Executive Speeches

Remarks of Eugene W. Zeltmann, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Power Authority, at check presentation to the State University of New York College at Cobleskill for construction of two fish ponds on the campus, Cobleskill, New York

February 16, 2005

Thank you, President (Tom) Haas.  It’s a great pleasure to be here at SUNY Cobleskill to support your outstanding fish hatchery and aquaculture program.

The Power Authority’s gift to the college today is also very much a gift to ourselves.  Our $20,000 grant will be used to construct two ponds on the campus for the cultivation of walleye.  And these fish will eventually find their way into the reservoirs at our Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project.

We appreciate the help of the Schoharie County Conservation Association in developing this initiative—and we’re pleased that Doug Handy, the Association’s president, is with us this afternoon.  The Association has been working with SUNY Cobleskill to stock more walleye in Schoharie County waters.  Certainly, the project we’re announcing today should advance that goal quite nicely.

We all know that fish travel in schools.  But—unlike the others—our walleye will be college graduates.  It remains to be seen whether what they learn at SUNY Cobleskill will make them harder to hook when they get to Blenheim-Gilboa.

What is certain is that the Power Authority is committed to maintaining a quality recreational fishery in both the upper and lower reservoirs at the power project.

Each year we restock the two reservoirs—in part with trout developed in SUNY Cobbleskill’s fish hatchery program.  In 2004, we purchased more than 2,000 brown and tiger trout from the college.

Our restocking needs are likely to increase. Beginning in September 2006, we’ll carry out a four-year, $135 million life extension and modernization program at Blenheim-Gilboa.  This will ensure the project’s efficient operation for many years to come.  But it will also require us to lower the water level in the upper reservoir each fall until the program is complete. So there’s a pretty good chance we’ll lose some fish.

Their eminent replacements will come from the fish ponds to be built here.  So, you see, by donating this money, the Power Authority isn’t just fishing for compliments.  We’re helping ourselves as well – and helping the fishermen who rely on our reservoirs.

I’m pleased to note that SUNY Cobleskill students will participate in all phases of this project—from design, construction and fertilization of the ponds to water quality monitoring, and rearing, harvesting and delivery of the fish.  We welcome the students’ involvement and hope it will enhance their educational experience.

This innovative project is typical of the Power Authority’s productive partnership with the State University.  Under Governor Pataki’s leadership, we work with SUNY campuses across the state on a wide range of beneficial activities.

In fact, we’ve recently joined with SUNY Cobleskill to study the potential of animal waste digestion and biomass gasification as clean, renewable power sources for the college.  So the cooperative relationship that we mark today is already branching out into promising new areas.

Statewide, the Power Authority has invested more than $64 million in completed energy-efficiency projects at SUNY facilities.  These projects save the SUNY campuses a total of over $10 million a year on electric bills—money that can instead be used in classrooms and libraries and for other essential purposes.  They also cut annual emissions of greenhouse gases by close to 60,000 tons.

We’re also clearing the air—and cutting dependence on foreign oil—with clean transportation initiatives that have put more than 200 electric vehicles into SUNY fleets.

By any measure, the Power Authority’s partnership with SUNY—including our expanding relationship here at Cobleskill—is good for us, good for SUNY and great for the people of New York State.

Today, I’m delighted to strengthen that partnership by presenting this symbolic check for $20,000 to President Haas for the construction of the new fish ponds.  Let me assure you we have a real one with us, too.