NEWS
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NY Power Authority Holds First Energy Conservation Seminar for Central New York’s School and Municipal Governments Contact: May 27, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Today at the Senator John H. Hughes Office Building, Kessel hosted the Power Authority’s first energy conservation seminar for Central New York school district and municipal government officials. “It is the goal of the Power Authority to reach out to every public and private school and all municipal governments in New York State to help them save energy without using any out-of-pocket expenses, for the benefit of their facilities and a cleaner environment,” said Kessel. “By offering a wide range of programs, the Power Authority will help public entities to implement energy efficiency projects that are a key element of Governor David Paterson’s “45 by 15” plan for the state to reduce energy use 45 percent by 2015.” In addition to smaller meetings around the state, the Syracuse seminar represents the first large-scale outreach on NYPA’s energy services programs in Central New York. It follows an earlier seminar held in Rochester this February. Another seminar is scheduled for June for the Albany region. Attending the seminar were representatives from school districts including North Syracuse, Hamilton and Solvay, among others. Also attending were elected officials including the town supervisors from Oswego, Skaneateles, Marcellus and Cato, and staff members from the offices of several regional senators and assembly members. The energy conservation seminar was held in the Hughes State Office Building where NYPA completed in May 2008 a comprehensive $1.7 million energy efficiency project undertaken in partnership with the New York State Office of General Services, the owners and operators of the building. As a result of this project, the Hughes State Office Building will have annual electrical saving approximating 360,000-kilowatt hours and valued at nearly $30,000. Its heating requirements will be reduced by 6,915 MMbtu’s (Million British Thermal Units) valued at nearly $44,000 per year. The combined energy reductions will yield annual savings of just about $74, 000. This project also achieved the reduction of about 590 tons of greenhouse gases which is the equivalent of removing about 120 cars annually from the roadways. NYPA supervises all phases of an energy conservation project for program participants, beginning with an audit to identify opportunities to save energy and reduce costs. NYPA’s supervision continues through installation of such features as high efficiency lighting, motors, boilers and chillers; lighting occupancy sensors; and computerized energy management systems. NYPA will finance all up-front costs with low-interest loans that will be repaid through the energy cost savings, after which program participants will retain all the savings. There are no out-of-pocket expenses on the part of participants. NYPA will also help participants identify potential state and federal funds that may be available to lower overall project costs and discuss the potential for new, clean energy technologies within a facility. NYPA has been a leader statewide in energy efficiency and conservation projects. In 2008, NYPA financed $116 million in energy efficiency projects and now has surpassed $1.28 billion of cumulative financing since the 1980s. The Power Authority’s energy-saving projects at public facilities have reduced energy bills statewide by $111 million annually, saved more than 2.1 million barrels of oil per year and 214 megawatts of demand reduction. The work has also cut annual emissions of greenhouse gases by more than 800,000 tons annually. Any school districts or municipal governments interested in further information on the energy services programs offered by NYPA, please contact the Power Authority’s Business Development Office at 518-433-6734. ■ NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. ■ NYPA is a leader in promoting energy-efficiency, new energy technologies and electric transportation initiatives. ■ It is the nation’s largest state-owned electric utility, with 18 generating facilities in various parts of the state and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. For more information, www.nypa.gov. |
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