Executive Speeches

Remarks of Eugene W. Zeltmann, president and chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority, at NYPA check presentation for improvements at Grand Ferry Park, Brooklyn.

June 10, 2004

(Introduced by Julius Spiegel, Brooklyn Borough Parks Commissioner)

Thank you, Commissioner Spiegel.  It’s a great pleasure to be here in Williamsburg—one of the most remarkable and energetic neighborhoods in the entire world.

In this small enclave there are almost as many languages spoken as at the United Nations.  It’s also among the city’s most densely populated neighborhoods and has become world-famous as a refuge from persecution abroad.

That’s all the more reason to invest in improvements that will add to the community’s enjoyment of Grand Ferry Park—making it a refuge within a refuge.

The Power Authority’s support for this initiative continues our long tradition of trying to be a good neighbor in the areas that play host to our projects.

The small power plant nearby—and the five others we’ve installed elsewhere in New York City—are the city’s cleanest power sources, thanks to the advanced environmental controls we’ve provided on each of them.

We’re also carrying out an innovative $23 million program to more than offset even the minimal emissions from the small plants by reducing those from other sources in the city.

As one element of this program, we worked closely with Community Board One on a project to reduce emissions at the TriBoro Shelving Company—located just two blocks away in the same part of Williamsburg where Corning Glass and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals got their start in the 19th century.

Also under our emissions offset program, we donated an electric school bus to the United Talmudical Academy in Williamsburg.  We’re equipping about 1,000 school buses that operate here and in other parts of the city with emissions controls—and are helping to pay for cleaner fuel for as many as 2,800 school buses.

In addition, as part of the offset program, we’ve installed eight clean fuel cell power plants at city wastewater treatment facilities.  Half of those fuel cells are at two treatment plants here in Brooklyn.

In the borough alone, we’ve invested more than $116 million in completed energy-efficiency projects at nearly 270 schools and other public facilities.  These projects reduce annual greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 92,000 tons.  We’ve also provided a number of emission-free electric vehicles in Brooklyn—including a Ford Think neighbor now being used by Community Board One.

This park project is the result of our extensive discussions with the Community Board.  We asked how we could best meet the community’s needs and wishes—and funding for enhancements at Grand Ferry Park headed the list.

We greatly appreciate the Community Board’s work with us on this, on the TriBoro project and on other issues.  In particular, I want to thank Board Chairman Vincent Abate, District Manager Jerry Esposito and member Debra Masters.  Their dedication and insight have been invaluable.

As I said, this is truly an amazing neighborhood.  And before long, people will be able to proclaim that a park has grown in Brooklyn—a small patch of paradise right here in Williamsburg.  The Power Authority is proud to help make this happen.

I’d now like to present this larger than life-sized check for $300,000 to Commissioner Spiegel for the Grand Ferry Park improvements. And don’t worry, Commissioner—we have a real check for you, too.