News stories tagged with "nypa"

(02/01/11) The resumption of production at Alcoa's east smelter in Massena is a huge boost to a region that's been battered by the recession. 120 people are back on the pot lines. Alcoa's planning to invest millions of dollars in modernizing the facility.

But there's a sliver of bad news. Alcoa's share of low cost power was going to businesses and farms across the North Country. Yesterday, the New York Power Authority announced those discounts will be phased out. David Sommerstein reports. more

(06/03/10) The New York Power Authority delivered a big heap of hope to St. Lawrence County yesterday. State and local officials gathered in Massena to sign a contract to receive 16 million dollars and 20 megawatts of cheap power for economic development. The gift is meant to compensate for the loss of St. Lawrence River waterfront due to the Moses-Saunders hydropower dam. Wrangling among St. Lawrence County leaders delayed the payment by almost a decade. And while there's relief the fund is finally here, there's no plan yet on how to use it. David Sommerstein reports.

(03/11/10) The New York Power Authority has targeted zones in lakes Ontario and Erie as potential sites for off-shore wind farms. The zones are all more than two miles from shore, and in 150 feet of water or less.

The power authority hopes for up to 500 megawatts of power, and will accept proposals from private developers until June 1.
One of the zones lies between Galloo and Grenadier islands. Another stretches south from Galloo along the eastern end of Lake Ontario. NYPA CEO Richard Kessel came to Watertown this week to ask for the county legislature's support. As Martha Foley reports, he didn't get it. more

(12/14/09) Governor David Paterson signed into law legislation to reform the state's public authorities, a measure he says will shed "sunlight" onto what has been a dark corner of government. Karen DeWitt reports.

(04/23/09) The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is hoping an 1851 letter it recently acquired will shed light on ownership of former tribal land. But right now the document raises more questions than answers. The tribe bought the letter from Gregory Caron of Hopkinton for $1000. Caron bought it at an auction for the same price. The letter is written in dense legalese. It makes a case for British settlers to pay the tribe years of back rent for using Barnhart and Baxter Islands in the St. Lawrence River. The Mohawks owned the islands until they were ceded to the United States (without Mohawk consent) after the war of 1812. Today, Barnhart Island is the home of the massive New York Power Authority hydropower dam across the St. Lawrence. Arnold Printup is the historic preservation officer for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. He spoke to David Sommerstein about the letter and its significance.

(03/10/09) The FBI has subpoenaed information from Lake Placid's Olympic Regional Development Authority as part of an investigation that apparently targets former Congressman John Sweeney. The Albany Times-Union is reporting that Federal agents are probing Sweeney's taxpayer-funded trips that ended in 2006 when he lost a bid for re-election. Martha Foley has details.

(03/10/09) TEXT ONLY: Federal investigators have subpoenaed information from Lake Placid's Olympic Regional Development Authority as part of an investigation targeting former Congressman John Sweeney. The Albany Times-Union is reporting that the FBI is probing Sweeney's taxpayer-funded trips to Lake Placid. The junkets were criticized by Democrats in 2006, who described the travel as a sweetheart deal for the Republican lawmaker and his supporters. The trips were paid for in part by the Olympic Regional Development Authority and the New York Power Authority.

According to the Times-Union, the FBI's probe was triggered by hearings held by Democrats in the state Assembly in 2006. At the time, Sweeney said questions about the so-called "Winter Congressional Challenge" were politically motivated. The newspaper said that Sweeney couldn't be reached for comment.

(03/05/09) The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe lashed out against Governor Paterson and the New York Power Authority Tuesday for sending low-cost hydropower to Long Island. The 9 megawatts was reserved for the Mohawks and their growing casino, which has been running on generators. David Sommerstein reports.

(02/26/09) The head of the New York Power Authority says he'd be "glad to talk" with a developer who wants to build a steel mill in Massena. Steel Development Company chairman John Correnti says he wants to build a $200-million rebar plant and create 200 jobs. Martha Foley reports.

(11/28/08) As the financial crisis and state budget cuts buffet the already struggling economies of the North Country, look for low-cost hydropower to loom larger. The New York Power Authority produces 900 megawatts of cheap electricity at the dam on the St. Lawrence River. Alcoa buys about half of that to employ some 1300 people in Massena. North Country officials have long argued more of the power should energize businesses here rather than being sold downstate. The new CEO of the Power Authority says he's willing to listen. Richard Kessel has been on the job for about a month. He was a controversial appointment by Governor Paterson. First, because he's from downstate - Kessel ran the Long Island Power Authority from 1997 to 2006. Second, he was known for mismanagement and patronage in that job. Kessel told David Sommerstein that's behind him. He said the priorities in his new post in NYPA are to bring transparency to an agency widely known for secrecy and to help the Upstate economy.