Executive Speeches

Excerpts from remarks of Frank S. McCullough, Jr., chairman of the New York Power Authority, at the announcement of a $5.7 million energy efficiency project for facilities operated by the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority, Lake Placid, New York.

October 12, 2006

It’s great to be back in Lake Placid at this beautiful time of year.  And—as an alumnus of St. Lawrence University—let me say that I fully expect to return in March for the Frozen Four to see the Lady Saints win the NCAA women’s hockey championship.

Today is special in its own right as the New York Power Authority begins a new chapter in its very productive partnership with the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

ORDA—and the Village of Lake Placid—have shown the world how outstanding Olympic facilities can be maintained and enhanced long after the Games themselves have ended and the flame has been extinguished.  The Power Authority—under Governor Pataki’s leadership—is proud to be part of this effort.

We are also proud of our relationships with ORDA—and with the village of Lake Placid.

We began providing low-cost hydroelectric power to the Lake Placid municipal electric system back in 1967.  That power is now more valuable than ever. And our role has expanded over time to include other initiatives aimed at assuring a reliable power supply while protecting the environment and cutting dependence on imported oil.

Right now, we’re moving ahead on plans with the village to install energy efficient refrigerators in public housing units.  And we hope to do more—based on audits last year that showed significant potential for energy savings among local residential and business customers.

Meanwhile, Lake Placid is among the participants in a Power Authority program to help the state’s municipal systems and rural cooperatives obtain electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.  The village has used NYPA financing to purchase three hybrid trucks.

Along with Lake Placid, the Village of Tupper Lake and National Grid, we’re also implementing the landmark agreement to resolve the Tri-Lakes region’s longstanding power-service problems.

The new 46-kilovolt power line is scheduled to be ready for the winter of 2008-09.  But the agreement goes well beyond that to focus on energy efficiency and new technologies.  And, in this regard, the Power Authority will contribute $2 million for “green building” technologies in the superb new Lake Placid Conference Center.

Our work with ORDA out on the mountains complements and builds upon what we’re doing inside the village—and we’re very enthused about the new project we’re announcing today.  I know our next speaker will have more to say about that.

It’s my pleasure to introduce the president and chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority—Tim Carey.