Latest news with #NYPA
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Companies considering 2 gigawatt of data centers near NY hydropower sites, power authority says
NEW YORK, June 9 (Reuters) - Companies are considering building 2 gigawatts of data centers near New York Power Authority hydropower facilities, New York Power Authority (NYPA) CEO Justin Driscoll said on Monday at a conference. Technology companies are spending tens of billions of dollars this year alone to build and power their energy-intensive AI data centers, which are expected to propel U.S. power use to record highs this year and in 2026. Prospective data centers near NYPA's hydropower plants would be on top of the 2.5 gigawatts of data centers, and other very large energy users, that New York's grid operator estimates will come online by 2035. 'Many may not materialize, but there is no question that we need more generation and transmission to attract and serve these companies,' Driscoll said at an event during New York Energy Week, without specifying any particular company. One gigawatt of electricity is enough to power about 800,000 homes.
New York Post
4 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
NY auctions off unused decorative lights in $100 million Cuomo boondoggle
The lights have finally gone out on this project. In an extraordinary fire sale, the state Power Authority is auctioning off a huge storehouse of unused decorative bridge lights — which were supposed to be part of a $106 million project to brighten up the city's spans by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but which never got installed. With a minimum bid of just $25, the lights are only expected to fetch pennies on the dollar — and leave the state out a massive amount of cash for the failed lighting project, officials told The Post of the sale, which was was first reported by Politico. Advertisement 5 In an extraordinary fire sale, the state Power Authority is auctioning off a huge storehouse of unused decorative bridge lights. AP Cuomo announced the 'New York Harbor Crossings Project' in 2017, which was supposed to slap multi-colored light fixtures on all nine MTA bridges and tunnels, along with the Port Authority's Hudson River crossings and the Thruway Authority's Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Critics lampooned the decorative lighting show as an unnecessary vanity project, at a time when breakdowns in transit service caused what was dubbed 'the summer of hell.' Advertisement Facing outrage over a declining subway service, Cuomo suspended the bridge lights program after buying $106 million worth of the lights and equipment, putting them in storage. 5 The lights were supposed to be part of a $106 million project to brighten up the city's spans by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but which never got installed. William Farrington Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York. The bulbs have been gathering dust in storage for eight years after Cuomo promised the harbor light show would 'blow people away.' Advertisement NYPA has paid about $300,000 a year in storage costs, bringing to the total tab of the bridge light project to $108 million. The unused lights became an orphan, after Cuomo resigned as governor amid sexual misconduct accusations he denies. MTA senior management, which had more pressing problems, wanted nothing to do with the light show. 5 Critics lampooned the decorative lighting show as an unnecessary vanity project, at a time when breakdowns in transit service in that was dubbed 'the summer of hell.' AP 'We have tried to repurpose these lights. Despite these efforts to identify new uses across the state, demand was not what was expected, so the next logical step is to auction the lights,' said NYPA spokeswoman Linday Kryzak. Advertisement Transit advocates and government watchdogs said the light show boondoggle calls into question the claims by Cuomo and his backers that he's a good manager. 'Andrew Cuomo can talk about building big stuff but he's noted for boondoggles that allowed transit service for millions of people to slide toward a cliff,' said Danny Pearlstein, spokesman for the NYC Riders Alliance. 5 NYPA has paid about $300,000 a year in storage costs, bringing to the total tab of the bridge light project to $108 million. STEPHEN YANG It's not the only arguably wasteful project pushed by Cuomo. As The Post reported, he also ordered the MTA to burn as much as $30 million to retile two city tunnels — the Brooklyn Battery and Queens Midtown — in the state's blue-and-gold color scheme, instead of using the dough for desperately needed subway repairs. The agency originally ordered white tiles. 5 Transit advocates and government watchdogs said the light show boondoggle calls into question the claims by Cuomo and his backers that he's a good manager. STEPHEN YANG 'This is a guy whose supporters tell us is a management genius. This bridge light project was a boondoggle, debacle and fiasco rolled into one,' said John Kaehny, executive director of the watchdog group Reinvent Albany. 'Cuomo stuck taxpayers with this gigantic bill. It was government by ego, by whim Sometimes you make mistakes when managing during a crisis. This was premeditated mismanagement,' he said. Advertisement Cuomo's campaign declined to comment. Gov. Kathy Hochul — who was lieutenant governor at the time — also declined to comment.
E&E News
13-05-2025
- Business
- E&E News
NYPA plans studies before making moves to shut down fossil fuel plants
ALBANY, New York — The New York Power Authority determined that a legislative mandate to shut down its fleet of small gas power plants by 2030 requires more study. NYPA quietly released the transition plan for the 11 fossil fuel plants in New York City and Long Island on Friday. The plan, required as part of the 2023 state budget deal, identifies a need for additional steps to ensure that shutting down any or all of the plants does not increase emissions or risk electric system reliability. Why it matters: The proposed retirement of NYPA's peakers — called that because they typically run only on the hottest days when demand for power peaks — poses a risk to reliability in New York City, according to the state's grid operator. Advertisement The plants were rushed through environmental reviews and sited in low-income, predominantly Black and brown communities when they were built amid a power crunch in 2001. Environmental justice groups support closing them to reduce pollution in neighboring communities.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Massena Central Raider Academy students, NYPA form program partnership
Apr. 14—MASSENA — Some Massena Central School students have teamed up with the New York Power Authority on an enrichment program that focuses on hands-on projects. Sixth grade teacher Paige Arcet said fifth and sixth grade students who attend the district's after-school Raider Academy take part in the Empowered Schools initiative. "We're happy to share that we're in our third year with the enrichment program for the Empowered Schools program at NYPA," she told school board members. "We've been using a project-based learning method of teaching and learning to engage our students with an authentic learning opportunity and experience in the science field." Arcet said the program and curriculum begins with training teachers prior to the start of school year, as well as "continued virtual support throughout the year." "This is something that we have done on our own time as we participate in becoming better educators and stewards of energy efficiency," she said. She said the program focuses on integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, English language arts and math (STEAM). "We integrate the lessons each month into our Raider Academy enrichment time. Throughout the program, the students become ambassadors for energy conservation in their schools, homes and communities. The program also provides hands-on activities and lessons and promotes a fostering environment for stewardship, authentic learning, and community engagement," Arcet said. She said Massena students participated in the Empowered Schools first annual virtual summit last year. "They presented their capstone project that was focusing on raising awareness of energy efficiency and ways in which students could take action to help reduce energy costs at school and home. The students were engaged in learning how to do energy audits at our school, and they analyzed the school's energy costs by looking at reports provided. They created posters to hang around the school to raise awareness and share ideas, and they also presented all of their learning at the virtual summit as we guided them through the process," Arcet said. She said managers they work with from the Power Authority's Environmental Department provided teachers and students with ongoing support, "everything from technology, monthly meetings with us on our own time, and engagement with local NYPA employees, staff and volunteers." "They provide everyone that was involved with amazing lunches. They have catered Italian Affair, and the kids love it and we all love it. They also planned a very fun and engaging fishing clinic with the New York Power Authority and the Department of Environmental Conservation employees and volunteers that was held at Hawkins Point last June," she said. She said students are continuing their authentic learning experience this year. "We are immersed currently in another capstone project. The students chose the topic of the emerald ash borer and the environmental and cultural impact that this invasive species has on our local environment, as well as our local indigenous culture," Arcet said. "It's not my area of expertise, so we're all learning. We have invited guest speakers to come and speak to us and our students that are very knowledgeable in working with that topic. They have supported us and our students in the learning that they have been involved in. We have also recruited some high school students who were referred from their science teachers." The students will have an opportunity to showcase their work during the second annual virtual summit on May 28 at the Nicandri Nature Center. "The whole experience engages them in this very amazing learning process from start to finish and very important life-long skills that they obtain from it," Arcet said.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Electric vehicle charging stations open in Watkins Glen
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (WETM) — People who drive electric vehicles can now charge their cars while visiting Watkins Glen. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced that it installed four electric charging stations in a municipal lot at Clute Park off of state Route 414 in the Village of Watkins Glen. The fast-charging stations are now open for public use and can charge vehicles in as little as 20 minutes in the right conditions. 'We are elated to bring this service to our community and are grateful to the New York Power Authority for their expertise and collaboration as we strive to expand our sustainable actions to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions,' said Watkins Glen Mayor Laurie DeNardo. Dandy announces new EV charging station in Elmira The NYPA said DeNardo supported the state power organization's efforts to install the chargers because more than 1.3 million people visit the area each year for Watkins Glen State Park, the Finger Lakes, and racing. Additionally, DeNardo said local residents had expressed interest in electric vehicle charging service expansions. With the addition of the new chargers at the southern end of Seneca Lake, the state's EVolve NY network now has a total of 232 chargers at 56 sites. The combined charging system (CCS) connectors in these chargers range from 25 kilowatts to 350 kilowatts, and the new EV chargers in Watkins have the highest charging speed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
