$1.2 Million Helps Town of Amherst
Trim
Energy Costs
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE, May 10, 2001
CONTACT: Tom Collins, NYSERDA
(518) 862-1090, ext. 3250.
Amherst, NY – The New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA) today announced it will provide $1.2 million to
Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. for the company's role in reducing
energy use in more than 100 buildings throughout the Town of Amherst.
Siemens will pass along 80% ($960,000) of the financial incentives
directly to the Town of Amherst to help lower the costs for implementing
the measures. Once all of the energy-efficiency improvements have
been installed, the Town of Amherst stands to save $742,000 in annual
energy costs for as long as the efficiency measures are in place.
The $1.2 million award is part of NYSERDA Standard Performance Contract
program, which provides financial incentives to energy service companies
and engineering firms that work with municipal, industrial, and commercial
utility customers to identify and implement energy-saving strategies.
The incentives, combined with the energy savings, help to pay for
the capital improvements. The level of incentives that NYSERDA provides
depends on the level of energy savings achieved in a given project
as well as the types of efficiency measures implemented.
"Governor Pataki and NYSERDA are committed to lowering the
energy costs for all New Yorkers," said NYSERDA President William
M. Flynn. "Through our New York Energy $mart program, we're
helping local governments take advantage of the emerging opportunities
that deregulation is providing to save energy. At the same time,
we're building up the energy services industry in the State to make
these kinds of energy-saving opportunities more accessible to customers
of all sizes."
By replacing aging systems and installing more efficient lighting,
motors, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, the
Town will save as much as $742,000 per year in energy costs. The Town
will pay for the capital improvements, which total $7 million, through
the energy savings. Siemens, with assistance from the Amherst Engineering
Department, examined more than 100 buildings owned by the Town of
Amherst, including the Amherst Pepsi Center, the Community Center,
and the Police and Court building. The Amherst Pepsi Center alone
stands to save $150,000 in annual energy costs as a result of the
project. Ten of the buildings were studied to identify efficiency
improvements and the improvements are already complete, while the
majority of the buildings have been examined but not yet upgraded.
"The Town of Amherst has taken a proactive approach to energy
reduction by adopting a town-wide energy conservation program that
reduces the amount of energy needed," said Amherst Town Supervisor
Susan Grelick. "We are grateful to NYSERDA for the financial
incentives that will ensure the Town of Amherst will require less
energy to perform the same functions, thus improving efficiencies
and saving taxpayer dollars."
"Energy conservation is a must as we go forward, for environmental
and cost reasons," said State Senator Mary Lou Rath (R-C, Amherst).
"NYSERDA, working with Siemens, has put forth a tremendous
measure here that will save the Town of Amherst thousands of dollars
in annual energy expenses. In the face of rising prices and demand,
this partnership represents the kind of thinking necessary for the
future and will serve as a role model that other companies and local
governments can emulate."
NYSERDA's Standard Performance Contract program has two goals: to
build the energy service industry; and to save energy. With the advent
of competition in the utility industry, many of the energy efficiency
services formerly offered by utilities no longer exist. NYSERDA provides
incentives to engineering firms and energy service companies to spark
energy efficiency service activity in the private sector. The incentives
make providing energy efficiency services more profitable and marketable
to these firms. The incentives also help to offset some of the capital
costs associated with energy efficiency improvements and reduce the
amount of time it takes for the resulting energy savings to pay for
the capital expenses. To help municipalities and other customers initiate
the performance contracting process, NYSERDA can connect them with
engineering firms or energy service companies.
"Utilities at the Amherst Pepsi Center are one of our largest
expense items," said Pepsi Center General Manager Brian Burke.
"We look forward to working with NYSERDA, Siemens, and the
other Town of Amherst facilities to reduce these costs."
Funding for this project came from NYSERDA's New York Energy $mart
program, which is designed to lower electricity costs by encouraging
energy efficiency as the State's electric utilities move to competition.
The programs are available to all electric distribution customers
(residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial) of Central
Hudson, Con Edison, NYSEG, Niagara Mohawk, Orange and Rockland, and
Rochester Gas and Electric. All New York Energy $mart programs are
funded by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) paid by electric distribution
customers of participating utilities. 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, www.getenergysmart.org,
or toll-free at (877) NY-SMART.
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