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| Week of July 15, 2007 |
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WHITE PLAINS: NYPA Head Named to Renewable Energy Panel—Lt. Gov.
David Paterson has appointed Roger Kelley, the newly named NYPA president
and CEO, to a new state task force that will recommend ways to expand the
state’s use of renewable energy and alternative fuels. The Renewable Energy
Task Force will work to draw clean-energy industries to New York State, and
to contribute to an overall goal of reducing electricity usage in the state
by 15 percent by the year 2015. As struggles with climate change and
greenhouse gas emissions continue, renewable energy sources, such as wind,
hydroelectric, solar power and fuel cells, can contribute to energy
independence and conservation, and the New York Power Authority has
extensive experience in many of these areas. Also on the task force are
representatives from the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Long
Island Power Authority, as well as from the renewable energy and alternative
fuel industries, agricultural and environmental organizations, local
government, the energy policy area, academia and the environmental justice,
green building and industry sectors. BUFFALO: Low-Cost Hydropower to Help Two Companies— Power Authority trustees have approved two lost-cost hydropower allocations from the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston that could lead to 53 new jobs in Western New York and a capital investment of $2.6 million. The companies are the Pop and Lock Corp., which manufactures merchandise for the agriculture, automotive, defense, and marine industries, and Ascension Industries, which produces fuel cells and customized products, including heat exchangers, air-handling equipment and industrial filtration systems. The Pop and Lock Corp., currently located in Ontario, Canada, is considering relocating to Western New York to lease a new manufacturing site, invest $630,000 and create 18 new jobs with the 200-kilowatt (kw) allocation. Ascension Industries plans to add 40,000 square feet of manufacturing space adjacent to the company’s current location in North Tonawanda, adding 35 employees to its current work force of 100. With its 150-kw allocation, Ascension plans to invest $2 million in the building and equipment. The Western New York Advisory Group, which includes NYPA, National Grid, Empire State Development Corp., the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise and the Niagara County Department of Economic Development, recommended the two allocations. Each will be drawn from “replacement power,” one of two blocks of Niagara industrial power reserved by New York law for businesses within a 30-mile radius of the hydroelectric project. MASSENA: Travel Campaign Promotes Northern New York—NYPA’s second summer travel campaign shows motorists that even with high gasoline prices, they can save money if they use the Power Authority’s “close-to-home” power project visitors centers, like the Hawkins Point Visitors Center here, and nearby attractions as vacation destinations. The campaign, “More Cruisin’ Less Fuelin’…No Foolin’!” promotes tourism in New York State and encourages energy-saving practices ranging from taking shorter trips to making homes more energy-efficient. In addition to the summer campaign, the Hawkins Point Visitors Center will host weekly free family-friendly movies on Thursdays through August 30. On August 11, the Power Dam Jam will fill the Visitors Center grounds with music and family fun. August 25 is the Classic Car Cruise-In, featuring fully restored classic cars. The September 16 Antique Truck Show features trucks from way back in time with their owners available to share first-hand knowledge of how trucks were made. The Visitors Center also has a group meeting room available free for community use. For more Hawkins Point information, please call (315) 764-0226, ext. 302 or 1-800-262-NYPA. To view NYPA’s statewide summer campaign, go to www.nypa.gov. LEWISTON: NYPA Supports ‘Paddles Up Niagara 2007’— The Power Authority will help to sponsor the Niagara River Greenway Commission’s second annual, non-competitive “Paddles Up Niagara” event on July 28, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on the Niagara River near Beaver Island State Park. The day-long program will include a traditional Native American Departure Ceremony at noon, followed by a 4.8-mile paddling event for kayak and canoe enthusiasts. The program will also offer a “Paddle Fair” in which the public can test kayaks and canoes with the help of paddle-sports retailers and company representatives. “Paddles Up Niagara” was first held in July 2006 as the commission tried to connect the 140 participants with the Niagara River. For more information visit www.niagaragreenway.org. MARCY: Power Authority Guard Wins Union Poster Contest— A security guard at the Power Authority’s Clark Energy Center here has taken first place in a national poster contest on safety sponsored by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Terri Goff, a NYPA employee since 1999, focused her entry on electrical safety in a plant. Her poster shows an electrical switch with a “red tag” signifying the switch is unsafe and should not be used before being repaired. Her slogan is, “Think before you work…A life may depend on it.” Goff will be honored at a July 17 luncheon at the Energy Center attended by senior IBEW and NYPA officials. She will receive a certificate and a $200 check. LONG ISLAND CITY: Authority Helps New Library With Books— The Power Authority has assisted in purchasing books for the newest branch of the Queens Library at Long Island City by presenting a check for $3,500 at the grand opening in June. The two-story, 18,000-square-foot library, located at 37-44 21st St., was built to accommodate the developing neighborhood, which previously had little access to public libraries. The Long Island City branch houses over 35,000 books, DVDs and other media devices; adult, teenager and children’s areas; and desktop and wireless computers. For more information visit www.queenslibrary.org. POTSDAM: NYPA Contributes to FIRST Joint Robotics Team— The Power Authority recently donated $3,000 to “Division By Zero,” the Clarkson University-Massena High School-Salmon River High School’s joint robotics team in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) program. The team is a component of Clarkson’s Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design (SPEED), offering future engineers and scientists positions in design-based educational events. The robot entered by “Division By Zero” won first place in the Long Island regional FIRST competition. NYPA’s donation was part of its continuing support of the FIRST program. |