|
NYPA in Central New York
In Central New York—an area encompassing the
Syracuse and Rochester metropolitan areas, the Capital Region and the Southern
Tier—the Power Authority operates the
Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage
project in Gilboa, Schoharie County, and three
small hydro-electric
projects. Our Gregory B. Jarvis Plant is located at Hinkley Dam and
Reservoir in Oneida County, and two other small-hydro facilities, on the Mohawk River,
just west of Albany, are Vischer Ferry, straddling Saratoga and
Schenectedy counties, and the Crescent plant in Albany and Saratoga
counties.
In addition to our generating plants, NYPA facilities
in the area include our Albany headquarters office, and the
Frederick R. Clark Energy Center in Marcy, Oneida County, which
coordinates the operation of our statewide network of power plants
and transmission facilities.
It’s been said that the road to electric industry
competition and customer choice runs through our Marcy substation
near Utica. That’s where we’ve installed the world’s most advanced
transmission control device. Our convertible static compensator (CSC)
gives consumers greater access to lower cost electricity by
permitting more power to be carried on existing transmission lines, permitting an
increase in power flows of 120,000 kilowatts (kw) on the
heavily-used transmission lines between Utica and Albany and 240,000
kw statewide.
Economic Development and Jobs
Low-cost
power supplied by NYPA protects approximately 100,000 jobs at some 285 companies and non-profit agencies in
Central New York. Power for Jobs helps Utica's Matt's Brewing
Company, a
specialty beer brewer, stay competitive and protect jobs. We also provide some of our low-cost power to
investor-owned utilities for resale without profit to their
customers and to municipally owned and rural-cooperative electric
systems. (Learn more about our economic
development programs.)
Energy Efficiency and New Technologies
We
have completed a variety of energy-efficiency projects at public
facilities in Central New York, helping lower energy costs by more
than $13 million a year. In the Capital District alone, we’ve
invested nearly $50 million in high-efficiency lighting and
other measures at facilities such as the Empire State Plaza, Albany
International Airport, the State University at Albany, Schenectady
City Hall and Scotia-Glenville schools. We have a long-standing
partnership with the SUNY
College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) in Syracuse that
has included energy-efficiency upgrades, a new high-temperature
carbonate fuel cell and two state-of-the-art chillers and other
cooling improvements. The combined results of these
improvements save SUNY ESF about $170,000 annually and have and
reduced oil consumption by 2, 500 barrels a year.A regional sampling:
-
At SUNY
Brockport, new developments in an existing campuswide program
include chillers, boiler conversions and HVAC system upgrades in
four separate buildings; and replacement of windows, air
handling units, steam traps, motors and energy management system
upgrades.
-
At the
Governor’s Executive Mansion in Albany, at the request of the
Governor’s office, NYPA conducted an energy audit that has led
to programming of a variety of energy-efficiency measures,
ranging from installation of new Energy Star® kitchen appliances
to planned lighting projects and a solar photovoltaic
installation.
-
Following
earlier projects, work has begun on a chiller replacement
project for an Albany Central Schools facility.
-
In Utica and
Cobleskill, NYPA officials this spring conducted orientation
sessions for school district superintendents and facilities
managers on the newly legislated Power To Schools program. It
authorizes NYPA to assist all public and private schools
statewide with energy efficiency and clean energy projects.
Energy audits and feasibility studies have been planned for the
Guilderland and Ballston Spa central school districts.
Tentatively, a similar study, including adoption of lighting,
sensors, an energy management system upgrade and boiler/burner
replacements will be developed for possible application by the
South Glens Falls Central School District.
-
NYPA plans
replacement of three burners and three boilers on the campus of
SUNY Albany East, as part of the university’s ongoing statewide
Energy Strategic Plan.
We have had a hand in putting more than 970
electric and hybrid- electric vehicles in service with our customers
and in our own operations. Our efforts
to promote electric-drive transportation
are helping to create a cleaner environment. That’s true as well for
our initiatives to demonstrate and advance cleaner new energy
technologies such as fuel cells and solar power. One of our rooftop
solar photovoltaic projects is located in Amsterdam. (Learn more about our energy efficiency,
new technology and
clean transportation initiatives.)
Community Involvement
The U.S. Department of the Interior honored the
Power Authority with its highest outdoor recreation award for the
varied conservation, recreational and cultural facilities developed
as part of the Blenheim–Gilboa project. In addition to building the
650-acre Mine Kill State Park, we restored
Lansing Manor and operate
it as a museum in conjunction with the Schoharie County Historical
Society. We also maintain an award-winning 2 1/2-mile Bluebird
trail. At the Blenheim-Gilboa project’s admission-free
visitors
center, we play host to over 40,000 visitors each year. Many of them
are students who come to participate in energy education, electrical
safety and environmental programs. In addition to staging an array
of activities at the B-G project, the Power Authority co-sponsors
community events and festivals in Central New York. Check our
web
calendar for community events nearest you.
|
|
NYPA in:
News:
January 27, 2009 -
Low-Cost Hydropower to Spur Construction
of Bleach Production Plant in Mohawk Valley and Creation of 54 New Jobs
|