110,000 a year in electricity costs while reducing peak demand by 600 kilowatts through the sale of discounted compact fluorescent light bulbs in partnership with the Power Authority. The cooperative electric system, one of 51 public power entities authorized to buy NYPA hydropower, will sell its members energy-efficient fluorescent lights of various wattage ratings and types at a cost $1 below the wholesale price. To recover the cost of the discount, NYPA has authorized the Steuben cooperative to add one-tenth of a cent to its customers’ bills for every kilowatt-hour used. The program is expected to generate sales of 1,000 light bulbs per month. NYPA President Timothy Carey applauded the initiative, saying, “Energy-efficient lighting has been the backbone of NYPA’s award-winning energy-saving programs since we first sponsored the popular Watt Busters home energy audit and weatherization project for our municipal and co-op customers in 1987. We are delighted to help Steuben carry on the tradition of promoting energy efficiency and reducing energy use, one kilowatt at a time.”

ALBION: Public Safety Facilities Get Power Backup– NYPA will work with the New York State Police on a $434,000 program to deploy fuel cells that will provide backup power at 22 public safety communications facilities. Much like the NYPA-installed fuel cell that kept a New York City police station in Manhattan’s Central Park up and operating during the 2003 power blackout, these fuel cells will allow communications facilities to continue to operate if power is lost from the grid. “There is no better use for advanced energy technologies than protecting public health and safety,” said NYPA President Timothy Carey. A Department of Transportation (DOT) site in Albion, Orleans County, that was disabled during the October 2006 snow emergency is the first scheduled to receive a fuel cell. Other installations are: a Town of Schodack and State Police site, both in Rensselaer County; seven state Department of Environmental Conservation sites in Chenango, Madison, Steuben, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Washington and Cortland counties; a Village of Stamford site in Delaware County; a facility operated by the State Police and DOT in Clinton County; four facilities owned by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets in Onondaga County; four facilities owned by Saratoga County; and two facilities owned by the state Office for Technology in Albany County.

WHITE PLAINS: SUNY Campuses See Energy Efficiency— The State University of New York, partnering with NYPA, has installed energy-saving measures at 101 facilities, cutting annual energy costs by more than $12 million and eliminating more than 83,000 tons of greenhouse gases annually. NYPA is currently working on an additional 30 projects involving 31 SUNY facilities. The bulk of campus measures include lighting retrofits, lowering energy consumption by up to 75 percent; automated energy management systems; new windows that block harmful UV rays and retain radiant heat; and high-efficiency chillers replacing decades-old units.

NORTH BLENHEIM: Energy Efficiency Focus of New Display—NYPA initiatives to promote clean new energy technologies, energy efficiency and clean transportation are highlighted in a new permanent display at the admission-free Visitors Center at NYPA’s Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project. Featured are regional NYPA projects for the Schoharie Central School District and State University of New York campuses at Cobleskill and Delhi, which together cut annual energy costs by about $330,000. The Visitors Center includes exhibits on the basics and uses of electricity and the operation of the nearby generating plant, as well as literature on reducing home and workplace energy costs.