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UK missed the boat on "Hud"
May 27, 2003
One of the all-time great movies was released 40 years ago today.
"Hud," starring Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas and Patricia Neal, was filmed in Claude, Texas, just east of Amarillo, about two hours from Portales. The black-and-white Western classic was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won three of them.
It told the story of a ranching family whose livelihood was threatened when their cattle were struck by disease. Hud Bannon, played by Newman, wanted to sell the cattle before anyone found out they were sick. But Homer Bannon, Hud's father played by Douglas, refused to consider the option.
This exchange between the men tells all you need to know about their character:
Homer Bannon: "That's your solution for getting out of a tight? To pass bad beef on to my neighbors who wouldn't know what they was getting? Or maybe risk starting an epidemic in the entire country?"
Hud Bannon: "This country is run on epidemics, where you been? Price fixing, crooked TV shows, inflated expense accounts. How many honest men you know? Why you separate the saints from the sinners, you're lucky to wind up with Abraham Lincoln. Now I want out of this spread what I put into it, and I say let us dip our bread into some of that gravy while it is still hot."
I thought about "Hud" this week when I read that movie-goers in the United Kingdom recently ranked the 10 best movie lines ever.
The winner was "I'll be back," from The Terminator in 1984.
"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn," from Gone with the Wind, and "Get busy living or get busy dying," from The Shawshank Redemption rounded out the top three in the survey.
They're all fine lines and I don't mean to criticize the good people of the UK, but I have to wonder if any of those surveyed has ever seen "Hud," which did not have a line in the top-10 list.
I don't know which "Hud" line is most memorable, but at least one of these should rank in the top 10 of everybody's list:
• Hud Bannon: "You don't look out for yourself, the only helping hand you'll ever get is when they lower the box."
• Homer Bannon: "It don't take long to kill things, not like it takes to grow."
• Homer Bannon: "Little by little the look of the country changes because of the men we admire."
• Hud Bannon: "This world's so full of crap a man's gonna get into it sooner or later whether he's careful or not."
• Hud Bannon: "Nobody gets out of life alive."
According to The Internet Movie Database, Newman prepared for his title role in "Hud" by working on a Texas cattle ranch for several weeks, "acquiring genuine calluses and a cowboy's lope."
Old-timers at the Amarillo Daily News have said that Newman was a regular in the newspaper office during the filming of the movie. He would sneak out the back door of an Amarillo hotel to escape his throngs of admirers so he could read baseball box scores on The Associated Press wire.
Maybe this kind of trivial knowledge, coupled with family ties to Claude — my grandmother's brother-in-law used to be sheriff there, housing prisoners in the upstairs of his home — has clouded my objectivity when it comes to "Hud."
But I can't think of many movies with more memorable one-liners. And most of them are still relevant after 40 years.
Frankly my dear, nobody gets out of life alive, so we should get busy living — and looking for good, classic movies in the 99-cent section at the video store.
David Stevens is the editor for Freedom Newspapers of New Mexico. He can be contacted at 1-800-819-9925 or by e-mail:


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Exhibit in the sky
WILMINGTON – Environmental researcher and educator Ed Ketchledge used to say the tops of Adirondack mountains are like living museums. That's because they are the only alpine environment left in an area that used to be alpine all around, before glaciers shifted out of the area 10,000 years ago.
"I've always loved this concept," Stephanie Ratcliffe, executive director of the Wild Center natural history museum in Tupper Lake, told the Enterprise Thursday.
Now Whiteface Mountain is even more of a museum than the rest.
With the help of partner organizations, the Wild Center has installed a series of interpretive signs and learning stations along Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway, at the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center and around the town of Wilmington as part of a new exhibit that will teach people about the natural history and environment of the area.
The signs are filled with facts like how the mountain was formed, pointing out interesting mountains and other natural markers that can be viewed from the summit, and how plants and animals survive in such an extreme alpine environment.
Tri-Lakers may recognize Saranac Lake native Dustin Drury in a series of videos on Whiteface's gondolas explaining how animal adaptations make them similar to Olympic athletes.
Wild Center officials held the exhibit's grand opening Thursday afternoon at the summit of Whiteface, surrounded by about 60 museum supporters and members of the various organizations that helped with the project, including the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, the Adirondack North Country Association, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the state Olympic Regional Development Authority, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Adirondack Mountain Club.
As part of the opening, Ratcliffe brought along a pair of Ketchledge's hiking boots, and a group of the main players in the exhibit stretched out a boot lace between the two boots and cut it, like a ribbon cutting. The boots were borrowed from an exhibit at the Wild Center's home base in Tupper Lake that describes Ketchledge's legacy of learning about and being the first to push for the conservation of alpine environments.
Officials say the new Wilmington exhibit is the highest museum exhibit in the state, reaching 4,867 feet in the air at the peak of Whiteface.
Ratcliffe said it's the first time the museum can call all 6 million acres of the Adirondack Park part of its collection, and it will help the museum fulfill more thoroughly its mission of teaching more people about the story of the Adirondacks.
Wilmington town Supervisor Randy Preston, ANCA Executive Director Kate Fish, ORDA President and CEO Ted Blazer all spoke as well, talking about how excited they are about the exhibit and how it's a great addition to a wonderful town and mountain.
Tom Martin, the DEC's regional natural resources supervisor, said the few existing interpretive signs on Whiteface before the new exhibit was installed were lacking, and there were "just thousands and thousands of teachable moments that were missed." The new exhibit will go a long way toward fixing that, he said.
He noted that kids today need more interaction with the natural environment, and having an exhibit outdoors in the environment will help them learn about it and appreciate it more, which will encourage them to grow to be environmental stewards.
All of the speakers noted that the clear, sunny day was a stroke of luck after weeks of rain and clouds.
"This is a magnificent day, a magnificent exhibit, and a magnificent mountain," Preston said.
After the formal ceremony wrapped up, people milled around the summit of the mountain reading the exhibit signs and munching on hors d'oeuvres. Examples of the signs placed in the town at the base of the mountain and at the ski area were on display in the stone building at the summit.
Rob Carr, creative director for the exhibit, told the Enterprise about the two-year process of putting it together. The small creative team spent a long time on research, then worked out the various interpretive story lines they would tell through their signage and interactive features. The last year was spent designing the signs and interactive elements, and the team has been working to install the exhibit for the last six or so months.
Carr said the exhibit required some unique problem solving.
"We're in one of the most extreme environments in the Adirondacks," Carr said.
Because of that, the signs are made out of phenolic resin, an extremely durable material, and printed with a process that is both high quality and highly durable.
"We took a lot of time to make sure the signage we put up here is going to last and be able to stand up to the elements," Carr said.
He said that after two years of work on the project, it was amazing to see people enjoying the exhibit.
"It's a really pretty special moment," Carr said.
Contact Jessica Collier at 518-891-2600 ext. 26 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Annotations, the alumni newsletter of the University of Wisconsin-Madison English Department, is one of the ways that we connect to our alumni and help our alumni connect to each other. Published every spring, Annotations reaches some 14,000 alumni around the world. We regularly feature profiles and articles on members of our exceptional alumni population, as well as stories about our faculty, our students, and the many things going on in and around the Department.
As always, we are delighted to hear back from our alumni about their own accomplishments, publications, and life events. If you have a story, a book, a memory, or an idea to share with us, please e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Chile and Cheese Rice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 large white onion, minced
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups water
- 2 ears fresh corn, kernels removed or 2 cups frozen corn, thawed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 poblano chiles, charred, peeled, stemmed, seeded, and chopped * see Cook's Note
- 1/4 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
- 1/2 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
DirectionsWatch how to make this recipe.
Heat the oil in a medium-size heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, and saute for until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the rice and cook until the rice is opaque, about 10 minutes. Stir in the water and the corn kernels, then season the water with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, about for 15 minutes.
Preheat a broiler. Using a fork, fluff the rice and stir in the chopped poblanos. Transfer the rice to a 7 by 10-inch baking dish. Drizzle with the creama or sour cream and sprinkle the cheese over the top. Broil until the top is browned in spots and the cheese has melted, about 5 to 8 minutes.
Remove from the oven and serve.
*Cooks Note: To char the chiles (or any fresh chile): Put the chiles over a gas flame or underneath the broiler and cook until they are blackened on all sides. Enclose them in a plastic bag and let stand for 10 minutes to steam, which will make them easier to peel. Peel, stem, and seed the chiles. Once peeled, the chiles may be chopped, sliced or stuffed.
Recipe courtesy of Marcela Valladolid


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On January 1, 2014, givesblood.org and Blood Drive Consultants stopped providing service. Brian Keller and Rob Smith created givesblood.org in 2002 while at school together at the University of Pennsylvania. Our goal was always to facilitate the blood donation and blood drive organizing process in an effort to improve the donor experience and increase collections. We often gave the services away to organizations for free and never made a profit from the business. Over the last 12 years, the growth of our careers has limited the amount of time we could invest in the website. The ideas of the website remain constant, but much of the code we wrote over a decade ago has become obsolete. Neither of us has the skill or time to appropriately update the code and design of the website.
We have enjoyed our work with organizations across the country and are appreciative for every donor and drive organizer. Thank you for giving over 200,000 donations through our system and we ask you to continue giving blood with your local blood centers!
Please continue doing great things!
"The original in online appointment scheduling for blood drives"


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Published By :
Published Date : Sep 2012
Category :
No. of Pages : 184 Pages
Make an enquiry before buying this Report
Please fill the enquiry form below.
Rising dental health concerns can create an opportunity for chewing gum brands. Currently much of the marketing for sugar-free gums centres around fresh breath, however, the dental health benefits, particularly for children, could warrant more focus. Though explored internationally, tooth-friendly gums tailored for children remain rare in the UK market....


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TRAINING LEVEL: Intermediate
CLASS SIZE: Minimum: 20 Maximum: 30
During this time of economic expansion and growth, there are dramatic workforce changes taking place. Given the increasing demand by our partners and customers, it is critical to develop the knowledge of State DOT employees in the area of the Federal-aid highway development processes and regulations.
Therefore, the overall course goal is to provide participants with an overview of the key elements of the Federal-Aid Highway Program. Specifically, this course focuses on general requirements and laws that govern the Federal-Aid Highway Program; processes and procedures followed in the entire project development process, including financing, planning, environment, right of way, highway and bridge design, construction, operations/ITS, maintenance, and technology; and identifying flexibility inherent in the Federal-Aid Program.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
State and local government employees and private-sector participants interested in the process by which the Federal-Aid Highway Program is carried out.
If you have questions about this NHI training, please contact NHI at
firstname.lastname@example.com or 877.558.6873.
Sign up for session alerts
to receive email alerts when sessions of this course are scheduled.
The National Highway Institute (NHI) has been accredited as an Accredited Provider
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Welcome to our blog! Sit back, relax & enjoy reading our 'hot off the press' blog posts. We're obsessed with (yup, it's almost a problem :) finding out about the latest trends, cool new places and fun local tips. Whether it's a cute little cafe or a hot new club, you'll read about it here. P.S.: Don't be shy to speak up (this isn't high school!) - we LOVE getting comments.
Thanks a bunch for reading & hope to hear from you!
How to Use Public Transportation in Prague like a Pro
So you decided to take the tram today. Or maybe the metro. OR maybe you're feeling brave and you're gonna travel by bus (just kidding about the last part – traveling by bus in Prague is no big deal! You gotta know the 'rules' though..).
Using public transportation in Prague is convenient, won't cost you a fortune, and you're bound to meet some interesting people along the way (not kidding about this part). So what are the 'unspoken rules' which you should totally know about when traveling by tram, metro or bus in the lovely city of Prague? Don't worry – with us, traveling by 'MHD' (you gotta know the street slang, right?) will be easy peasy.
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccaines/
Although Czech people complain about the cost of using public transportation, it's actually not that bad (especially when you compare the prices to other European metropolises). Also, if you're staying in MOSAIC HOUSE, you can see many sights on foot thanks to the hostel's awesome location. But if you want to go a bit further & use public transportation, here is how much it'll cost you:
BASIC (90 min): 32 CZK
SHORT-TERM (30 min): 24 CZK
1 DAY (24 hrs): 110 CZK
3 DAYS (72 hrs): 310 CZK
P.S.: Don't forget to validate (time-stamp) your ticket every time you use public transportation… or else!! (or else you will get a huge fine… le sigh).
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenluoh/
The best way to get around
Prague's public transportation system is really good AND easy to use, but if you're a newbie, it can get a bit confusing. If you want to look for a specific timetable or you need to plan a more complicated journey, the easiest thing to do is use the www.idos.cz as well as the www.dpp.cz websites. You CAN ask the locals, but there's always some temporary disruptions to tram services, so we recommend sticking to the websites (as opposed to getting info from that cute/grumpy granny).
Senior citizen etiquette
We could go on and on about this part but we'll just keep it short and sweet. Whenever you see a granny or a grandpa on a bus/tram/metro, you better ask them if they'd like to sit down. Firstly, it's common courtesy… second, this is the only way you'll survive that trip. Just sayin'.
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuruman/
Visiting Prague in the summer vs. in the winter
If you're visiting Prague in the summer… then brace yourself. And get a scarf and wear it so that it covers your mouth & nose. I mean, we gotta be blunt here: the trams and buses don't always smell super amazing in the summertime. But somehow (or more like obviously) the metro system doesn't suffer from this smelly ordeal (usually). So maybe it's better to opt for a metro ride as opposed to a tram one. We warned you! We still love you, dear MHD… P.S.: In the wintertime, get ready to be greeted by a cold breeze every time you get on the metro. So, basically, it's always handy to have a scarf with you – in both the summer and winter.
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/daverugby83/
Did you know?
...that some small boats are part of the public transport system in Prague? And the cable car is part of it too? Cool, right? Yeah, we kind of love it too (although most Czechs don't use these modes of transport on a daily basis). The cable car is pretty fun even when you're over 10. Really. :)
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arturclancy/


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On Friday morning, May 18th, my wife and I welcomed our daughter into the world. I'm taking a short hiatus from the blog. Thanks for stopping by.
CoasterCritic On Hiatus
2 Responses to "CoasterCritic On Hiatus"
Congrats on the new child. I hope all is going well.
Judy P in Pgh
May 25, 2007 at 13:32
Pictures! We want baby pictures!


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April 24, 2012
Table of Contents
Certificate of Recognition – Lynn Hait
Energy Highway Summit
1. Adoption of the April 24, 2012 Proposed Meeting Agenda
a. Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on March 27, 2012
3. Reports from:
a. President and Chief Executive Officer, Exhibit - "3a-A"
b. Chief Operating Officer, Exhibit - "3b-A"
c. Chief Financial Officer, Exhibit - "3c-A"
4. Motion to Conduct an Executive Session
5. Motion to Resume Meeting in Open Session
6. Power Allocations Under the ReCharge New York Power Program, Exhibit - "6-A"; "6-B"
7. Environmental Justice Implementation Plan – Authorization, Exhibit - "7-A"
8. Informational Item: New York Power Authority's Incident
Communications Protocol
9. Next Meeting
10. Closing
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Power Authority of the State of New York held via videoconference at the Clarence D. Rappleyea Building, 123 Main Street, White Plains, New York at approximately 12:05 p.m.
The Members of the Board were present at the following videoconference locations:
Michael J. Townsend, Chairman - Rochester
D. Patrick Curley, Trustee - Buffalo
John S. Dyson, Trustee - WPO
R. Wayne LeChase, Trustee - Italy
Eugene L. Nicandri, Trustee - WPO
Mark O'Luck, Trustee - NYO
Gil C. Quiniones President and Chief Executive Officer
Judith C. McCarthy Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Edward Welz Chief Operating Officer
Donald Russak Chief Financial Officer
Thomas Antenucci Senior Vice President – Power Supply Support Services
Thomas DeJesu Senior Vice President – Public, Governmental and Regulatory Affairs
James Pasquale Senior Vice President – Marketing and Economic Development
Joan Tursi Senior Vice President – Corporate Support Services
Paul Belnick Vice President – Energy Efficiency – Energy Services and Technology
Sobeida Cruz Vice President – Environmental Justice
Dennis Eccleston Vice President – Information Technology/Chief Information Officer
Joseph Gryzlo Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer
Michael Huvane Vice President – Marketing – Business and Municipal Marketing
John Kahabka Vice President – Environmental, Health and Safety
Joseph Leary Vice President – Community and Government Relations
Lesly Pardo Vice President – Internal Audit
Patricia Leto Vice President – Procurement
Scott Scholten Vice President and Chief Risk Officer – Energy Risk Assessment and Control
Bradford Van Auken Vice President – Engineering
Karen Delince Corporate Secretary
Jill Anderson Director – Business Integration
Mike Lupo Director – Marketing Analysis and Administration
Michael Saltzman Director – Media Relations
Lynn Hait Regional Manager – Central New York
Timothy Muldoon Manager – Business Power Allocations and Compliance
Gary Schmid Manager – Network Services Infrastructure
Peter Prunty Network Architect – Infrastructure
Ruth Colon Senior Business Integration Project Manager
Wayne Gowen Senior Business Analyst – Application Services
Lorna M. Johnson Assistant Corporate Secretary
Tabitha Robinson BPAC Analyst I – Business Power Allocations and Compliance
Emily Alkiewicz BPAC Analyst – Business Power Allocations and Compliance
Sheila Baughman Senior Secretary – Corporate Secretary's Office
Trish Hennessy Photographer – Video and Photographic Services
Joseph Carline Counsel – Couch White, LLP
Vice Chairman Dyson presided over the meeting. Corporate Secretary Delince kept the Minutes.
Vice Chairman Dyson presided over the meeting and welcomed the Trustees and staff.
Certificate of Recognition – Lynn Hait
Vice Chairman Dyson made the following remarks on behalf of the Trustees:
"Today, I am truly honored to acknowledge the achievements of an extraordinary individual, Lynn Hait, who has served the Power Authority for more than 35 years. He began his career at our Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project and steadily advanced there to positions of increasing responsibility and to his current position of Regional Manager for Central New York.
Lynn recently received the 2012 Public Excellence Award from the State Academy for Public Administration recognizing his career of public service to NYPA and citing the emergency response efforts of last summer.
We are exceedingly proud that Lynn was cited for this most distinguished honor and for the special recognition he has brought to himself, to the New York Power Authority and to the communities we serve.
Lynn, nothing brings me greater pleasure today than to present you with this Certificate of Recognition on behalf of everyone here at the Power Authority. Your professionalism and dedication—both to NYPA and to the people we serve—have made us all exceptionally proud of you in every way. Congratulations!"
Vice Chairman Dyson then
presented the Certificate of Recognition to Mr. Lynn Hait.
Energy Highway Summit
Vice Chairman Dyson mentioned
the Energy Highway Summit which he said was very successful and thanked
President Quiniones for the extraordinary job he did hosting this event. He also thanked Ms. Jill Anderson
for the work she did in planning the summit.
1. Adoption of the April 24, 2012 Proposed Meeting Agenda
On motion made and seconded, the
meeting Agenda was approved. At its
meeting earlier today, the Economic Development Power Allocation Board
("EDPAB") recommended that the Authority's Trustees
approve item #6 (Power Allocations under the ReCharge New York Program); Trustee Nicandri recused himself from the vote on item #6 since he voted for its approval at the EDPAB meeting.
On motion made and seconded, the Consent Agenda was approved.
a. Approval of the Minutes
The Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on March 27, 2012 were unanimously adopted.
a. Report of the President and Chief Executive Officer
Corporate Performance Measures
Gil Quiniones provided an update of the Authority's performance to date. He said the Authority is meeting its goals as
outlined in the Corporate Performance Measures. He then highlighted some of
the key initiatives.
President Quiniones said that the Chief Diversity Officer will be reviewing the Authority's corporate policies and procedures to ensure that they are consistent with the Authority's values as it pertains to diversity.
Environmental Justice
President Quiniones said that Ms. Sobeida Cruz, Vice President of Environmental Justice, and Ms. Ruth Colon will be requesting the Board's approval of the Authority's Environmental Justice Plan.
President Quiniones said that staff is updating the Authority's Sustainability Plan and the Board will be asked to approve it early next year.
ReCharge New York
President Quiniones said that the Authority is undertaking certain initiatives with the goal of advancing Governor Cuomo's energy and economic development policies as outlined in his 2012 state of the state address.
part of that initiative, President Quiniones said that the Board will be
requested to approve the first round of allocations for power under the
ReCharge New York Power Program and Mr. James Pasquale will
present staff's recommendation to the Board. He said that Mr. Pasquale and his team were to be commended on the remarkable job they did in launching this program.
Master Plan for Energy Efficiency in State Facilities
Quiniones said the Governor also announced a Master Plan for improving energy
efficiency in state buildings and facilities.
He said that the Authority will be the lead agency in implementing this
million program across the state. The Authority will also be assisting the localities in energy efficiency measures to reduce their operating costs.
NY-Sun Solar Market Acceleration Program (Solar MAP)
President Quiniones said that the Authority's role in this initiative is limited to research and development with a goal to reducing the balance of plant costs of implementing photovoltaic technologies.
New York Energy Highway
Quiniones said that the goal of this initiative is to provide safe, reliable
and affordable energy by upgrading the state's electric power system. He said the Governor has appointed a task
force to implement
this initiative which the Authority co-chairs. He highlighted some of the key activities as follows:
· April 4, 2012 – Energy Highway Summit at Columbia University
· April 11, 2012 – Request for Information ("RFI") issued
· April 19, 2012 – RFI Responders Conference in Tarrytown, NY
· May 30, 2012 – Deadline to submit responses to RFI
· Summer 2012 – Task Force to issue an "Action Plan" to the Governor
b. Report of the Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Edward Welz provided highlights of the report to the Trustees.
Performance Measures
Key Issues:
Plant Performance
St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project –Life Extension and Modernization (LEM) Program:
Lewiston Pumped-Generation Plant LEM Program:
Niagara Power Project:
In response to a question from Trustee Nicandri, Mr. Welz said that the Authority has a program in place to replace all of the circuit breakers at the St. Lawrence and Niagara Plants.
Organizational Review
Mr. Welz said that President
Quiniones requested an organizational review of the Operations business unit; a
consultant was engaged to conduct this review as it relates to succession
planning and imminent
retirement of senior staff. He said President Quiniones has accepted the recommendations and they are in the process of being implemented. Mr. Welz said the Authority is also in the process of awarding a contract to a
vendor to provide GAP Analysis training for the Operations management and union staffs.
c. Report of the Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Donald Russak provided highlights of the report to the Trustees.
Net Income
income through March was $73 million, prior to the recognition of the $60
million voluntary contribution to New York State. This is $9.4 million higher than budget due
largely to early year timing differences on
expenditures and lower interest costs due to lower rates.
Margins on market-based sales were on budget as the positive impact of higher net generation, due to the early spring run-off, was offset by lower energy prices.
Year-End Projections
trends during the first quarter indicate year-end net income for 2012 is
expected to under-run by about $10 million relative to the $167 million
budget. These trends include Energy Prices, Capacity Prices
and Hydro Flows.
At currently projected levels, business requirements for cash flow (debt service coverage) and liquidity are expected to be on target for 2012.
In response to a question from Trustee
Foster, Mr. Russak said that while precipitation has been near normal during
the winter, because of the relatively warm temperatures and little
snow-pack around the Great
Lakes, this resulted in an early spring run-off with the water flowing through the turbines earlier than usual. As a result, net generation at the Niagara and St. Lawrence hydroelectric facilities has been running above
forecast for the first quarter but is expected to revert to near budgeted levels by year-end.
4. Motion to Conduct an Executive Session
Mr. Chairman, I move that
the Authority conduct an executive session pursuant to the Public Officers Law
of the State of New York section 105 to discuss matters leading to the award of
contracts to particular
corporations. On motion made and seconded, an Executive Session was held.
5. Motion to Resume Meeting in Open Session
Mr. Chairman, I move to resume the meeting in Open Session. On motion made and seconded, the meeting resumed in Open Session.
6. Power Allocations Under the ReCharge New York Power Program
The President and Chief Executive Officer submitted the following report:
"The Trustees are requested to
approve 517 allocations of available power under the ReCharge New York ('RNY')
power program to the businesses listed in Exhibit '6-A.' This action has been recommended by the
Economic Development Power Allocation Board ('EDPAB'). Exhibit '6-B' has been included to inform the Trustees of those businesses deemed ineligible by EDPAB.
April 14, 2011, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed into law the RNY power program
as part of Chapter 60 (Part CC) of the Laws of 2011. RNY makes available 910 Megawatts ('MW') of
economic development power,
50% of which will be provided by the Authority's hydropower resources and 50% of which will be procured by the Authority on the open market. RNY contracts can be for a term of up to seven years in exchange for job and capital
investment commitments. The statewide program is available to businesses and not-for-profit corporations for job retention, expansion and attraction purposes.
"The legislation stipulates that at least 350 MW of RNY power should be allocated to entities served by the New York State Electric and Gas, National Grid and Rochester Gas and Electric utility companies. At least 200 MW will be set aside for the purpose of attracting new businesses and encouraging expansion of existing businesses statewide. In addition, the legislation stipulates that up to 100 MW should be awarded to not-for-profit corporations (as defined in section 102 of the State's Not-for-profit Corporation Law, subdivision five of paragraph (a)) and small businesses statewide.
"Under the legislation, eligible applicant shall mean an eligible business, eligible small business, or eligible not-for-profit. Further, an eligible applicant shall not include retail businesses as defined by EDPAB, including, without limitation, sports venues, gaming or entertainment-related establishments or places of overnight accommodations. For purposes of the RNY power program, EDPAB adopted, at their meeting of April 24, 2012, the existing definition of a retail business as a business that is primarily used in making retail sales of goods or services to customers who personally visit such facilities to obtain goods or services, consistent with the rules previously promulgated by EDPAB for implementation of the Economic Development Power program.
"RNY allocation awards are comprised of 50% hydropower and 50% Authority-procured market power. Prior to entering into a contract with an eligible applicant for the sale of RNY power, and prior to the provision of electric service relating to the RNY power allocation, the Authority shall offer each eligible applicant the option to decline to purchase the RNY market power component of such allocation. If an eligible applicant declines to purchase the RNY market power component, the Authority shall have no responsibility for supplying such market power to the eligible applicant.
"As envisioned by the legislation, the Authority worked cooperatively with the Department of Public Service ('DPS') to recommend to the New York State ('NYS') Public Service Commission ('PSC') reduced rates by utility corporations of RNY power program allocations. Pursuant to Chapter 60 and by order of the PSC, NYS utilities are required to deliver RNY power using discounted delivery rates. The discount derives from exempting RNY power from the Renewable Portfolio Surcharges, the Systems Benefits Charge and the Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard Surcharge. The delivery discount will apply to a customer's total allocation even if the customer decides to purchase the RNY market power component of its allocation from a non-Authority source.
"The application for the RNY power program was approved by EDPAB at their meeting of September 26, 2011. Applications for RNY power were subject to a competitive evaluation process and were evaluated based on the twelve criteria set forth in the RNY legislation. Pursuant to the legislation, the criteria were considered in the aggregate and none were presumptively determinative.
an effort to receive high-quality RNY applications and to announce the program,
advertisements announcing the program were placed in major newspapers and
business publications statewide; Web site postings were issued; mass emails
were distributed and regional meetings were hosted by the Authority throughout
the state. In addition, the program was
promoted with assistance from state and local entities, including the Regional Economic Development Councils ('REDCs'),
the Empire State Development Corporation and other local and regional economic
development organizations within the state such as the Manufacturers
Association of Central New York. Further,
a RNY Call Center was established to assist prospective applicants and to further disseminate information regarding the RNY program. The RNY Call Center remains in operation. Finally, a targeted postal mailing to business customers utilizing a list of ten thousand businesses in NYS was made to foster interest in the program.
"As part of Governor Cuomo's 'New York Open for Business' initiative, requests for all statewide economic development programs, including RNY, have been incorporated into a single on-line Consolidated Funding Application ('CFA'). Beginning in September 2011, the CFA was available to applicants, marking a fundamental shift in how economic development resources are allocated. The CFA continues to serve as an efficient and effective tool to streamline and expedite the state's efforts to generate sustainable economic growth and employment opportunities across the state. All applications that are considered for an RNY allocation were submitted through the CFA process.
support the Governor's transformative plans to improve New York's business
climate and stimulate economic growth, ten REDCs were created. Through a performance-based, community-driven
approach, each REDC has designed a strategic economic development model for
their area and used the CFA as the primary support mechanism to work with
eligible applicants to advance projects that demonstrate the greatest potential
for job creation
and economic opportunity.
"The Power for Jobs ('PFJ') and
Energy Cost Savings Benefit ('ECSB') programs expire on June 30, 2012. Current customers participating in these
programs are required, under legislation, to apply for RNY in order to be
considered for a RNY power allocation.
RNY is a new economic development power program unrelated to the earlier
PFJ and ECSB programs. All RNY
applications are considered solely on their merits under the criteria
by the RNY legislation.
"Current PFJ and ECSB customers who submit applications and who do not receive a RNY allocation will be considered for the transitional electricity discount ('TED'). Pursuant to section 188-a of the economic development law, the Authority is authorized, as deemed feasible and advisable by the Trustees, to provide such TED as recommended by EDPAB. The Authority shall identify and advise EDPAB whether sufficient funds are available for funding of such discounts through June 30, 2016. The amount of the TED for the period of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2014 shall be equivalent to 66% of the unit (per kilowatt-hour) value of the savings received by the applicant under the PFJ or ECSB during the 12 months ending on December 31, 2010. The amount of the TED for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2016 shall be equivalent to 33% of the unit (per kilowatt-hour) value of the savings received by the applicant under the PFJ or ECSB during the 12 months ending on December 31, 2010. EDPAB's recommended recipients for the TED will be made at a future date. Of the applications received, 410 PFJ and ECSB customers have applied for an RNY allocation.
"As of the January 27, 2012 deadline to submit a RNY application, 1,009 RNY applications have been submitted via the CFA process, requesting over 2,100 MW, a figure more than twice the total amount available for allocation under the legislation. Staff evaluated the completed applications pursuant to the following twelve criteria as set forth in the RNY legislation:
(i) the significance of the cost of electricity to the applicant's overall cost of doing business, and the impact that a recharge New York power allocation will have on the applicant's operating costs;
(ii) the extent to which a recharge New York power allocation will result in new capital investment in the state by the applicant;
(iii) the extent to which a recharge New York power allocation is consistent with any regional economic development council strategies and priorities;
(iv) the type and cost of buildings, equipment and facilities to be constructed, enlarged or installed if the applicant were to receive an allocation;
(v) the applicant's payroll, salaries, benefits and number of jobs at the facility for which a recharge New York power allocation is requested;
(vi) the number of jobs that will be created or retained within the state in relation to the requested recharge New York power allocation, and the extent to which the applicant will agree to commit to creating or retaining such jobs as a condition to receiving a recharge New York power allocation;
(vii) whether the applicant, due to the cost of electricity, is at risk of closing or curtailing facilities or operations in the state, relocating facilities or operations out of the state, or losing a significant number of jobs in the state, in the absence of a recharge New York power allocation;
(viii) the significance of the applicant's facility, that would receive the recharge New York power allocation, to the economy of the area in which such facility is located;
(ix) the extent to which the applicant has invested in energy efficiency measures, will agree to participate in or perform energy audits of its facilities, will agree to participate in energy efficiency programs of the authority, or will commit to implement or otherwise make tangible investments in energy efficiency measures as a condition to receiving a recharge New York power allocation;
(x) whether the applicant receives a hydroelectric power allocation or benefits supported by the sale of hydroelectric power under another program administered in whole or in part by the authority;
(xi) the extent to which a recharge New York power allocation will result in an advantage for an applicant in relation to the applicant's competitors within the state; and
(xii) in addition to the foregoing criteria, in the case of a not-for-profit corporation, whether the applicant provides critical services or substantial benefits to the local community in which the facility for which the allocation is requested is located.
"Based on the evaluation of these criteria, staff scored and ranked the applicants. Staff's recommendations also considered the scores of criteria numbers three and eight given by each REDC to each applicant in its region. All recommended RNY allocations are based on a composite of staff's and REDC's scoring. Allocations were recommended for those applicants who scored the highest under this evaluation process.
"In arriving at the recommended amount of each RNY allocation, staff attempted to maximize the economic benefits of low-cost Authority hydropower – the critical state asset at the core of the RNY program. To do so, staff recommended allocation amounts for each applicant with the goals of expanding participation in the program while also assuring that each recipient receives a meaningful allocation.
"Accordingly, business applicants
who scored high were recommended for allocations of RNY power of 50% of the
requested amount or average historic demand, whichever was lower; business
applicants were capped at
10 MW for any recommended allocation. Not-for-profit applicants who scored high were recommended for allocations of RNY power of 33% of the requested amount or average historic demand, whichever was lower; these allocations were capped at 5 MW. Authority customers currently receiving hydropower allocations under other Authority power programs were recommended for allocations of RNY power of 25% of the requested amount with the same caps as stated above.
"Of the 877 applications reviewed, 517 were recommended for an allocation of RNY power by EDPAB at their meeting of April 24, 2012. The 517 businesses listed in Exhibit '6-A' have stated on their applications a willingness to create or retain over 362,000 jobs in NYS. Additionally, these applicants will be committing to capital investments totaling nearly $30 billion over five years in exchange for the allocations. Of the total 517 recommendations, 320 businesses are recommended for 510.1 MW; 122 small businesses are recommended for 12.7 MW and 75 not-for-profit corporations are recommended for 73.1 MW.
"The RNY allocations in Exhibit '6-A' are recommended for a period of up to seven years. Consistent with legislation, each allocation recommended by EDPAB shall qualify an applicant to enter into a contract with the Authority, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the recommendation by EDPAB and on such other terms as the Authority determines to be appropriate. The contract will have provisions for effective periodic audits of the recipient of an allocation for the purpose of determining contract and program compliance and for the partial or complete withdrawal of an allocation if the recipient fails to maintain mutually agreed-upon commitments, relating to, among other things, employment levels, power utilization, capital investment and/or energy efficiency measures. In addition, there shall be a requirement that a recipient of an allocation make its facilities available, at reasonable times and intervals, for energy audits and related assessments that the Authority desires to perform. At their March 27, 2012 meeting, the Trustees approved the form and substance of a retail contract that incorporates these requirements.
"There are a few applications that fall under the definition of retail businesses as established by EDPAB. At their meeting of April 24, 2012, EDPAB deemed ineligible those applications for the three businesses listed in Exhibit '6-B.'
"All other applications received are still under review and will be brought to the board at subsequent meetings.
"The Manager – Business Power Allocations and Compliance recommends that the Trustees approve the allocations of power under the ReCharge New York Power program to the companies listed in Exhibit '6-A.'
"For the reasons stated, I recommend the approval of the above-requested action by adoption of a resolution in the form of the attached draft resolution."
Vice Chairman Dyson asked if any member of the Board had a conflict of interest based on the list, provided by staff, of applicants being considered for power allocations. Trustee Nicandri recused himself from the vote since he voted for its approval at the Economic Development Power Allocation Board meeting.
Chairman Townsend recused himself from the vote as it relates to the following companies:
Adirondack Medical Center
Air Innovations, Inc.
Albany International Corp.
American Rock Salt Company LLC
Anheuser-Busch Employees Federal Credit Union
API Heat Transfer Inc.
Arch Chemicals, Inc.
Arnot Ogden Medical Center
Auburn Memorial Hospital
Cannon Industries Inc.
Canton Potsdam Hospital
Chapin Manufacturing
Citibank NA
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Claxton Hepburn Medical Center
Conax Technologies LLC
Constellation Brands Inc.
Currier Plastics, Inc.
Delphi Automotive Systems, LLC
Eastman Machine Company
Eaton Corporation
Edward John Noble Hospital
Elmhurst Dairy, Inc.
FiberMark North America, Inc.
Ford Motor Company
General Electric Company
General Mills Flour Division
Greatbatch, Ltd
IEC Electronics Corporation
International Fiber Corporation
Kaleida Health - DeGraff Memorial Hospital
Klein Steel Service Inc.
Moog Inc.
Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home
NYCO Minerals Inc
NYSE Euronext, Inc.
Oldcastle Precast, Inc.
Pace University
Pactiv Corporation
PCB Piezotronics, Inc.
Pfaudler Inc.
Queensboro Farm Products, Inc.
Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc.
Samaritan Keep Nursing Home
Samaritan Medical Center
Syracuse Plastics LLC
Sysco Syracuse, LLC
Universal Photonics Incorporated
Welch Allyn, Inc.
Trustee D. Patrick Curley recused himself from the vote as it relates to the following companies:
Mayer Brother Apple Products
MOD-PAC Corp
MOOG Inc.
PCB Piezotronics, Inc.
Trustee R. Wayne LeChase recused himself from the vote as it relates to the following companies:
General Electric
St. Lawrence University
Garlock Sealing Technologies
Infotonics Technologies Center
Corning, Inc.
World Kitchen, LLC.
United Health Services, Inc.
Arnot Ogden Medical Center.
Syracuse University
Dresser Rand
Trustee Mark O'Luck recused himself from the vote as it relates to Albany Molecular Sciences.
Mr. Pasquale made the following remarks:
"The Authority has waited a long time to have a new statewide economic development program, so I'm thrilled, today, to introduce ReCharge New York ("ReCharge").
ReCharge has replaced two existing NYPA programs — the Power for Jobs (PFJ) and Energy Cost Savings Benefit (ECSB) Programs — which statutorily expire on June 30, 2012.
There are several reasons why ReCharge is superior to the PFJ and ECSB programs:
• The PFJ and ECSB programs were temporary; they were extended by law each year. This created uncertainty for businesses in the programs. ReCharge is permanent and requires no further action by the Legislature.
• The annual extension of the PFJ and ECSB programs meant that businesses would have only one year of energy cost certainty. ReCharge provides up to 7 years low-cost power contracts, allowing businesses to plan and facilitate greater investment in New York State.
• No new businesses were allowed into the PFJ and ECSB programs. ReCharge is open to all eligible businesses, statewide.
• The PFJ and ECSB programs were primarily reliant on NYPA cash subsidies. That was not sustainable. ReCharge is backed by 455 megawatts of stable and low-cost hydropower, allowing the program to be self-sustaining.
• The PFJ and ECSB programs were created by different legislation, had very different criteria and provided inconsistent benefits to the Authority's customers. Recharge has very prescriptive criteria and consistent pricing.
Recharge is a new business model for the Authority. The Authority had never attempted an undertaking like this. PFJ was "sale-for-resale" – the Authority sold power to the IOUs and they, in turn, resold it to the recipients. The IOUs billed the customers and took on the credit risk. Recharge allocations will be "direct-serve." The Authority will bill the customers, and as a result, take on the credit and collection risks.
Recharge levels the playing field. All existing customers had to reapply and were evaluated, competitively, along with all the new businesses that were applying for low-cost power for the first time. The legislation did not provide guidelines on sizing allocations. All applicants were evaluated against the same criteria. The application process was based on merit and regional priorities. The goal was to maximize participation in the program while still providing a meaningful benefit.
There were many challenges to overcome before getting to this point. Staff tried for years to get legislation passed to create a new economic development program. I cannot tell you how many email exchanges, conference calls and meetings Don Russak and I participated in – with the Governor's staff, legislators and business groups – trying to develop a program that was palatable to everyone.
Launching Recharge was a NYPA-wide effort; almost every business unit was, or will be, involved in Recharge in one way or another.
Staff needed to develop:
§ RNY Customer Contract Template
§ RNY-1 Tariff for 4 zonal rates for Hydro only and blended product
§ RNY savings models
§ Six Delivery Service Arrangements with IOU's and LIPA
In a very short period of time, staff had to, among many things:
§ Create a project plan
§ Create an outreach plan, create logos
§ Develop an application
§ Create a scoring matrix
§ Set up a call center to handle all inquiries. (Staff received positive feedback from both businesses and legislators)
§ Review over 1,000 applications, against very prescriptive criteria, in a very short period of time.
There is still more work to be done. Staff has to execute the more than 500 contracts being recommended for approval today; continue to review another few hundred applications; and monitor those applicants who receive allocations to ensure that they are in compliance with the commitments they have agreed to.
It is important that the Board understand the challenges that had to be overcome and the monumental effort put forth by staff and others to launch Recharge. I would like to thank the following persons for their efforts:
Tom Congdon of the Governor's staff – the real quarterback of this effort – deserves much of the credit for making ReCharge a reality. In addition, Jim Malatras and Irene Baker were very helpful in launching the program.
Legal – Judith McCarthy, Arthur Cambouris and Vincent Esposito for drafting the legislation; reviewing the tariffs and contract template.
Corporate Secretary and her staff for rising above and beyond and getting everything right even when substantial changes are made at the last minute.
Business Services – Donald Russak and Tom Concadoro who will be responsible for any non-payment issues that may arise from the new business model.
Information Technology – Dennis Eccleston made sure staff had resources available at all times. Special thanks also to Mike Farley and Maria He for their assistance.
Energy Services – Paul Belnick for his help in developing the measure staff used to score the criteria as it relates to energy efficiency.
Public and Governmental Affairs and Corporate Communications – Joseph Leary, Michael Saltzman and their staffs.
Energy Resource Management – Edward Welz and his staff who will be responsible for procuring the market power that compliments NYPA hydropower in Recharge.
Chris Copeland and his staff worked until midnight this past Friday and came in
on Saturday to make sure staff would be able to mail more than 500 contract
packages as soon as
the Trustees approve the recommendations today.
Marketing Analysis and Administration – under the direction of Mike Lupo – thanks to Egle Travis, Mark Schwartzburt, Mike Quinn and Chris Vitale.
Everyone in Business Marketing and Business Power Allocations. Special kudos to Tim Muldoon, Emily Alkiewicz and Tabitha Robinson.
Thanks to others in Marketing, including Keith Hayes, Leanore Welz, Tony Savino and Frank Rutigliano, from Business Services, for the work they did to launch this program.
Everyone worked quickly, professionally and, most of all, incredibly competently. I am very proud of the work they did and honored to be part of the team.
Lastly, I would like to ask Mr. Michael Huvane to formally present staff's recommendation to the Board. Mr. Huvane was the real leader of this effort. He kept staff focused, and most importantly, kept me sane in the process.
Thank you for allowing me these few minutes to address the Trustees."
Chairman Dyson said the ReCharge New York Power Program is among the great
accomplishments of the Authority and the Trustees are thankful to the staff for
their hard work in launching this project.
said the Authority has achieved the Governor's objective and the Legislature and the Governor's administration can be proud of the way the Authority has implemented this program under their direction. Special thanks to James Pasquale and his colleagues for implementing this program on time and efficiently. He ended by saying that on behalf of the Governor and the State of New York he would like to thank the staff for a job well done.
Mr. Huvane presented highlights of staff's recommendation to the Trustees.
The following resolution, as submitted by the President and Chief Executive Officer and as read by Vice Chairman Dyson, at the request of Trustee Curley, was approved by a vote of 6 to 1, with Trustee Nicandri abstaining and Chairman Townsend and Trustees Curley, LeChase and O'Luck being recused as it relates to the aforementioned companies.
WHEREAS, the Economic Development Power Allocation Board has recommended that the Authority approve the ReCharge New York ("RNY") power allocations to the companies listed in Exhibit "6-A";
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Authority hereby authorizes the allocations of ReCharge New York power to the companies listed on Exhibit "6-A" in accordance with the terms described in the foregoing report of the President and Chief Executive Officer; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer and all other officers of the Authority are, and each of them hereby is, authorized on behalf of the Authority to do any and all things, take any and all actions and execute and deliver any and all agreements, certificates and other documents to effectuate the foregoing resolution, subject to the approval of the form thereof by the Executive Vice President and General Counsel.
7. Environmental Justice Implementation Plan – Authorization
The President and Chief Executive Officer submitted the following report:
"The Trustees are requested to approve the Authority's Environmental
Justice Implementation Plan ('Plan') (Exhibit '7-A'). The Plan aims to strengthen environmental
justice by ensuring that the public health and quality
of life interests of low-income and minority communities surrounding the Authority's facilities are represented in applicable Authority activities. The Plan will establish an environmental justice program that facilitates consideration
of possible environmental justice impacts in the development of Authority projects and operations.
"The United States Environmental Protection Agency ('EPA') defines environmental justice as 'the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.'
"The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ('DEC') has identified Potential Environmental Justice Areas as those within U.S. Census blocks (200 to 500 households) that, in the 2000 U.S. Census, met one or more of the criteria identified in Policy CP-29:
• 51.1% or more of the population in an urban area reported themselves as members of minority groups;
• 33.8% or more of the population in a rural area reported themselves as members of minority groups; or
• 23.59% or more of the population in an urban or rural area had incomes below the federal poverty level.
"The Authority adopted both the EPA's definition of Environmental Justice and the DEC's criteria for Potential Environmental Justice Areas. The Authority will make necessary adjustments when DEC updates its criteria based in the 2010 census and new regulations.
"On August 4, 2011, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed the Power New York Act of 2011, reauthorizing Article 10 of the State Public Service Law for the siting of generating facilities. The new Article 10 includes a focus on environmental justice issues and greatly enhances public participation in that process.
"The Authority has a history of striving to protect and improve the environment and to address the needs and concerns of communities in which its projects are located. In the past, the Authority has worked to benefit the communities where locations of its facilities had the potential for adverse impacts such as health, environmental, social or economic.
"Some of the major initiatives which the Authority has carried out
to achieve environmental justice objectives in communities include the
installation of pollution control systems on 1,000 New York City buses and the
installation of eight clean fuel cells at New York City's wastewater treatment
plants. The Authority funded the
conversion of eight postal trucks to run on electricity in the Bronx and
supplied a 66-seat electric bus to serve two
schools managed by the United Talmudical Academy of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. On Staten Island, the Authority converted the boiler of Public School 13 to natural gas, replacing a 20-year-old No. 4 heating oil boiler, and installed high-efficiency postal trucks serving the borough.
"Historically, the Authority has led by example and as a good neighbor that seeks to improve the areas surrounding its facilities. To that end, the Authority has partnered with community groups and organizations such as the United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park ('UPROSE') and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to address environmental justice concerns in disenfranchised and affected areas.
"The Trustees are requested to adopt an Environmental Justice Plan with the following goals:
• strengthen relationships with environmental justice communities;
• establish a program that facilitates automatic consideration of possible community impacts; and
• utilize training and other resources to sensitize Authority employees to environmental justice concerns.
"The Environmental Justice Plan consists of five strategies:
with Environmental Justice Communities near existing or proposed
infrastructure. The Authority will establish effective
communication channels with the Environmental Justice Communities maintaining
an open dialogue and a working relationship with them. For example, the Authority will periodically
inform the Environmental Justice Communities of projects that affect them via
print, Web site or other conduits, as needed.
Environmental Justice Training for Authority employees. The Authority
will offer an environmental justice training for relevant business units. The training will involve discussion of
potential barriers affecting communication with community stakeholders, site
visits and discussion on how permitting decisions potentially impact Environmental
Justice Communities. It will include an
awareness program for employees who are working with the public and/or on large
capital projects.
5. Develop Energy Services projects. Subject to the Authority's statutory power, the Authority will finance energy related projects, programs and services in Environmental Justice communities. For the purposes of this program, an eligible project, program or service should be within two miles of an Authority facility in an urban area and within six miles of an Authority facility in a rural area. The Authority will provide non-recoverable funding for such projects. The Authority will partner with Environmental Justice communities in various areas of the state to identify potential projects and target participants who are eligible for the Authority's energy services programs. For example, energy services projects may include energy efficiency, electric or hybrid transportation technology, or clean energy installations such as solar photovoltaic, geothermal or biomass.
Environmental Justice Training for Authority employees. The Authority
will offer an environmental justice training for relevant business units. The training will involve discussion of
potential barriers affecting communication with community stakeholders, site
visits and discussion on how permitting decisions potentially impact Environmental
Justice Communities. It will include an
awareness program for employees who are working with the public and/or on large
capital projects.
"The estimated cost for the entire Plan is approximately $850,000 over three years. Detailed requests and justifications for funding of specific components of the Plan will be presented during future budget proposals. Funding, as may be approved for each of the components, including the implementation of the energy efficiency educational program and the energy service projects, will be provided from the Operating Fund.
"The Vice President – Public and Government and Regulatory Affairs and the Vice President – Environmental Justice recommend that the Trustees approve the Environmental Justice Implementation Plan as described above.
"For the reasons stated, I recommend the approval of the above requested action by adoption of a resolution in the form of the attached draft resolution."
The following resolution, as submitted by the President and Chief Executive Officer, was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED, That the Trustees hereby authorize the Authority's Environmental Justice Implementation Plan as recommended in the foregoing report of the President and Chief Executive Officer; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer and all other officers of the Authority are, and each of them hereby is, authorized on behalf of the Authority to do any and all things, take any and all actions and execute and deliver any and all agreements, certificates and other documents to effectuate the foregoing resolution, subject to the approval of the form thereof by the Executive Vice President and General Counsel.
8. Informational Item: New York Power Authority's Incident Communications Protocol
The President and Chief Executive Officer submitted the following report:
"This report is to advise the Trustees of the modification and expansion of the Authority's internal and external communications protocol.
"Last August, the Authority responded immediately to threats from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. More recently, on-site employees made crucial operational decisions during a circuit breaker failure in the Massena Substation, which is part of the St. Lawrence Power Project. Both incidents have drawn attention to the Authority's communication procedures. This informational item to the Trustees will serve to convey established internal communication protocol. Additionally, the Authority's existing incident communications process has been expanded to make clear and specific the Authority's role and responsibilities so that all stakeholders (internal, external, and interagency) will have a clear understanding of what to expect from the Authority in times of crisis. Internal notifications based on the incident's level of severity (1, 2 and 3) have been slightly revised. External notifications to government officials and community partners have been refined for all levels. Finally, the Authority has partnered with other New York State emergency responders to improve incident communications among state entities.
Internal Notifications
"Each type of incident is categorized into levels (listed below) based on severity. These categories dictate who, within the Authority, receives a notification. The most efficient method of notification is via email; however, the Authority's senior management may use discretion in choosing the communication method (i.e. email, telephone, etc.) and in expediting and/or omitting communication steps depending on urgency of response and/or availability of individuals, as well as the nature of the incident (i.e. Safety, Environmental, Cyber, Power System, etc.).
Examples: Heavy Snowfall, Medical Incident (minor injuries), Thunderstorm, Suspicious Mail
Examples: Earthquake, Hurricane, Ice Storm, Flooding, Catastrophic Equipment Failure, Fire, Medical Incident (moderate injuries, off-site assistance required)
Examples: Imminent or Developing Dam Breach/Failure (EAP), Act of Terrorism, Medical Incidents (serious injuries or fatalities)
External Communications
"The Authority's Corporate Communications group has an existing Media Relations Guide that includes factual information on each of the Authority's Generation and Transmission assets. The guide also includes a list of the media stakeholders and contact information for each area. When incidents occur, this guide is used to create talking points for designated senior management and news releases for the affected region(s), as requested. The Communications group has the experience necessary to make appropriate judgment calls, with the approval of the Authority's Chief Executive Officer, on how much outreach to media partners is appropriate given the incident level.
Public, Government and Regulatory Affairs
"Under the leadership of the Vice President of Community and Governmental Relations, the Authority continues to nurture the good standing it has with external stakeholders, including government and regulatory officials, environmental justice communities and the general public. Using the talking points established by Corporate Communications, the Authority's external affairs team connects with their existing network of stakeholders in the affected area to inform them of the incident and reassure them of the Authority's commitment to safety and stewardship as good neighbors, especially in the areas where the Authority's facilities are located.
Inter-agency Coordination
"The Authority has been working on producing a Central Region Emergency Response After Action Report. The purpose of this report is to document the communications that occurred during Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in the Central Region during August 2011, with particular emphasis on capturing inter-agency (Federal Energy Regulating Commission, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, New York State Canal Corporation, New York State Office of Emergency Management, Schoharie County Office of Emergency Management, and Local Emergency Responders) communications.
"Recommendations from the report indicate that while there were no major protocol changes necessary, there are some areas of refinement and coordination that have already been proactively implemented by the Authority and some of the other entities; most operational recommendations for improved physical communications (cellular service/land lines/diversification) have already been implemented at minimal costs.
"Currently, revisions are being made to the report before the final document is released."
Mr. Bradford Van Auken presented an overview of the Authority's Incident Communications Protocol to Trustees. Responding to a question from Trustee Nicandri, Mr. Van Auken said that during the flood from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee last August, staff had some challenges with the phones and cellular infrastructure in the central region, most of which were washed out. Staff, however, with the assistance of the Information Technology staff, was able to communicate with stakeholders using the Authority's internal network. Mr. Van Auken added that the infrastructure at the Blenheim-Gilboa facility has since been upgraded and the risk to the phone and cellular infrastructure would be much less should the Authority experience another flood.
President Quiniones said that the Authority is mindful of the importance of being able to communicate with the public and stakeholders in close proximity to its facilities on a timely basis. Responding to a question from Vice Chairman Dyson, President Quiniones said that, in order to strengthen communications, the Authority is considering construction of cell towers at the B-G facility, in collaboration with the telecommunications providers in the area. He added that, in doing so, the local communities in the area can benefit from those added telecommunications infrastructure as well.
The next regular meeting of the Trustees will be held on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., at the Clarence D. Rappleyea Building, White Plains, New York, unless otherwise designated by the Chairman with the concurrence of the Trustees.
On motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned by the Vice Chairman at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Karen Delince
Corporate Secretary