Oct. 06, 2009

New York Power Authority (NYPA) President and Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Kessel and Westchester County Executive Andrew J. Spano on Monday, Oct. 5 were at the White Plains courthouse to announce one of the county’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) installations.

The project, now under construction at the low-rise courthouse in downtown White Plains, is an initiative that is part of a partnership between NYPA and Westchester County government that saves millions of dollars in energy costs and reduces carbon emissions.

The solar installation is one of 30 clean energy initiatives being undertaken by NYPA and Westchester County, including solar and wind power, hybrid vehicles, energy efficient boilers, and lighting replacement improvements. The ongoing initiatives are expected to save almost $2.5 million a year in energy costs and remove nearly 4,000 tons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere annually.

“This project is just the tip of the iceberg,'' said Spano. "In partnership with NYPA, we have 30 initiatives at various stages that, in addition to saving us millions, will remove hundreds of tons of carbon from the air. If every government in every state would do the same, just think of the benefits to the environment.”

 “Westchester County has been a valued partner to NYPA for nearly two decades,” Kessel said. “We’ve worked together on dozens of projects over the years—including initiatives currently underway—and are pleased to now be able to jointly announce one of the largest solar initiatives in the county.”

The PV system has a capacity of 124 kilowatts (kw) and should be ready for operation by the end of the year, helping to reduce the on-site electricity demand.

Since the early 1990s, NYPA has worked with Westchester County, a Power Authority electricity customer, to advance energy technologies and energy efficiency projects. In total, NYPA has completed 25 projects at 32 facilities in the county, saving taxpayers more than $1.6 million a year and reducing greenhouse gases by more than 16,000 tons annually. The facilities have included schools, hospitals, wastewater treatment facilities, and municipal buildings.

The Power Authority is also working with the county on a PV installation in Valhalla with a capacity of 70 kw, which is being installed at a support-services building owned by the county Department of Emergency Services. The excess electricity generation, beyond the power for meeting the building’s needs, will be exported to several public buildings in Valhalla, including the medical center, through an electric distribution network. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

In addition, NYPA and the county are teaming together on about a dozen other energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives.

The Power Authority is a leader in promoting energy-efficiency and new energy technologies and is the nation’s largest state-owned electric utility with 18 generating plants and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines in various parts of the state.