Seward Announces Energy Grants

At a news conference in Middleburgh, State Senator James L. Seward announced that a total of $70,000 in grants has been awarded to the towns of Fulton, Wright, Seward and Middleburgh in Schoharie County to help finance energy efficiency projects.

"I commend these town governments for setting an example of energy efficiency and economy in government. The projects announced today will reduce their energy consumption and cut their collective energy bills by $5,000 a year," said Senator Seward.

The project grant was provided from Petroleum Overcharge Restitution (POCR) funds, established from fines levied on oil companies for violating federal price controls. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) administers the funds.

Energy efficiency measures will include upgrades to lighting fixtures by replacing older T-12 fluorescent lamps and incandescent lighting with more efficient T-8 fixtures, replacing or upgrading the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) units, installing day light sensors on exterior lighting, applying new insulation and weather stripping, as well as replacement of older inefficient windows and doors with newer models to mitigate the loss of heat in those buildings.

The proposed energy saving measures will be performed on the Town of Middleburgh Highway Department Building ($30,000); Town of Wright Highway Building ($10,000); Town of Fulton municipal building ($20,000) and the Town of Seward Highway Department Building ($10,000).

"To confront the high cost of energy in New York State, I have worked in the state senate to cap gasoline taxes, and create additional energy tax reductions for small business, biofuel production and alternative energy property tax breaks," Seward said.

The New York Power Authority has completed over 1,400 projects in government and school buildings across the state since 1990, saving $92 million in energy costs and reducing electricity consumption by 880,000 megawatt-hours (mWh) annually.

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