Energy Services Programs

Project Profile:  Banishing N. Y. Schools’ Ancient Coal Furnaces Making Clean Air a Reality for Kids

Children at public schools in New York City and Buffalo and on Long Island are breathing easier thanks to two Power Authority-administered programs to replace old, polluting coal-fired furnaces with clean natural gas- and oil-fueled boilers.

Coal furnaces at 74 schools have been replaced under the Clean Air for Schools Program, using funds from Governor George E. Pataki’s Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996.

Separately, NYPA oversaw replacement of coal burning furnaces at 12 New York City schools under a $14 million pilot program using NYPA funds and money provided through a federal program to recover overcharges from oil companies (the Petroleum Overcharge Restitution Fund).

Some of the units being replaced date to the early years of the 20th century. Replacing the furnaces has eliminated the emission of hundreds of tons of sulfur dioxide and other pollutants.

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