Additional Lower Cost Power Approved for
Economic Development in Westchester
Contact:
Mike Saltzman
(914) 390-8181
saltzman.m@nypa.gov
February 20, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHITE PLAINSThe New York Power Authority (NYPA) trustees on Tuesday approved an
additional 10,000-kilowatt (kw) allocation of lower-cost power for the County of
Westchester Public Utility Service Agency (COWPUSA) that should help the county bring
about the growth of businesses and jobs.
The new allocation doubles the amount of power that COWPUSA now receives from a block
of power reserved for municipal utility service agencies in New York State for industrial
economic development.
A total of six Westchester businesses and not-for-profit organizations, employing
nearly 1,500 people, now receive NYPA power, as COWPUSA customers: Englehard Corp.,
Peekskill; Excelsior Transparent Bag, Yonkers; Precision Valve, Yonkers; World Class Film,
Yonkers; Montefiore Medical Center, Yonkers; and Ciba Specialty, Tarrytown.
"Were pleased to be able to build on our successful partnership with
Westchester County by making this additional power available to its utility service agency
for future allocations," said NYPA President Gene Zeltmann. "It promises to add
to the total of more than 18,000 jobs in the county that are now linked to various
allocation programs administered by the Power Authority, including Governor Patakis
hugely successful Power for Jobs
program."
Zeltmann also cited the Power
Authoritys energy-efficiency efforts for Westchester public facilities, such as
schools and municipal buildings, that have resulted in a savings of about $6 million a
year for the countys taxpayers.
"Im confident were going to be able to maximize the benefits of the
additional 10,000 kw to spur investments and job growth here," said Westchester
County Executive Andrew Spano, noting that the county and NYPA reached an agreement last
August that included increasing the amount of lower-cost power available to COWPUSA, to
20,000 kw.
The agreement concerned issues regarding NYPAs sale of its Indian Point
3 Nuclear Plant, in northern Westchester, to the Energy Corp., a large nuclear
operator based in New Orleans. The sale, which was completed late last year, also included
the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant on Lake Ontario, near Oswego.
As part of the transaction with Entergy, the Power Authority was assured of continued
electricity from the FitzPatrick plant for various customers, including COWPUSA and other
municipal utility service agencies.
NYPA last increased the amount of power available to the Westchester Public Utility
Service Agency in 1994, from 3,690 kw to 10,000 kw.
The agency will negotiate with the Consolidated Edison Co. the terms and conditions for
expanded delivery service for its latest NYPA allocation.
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