NYPA Continues Major Strides in Sustainability Including Installation of First Fuel Cell at a Westchester Office Building

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., (January 13, 2010) - Power Authority (NYPA) President and Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Kessel today announced the roll-out of NYPA’s Sustainability Action Plan to formalize the implementation of future energy saving and environmental initiatives. NYPA showed its commitment to this effort by introducing a new clean operating fuel cell just installed at its White Plains office.

Kessel was joined by City of White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley, other elected officials, representatives from Federated Conservationists of Westchester County, Inc., other environmental organizations and Robert Byron, product manager, UTC Power stationary fuel cell business, to announce the new plan for future energy and environmental programs to be undertaken by NYPA.

Highlighting the announcement was the new energy saving 200 kilowatt (kw) fuel cell at NYPA’s downtown White Plains office building, which will generate 200 kw continuously, or about 1.6 million kilowatt hours annually, to supply approximately 20 percent of the building’s annual energy requirement. Waste heat from the unit will be used to heat and cool the office’s lobby areas.

This is the first fuel cell to be installed at an office building in Westchester County and its operation is expected to offset about 1,116 tons of carbon dioxide annually contributing to a cleaner environment.

"Leading by example is the way to show others of the benefits of making sustainability a part of everyday life—whether at work or in the home,” said Richard M. Kessel, president and chief executive officer, NYPA. “Sustainability is a practice long followed by the Power Authority. Today’s document formalizes the sustainability practices already underway and, most importantly, provides guidance on accomplishing even more in the future."

"The new fuel cell is a physical demonstration showing NYPA is not only ‘talking the talk’ but ‘walking the walk’ when it comes to continuing sustainability efforts at the Power Authority," Kessel added. "Sustainability is not new to the Power Authority but with the Sustainability Action Plan, we are saying to the public there is more we can do and more we will do to ensure a better environment for future generations," said Michael Townsend, chair, Board of Trustees, NYPA .

"The City of White Plains is delighted to be the host of NYPA's new energy saving fuel cell and appreciates NYPA's commitment to sustainability and energy savings," said Adam Bradley, mayor, City of White Plains. "As always, White Plains will look to NYPA for ways that it can improve its environmental footprint."

"NYPA has been a long-time customer and champion of using fuel cells to generate clean on-site power, and UTC Power is extremely pleased to have our fuel cell system powering this sustainable building," said Neal Montany, director, UTC Power stationary fuel cell business.

The NYPA Sustainability Action Plan was developed, written and produced by a diverse team of NYPA employees—ranging from environmental scientists to workplace safety professionals to facilities management experts to communication specialists. The plan combines NYPA’s longstanding energy saving and environmental conservation practices with future initiatives under one sustainability umbrella to achieve the goals of environmental stewardship, social equity and economic prosperity. The plan was reviewed by a wide-range of individuals and organizations across New York State to get community input prior to it being finalized

The plan, entitled Generating Sustainability, is comprised of five sections representing NYPA’s major areas of activities: workplace, community, environment, marketplace and operations. It includes 21 key focus areas ranging from health and safety to stakeholder engagement to climate change adaptation. While the plan establishes a long-term framework, in order to make an immediate impact NYPA has identified 41 separate actions that it will strive to complete between 2010 and 2012.

Among the focus areas includes continuing attention to Green Workspaces to keep work environments healthy for NYPA employees and building visitors. Currently, NYPA’s White Plains office uses environmentally-friendly cleaning products and materials. In addition, the plan seeks to develop green guidelines for office renovations which will incorporate LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Commercial Interior standards and is being implemented in the renovation underway on the building’s fifth floor.

In 2006, the NYPA White Plains office building received Gold-EB (existing building) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Program. It was the first building in New York State to receive this designation. The Gold designation signifies that that the Clarence D. Rappleyea Building, which is the name of NYPA’s White Plains office building, at 123 Main Street, meets the rigorous LEED performance standards for five key areas: sustainable site development, energy efficiency, water savings, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. NYPA has also installed a solar system and microturbine that generate energy used in the building.

The plan can be viewed on the Web at www.nypa.gov/sustainability/plan.pdf

NYPA has been a pioneer in demonstrating and installing fuel cells. Westchester County is home to the world’s first fuel cell operating using anaerobic digester gas (ADG), installed by NYPA in 1997, at the county’s waste water treatment facility in Yonkers where it continues to operate. ADG is a byproduct of sewage treatment and a renewable energy source. For more information about the NYPA fuel in Yonkers, see http://www.nypa.gov/services/profiles/yonkersfuelcell.htm.

The new NYPA fuel cell in White Plains is a demonstration model of a new generation of fuel cells.

Including the new fuel cell, NYPA has installed about 16 fuel cells. The Central Park Police Station was one of the only buildings in New York City to have lights during the August 2003 black-out due to a fuel cell installed by NYPA. NYPA has also installed fuel cells at the New York Aquarium, Bronx Zoo, North Central Bronx Hospital, the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and four waste water treatment complexes in New York City. An ongoing project has NYPA providing fuel cells for the World Trade Center site.

Fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical reaction without combustion. They are exceptionally clean and efficient, and require few moving parts, making them a quiet, reliable and safe source of power suitable for around-the-clock operation.

About NYPA:
The New York Power Authority 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 New York State and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. – About 75 percent of the electricity it produces is clean renewable hydropower. Its lower-cost power production and electricity purchases support hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the state. – For more information, www.nypa.gov

About UTC Power: 
UTC Power is part of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), which provides energy-efficient products and services to the aerospace and building industries. UTC is a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index each year since it was launched in 1999. Based in South Windsor, Conn., UTC Power is the world leader in developing and producing fuel cells that generate energy for buildings and for transportation, space and defense applications. For more information, please visit www.utcpower.com.