2006

FOR RELEASE:     June 8, 2006 AM Release
CONTACT:            Peter Sigurdson, NYSERDA, (716) 842-1522 ext. 3006
                            Peter McMahon Supervisor Grand Island (716) 773-9600

Grand Island Partners with NYSERDA in Town-wide Energy Efficiency Improvement Program

Grand Island, NY - The Town of Grand Island is close to completing a municipal-wide energy-efficiency upgrade project, involving six buildings and a wide range of energy improvements expected to save local taxpayers more than $66,000 annually.  The project received $224,148 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

"The NYSERDA low interest grant made this project possible. We were able to make a number of energy saving improvements which would have been impossible without the grant. In the long run, the Town of Grand Island will save thousands of dollars in energy costs because of the work made possible by the grant," said Grand Island Supervisor Peter McMahon.

The project involved energy-efficiency improvements at multiple municipal properties including  the: wastewater treatment plant, water treatment plant, Whitehaven Storage Tank/Pump Station, Town Hall, Highway Garage and Nike Recreation Center. Wendel Energy Services of Buffalo provided the technical evaluation of potential energy savings and coordinated the upgrade project.

"This type of partnership yields tremendous benefits for local taxpayers in terms of lower utility costs, as well as strengthening the energy service sector of the State's economy," said NYSERDA President and CEO Peter R. Smith.  "Supervisor McMahon and the Town Board should be commended for taking action that will improve the energy efficiency of town operations resulting in taxpayer savings."

Energy efficiency improvements include the installation of Energy Star-rated windows, lighting occupancy controls, T-8 lighting fixtures and retrofits, hardwired compact fluorescent fixtures, pulse start Metal Halide lights, LED exit signs and traffic signals, premium efficiency motors and variable speed drives. 

It is estimated that the Town of Grand Island will save approximately 726,999 kWh in annual in electric energy use and 410 mmBtu in gas use for a total annual energy savings of $66,345.

Smith said NYSERDA provided financial incentives through two New York Energy $mart^SM programs to help reduce the cost associated with the installation of the energy-efficiency upgrades. A portion of the savings comes from incentives provided by the Commercial/Industrial Performance Program (CIPP), and additional cost savings were achieved by accessing the Energy $mart^SM Loan Fund program.

The New York Energy $mart^SM Loan Fund provides for a four percent interest rate reduction on commercial loans secured for approved energy-efficient measures. The Town of Grand Island borrowed $1 million from Citibank NA and utilized the Loan Fund to finance the purchase and installation of energy-efficient equipment and products. The Loan Fund reduced the amount of interest paid on the borrowed money by four percent, thereby reducing the base loan rate from 4.00 percent to zero percent interest, thereby saving local taxpayers $157,397 in interest charges.

In addition, Smith said NYSERDA provided $66,751 in financial incentives through the New York Energy $mart^SM Commercial/Industrial Performance Program (CIPP) to help reduce the installation cost of the energy-efficiency upgrades. Under the program, financial incentives provided by NYSERDA go directly to energy service companies to help lower the overall project cost, and to help promote the development of the energy service company sector of the State's economy.  In this instance, the Town of Grand Island worked with Wendel Energy Services to perform the upgrades.

Funding for the Energy $mart^SM program , which NYSERDA administers on behalf of the Public Service Commission, comes from a charge on utility bills. The program has proven successful in lowering electricity costs for ratepayers by encouraging energy efficiency in all sectors of New York's energy economy. The programs are available to all electric distribution customers of Central Hudson, Con Edison, NYSEG, National Grid, Orange and Rockland, and Rochester Gas and Electric.

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation established by law in 1975, administers SBC funds and programs under an agreement with the Public Service Commission.

Additional information about these programs can be obtained at www.nyserda.org or 1-866-NYSERDA

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