Published: November 19, 2008 08:45 pm      

NYPA: Trustees make local visit, listen to concerns

The New York State Power Authority’s trustees came to Buffalo to lend a closer ear to the concerns of a beleagured Western New York population and economy. The message sent by area leaders was clear: Let us have our local power.

The November meeting of the state agency’s board of trustees marks the first time it has gathered in the Western New York area. Traditionally, the agency has stuck close to its base of operations in White Plains.

Additionally, Wednesday’s meeting provided the first opportunity for members of the public to come and speak to the agency’s board directly. The new venue and development of a public forum was the initiative of Richard Kessel, the new president and CEO of the Power Authority.

Kessel undertook the changes in hopes of creating a more accessible and transparent organization for the public.

“I think having this meeting in Buffalo is an important step in recognizing our customers in Western and Upstate New York,” Kessel said. “We want the public to have an accessible outlet for their concerns.”

If the meeting’s success could be gauged by the level of public participation in the new format, Kessel, who has been on the job for only a month, could be onto something. Eleven speakers, both local mayors and supervisors, as well as independent businessmen and researchers, came from areas in Erie and Niagara counties to address the board.

The primary call to action centered on a reduction of the price per kilowatt of electricity in the western part of the state. Mayors and businessmen alike agreed the proximity of the Niagara Falls hydroelectric plant should allow nearby municipalities to offer companies cheap power as an incentive for doing business in the region.

“The economy is very uncertain right now. We’re still waiting for the other shoe to drop,” said Lockport Mayor Michael Tucker. “I believe that we, the residents of Western New York, deserve the great economic resource of cheap power.”

Stephen Fitzmaurice, chief operating officer of Seneca One Realty, agreed. His company, which owns the HSBC Center and large areas of commercial land in downtown Buffalo, feels an area of reduced-price commercial power in the city would be attractive to businesses looking to set up shop.

“We need to recognize our new economy. While some jobs have gone overseas, service sector jobs like banking and information technology are still here,” he said. “We need to find a way to get this cheap power to our local businesses, because right now our policy is upside-down.”

The concerns of small towns in Niagara County were also an issue of discussion. Town of Lewiston Supervisor Fred Newlin appeared before the board to discuss the reinvestment of surplus energy, which several towns in the county collectively sell back to the grid. Newlin feels the current return, roughly 2 cents per kilowatt, is much less than they could be getting.

Newlin was also concerned about the pressures put on small fire companies, like those in Lewiston, by the maintenance of state power facilities in rural areas.

“Your large facilities based in rural areas like Lewiston put huge responisibilities on small fire companies responsible for their fire prevention,” he said. “The Power Authority should contribute to the maintenance of those fire companies just like the residents do.”

Newlin’s suggestion was acknowledged by Acting Chairman Michael Townsend as a “no-brainer.”

The board assured the public they were working closely with Gov. David Paterson to explore ways of increasing available energy to the Upstate region. A project involving cooperation with Canadian power companies along the New York-Quebec border is currently in negotiations.

“I think we have the opportunity to help local businesses and municipalities through maintaining an effective and efficient power authority,” Kessel said. “Now is the time to make a difference, and we can start right here in Buffalo.”

Rick Ahrens is a contributor to the Gazette.