LEWISTON: Power Allocations Help Create 58 WNY Jobs— Power Authority trustees in September approved low-cost Niagara Power Project hydropower allocations to two Western New York companies. Unifrax, a manufacturer of high-performance insulation products in Tonawanda, will receive a 3,500-kilowatt (kw) allocation that will help create 50 new jobs. Devil’s Hole Distilling Company, a startup firm in Lewiston that is expected to produce premium vodka and other distilled spirits, would receive an allocation of 400 kw and is expected to create eight jobs. The Western New York Advisory Group, consisting of representatives from the Power Authority, National Grid, Empire State Development Corporation, the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise and the Niagara County Center for Economic Development, recommended the power allocations. Unifrax and Devil’s Hole are the latest of 82 businesses allotted hydropower since the advisory group was formed in 2003. Low-cost power from the Niagara Power Project supports more than 44,000 jobs at about 125 companies in the Buffalo-Niagara region.

MASSENA: Emergency Drills Prepare Teams for Worst— A midweek evening simulated “emergency” at the Power Authority’s St. Lawrence-FDR hydroelectric power project on Oct. 9 activated local and state police, the U.S. Coast Guard, the St. Lawrence County Emergency Management Office, area fire units, hospitals and Emergency Medical Services staffs. They reacted to several prearranged scenarios producing “casualties” within the project or on the grounds, requiring immediate transport to area medical facilities. NYPA and outside emergency specialists tested communication capabilities, command structures, equipment and staffing availability, and overall coordination among all agencies. Participants took part in a follow-up analysis of all activities, with the aim of fine-tuning the responses to enhance safety and security of the entire region. A similar drill was conducted on Oct. 18 at NYPA’s Clark Energy Center in Marcy, where local and state agencies and Clark staff reacted to mock emergencies. Such drills “fine-tune” response measures and identify possible deficiencies and additional needs in the event of actual incidents.

WHITE PLAINS: Power Authority Names Senior Vice President—Jim Yates, a veteran of more than 30 years in the electric utility industry, has been promoted to senior vice president of marketing and economic development at NYPA. Yates, previously vice president, major accounts, has served in various leadership roles in NYPA’s marketing department. Yates will oversee NYPA’s administration of low-cost power allocation programs for economic development that protect about 445,000 jobs throughout New York State. He is also responsible for spearheading the joint planning process NYPA undertakes with its New York City and Westchester County government customers for meeting their energy needs under contracts. Yates joined the Power Authority staff in 1995 as director of business marketing and economic development.

HERE AND THERE: Tricks, Treats Set for Visitors Centers— Witches, ghouls, goblins and ghosts, not to mention Ariel the Mermaid and a few super heroes, are expected to drop by the Power Authority’s power project visitors centers on Oct. 27 as NYPA gears up for Halloween with a host of frightfully fun activities for trick-or-treaters and their families. Costumes are encouraged when the Niagara Power Project’s Power Vista in Lewiston transforms into a haunted house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; prizes will be handed out for the best costumes from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A “Spooky Halloween” is also on tap at the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project Visitors Center in North Blenheim, Schoharie County, with scary games, scary stories, hayrides and more from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project’s Hawkins Point Visitors Center in Massena will also host a community Halloween party. Visit www.nypa.gov for more information for all three sites.

SYRACUSE: NYPA Holds Hearing on Hydropower Contracts— The Power Authority will hold a hearing on contract extension agreements for the sale of low-cost hydropower from its Niagara and St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt power projects to National Grid, New York State Electric & Gas and Rochester Gas & Electric for their residential customers. The hearing will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 8 at Syracuse City Hall, 233 East Washington St., in the Common Council Chamber. Proposed agreements allot a total of 455 megawatts (mw) of firm power and 360 mw of firm peaking power for the three upstate utilities until June 30, 2008. The Power Authority board approved the contract extensions in July, on an interim basis, with the agreements commencing on Sept. 1. The agreements, subject to approval by Gov. Eliot Spitzer, are viewable on NYPA’s website, www.nypa.gov, by clicking on the link, “November Public Hearing on Hydro Contracts.”