March 28, 2024
Global Renewable News

NEW YORK STATE
Governor Cuomo Announces Completion of $26 Million Infrastructure Improvements at Mohawk River Hydropower Plants

April 24, 2017

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the completion of a $26 million project to improve the Crescent and Vischer Ferry hydroelectric power facilities on the Mohawk River in the Capital Region. The project also included equipment upgrades at the New York Power Authority's Ashokan hydropower plant in Ulster County. These improvements help New York move further toward Governor Cuomo's Clean Energy Standard that requires that 50 percent of the state's electricity needs to be generated from renewable energy sources by 2030.  
 
"With our nation-leading investments in hydropower, we are building a sustainable, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said. "This is one more major step in our efforts to set a bold, national standard for reducing energy emissions and for creating a cleaner and greener New York for future generations."
 
Four of the eight turbine generators at these two plants were updated through NYPA's $20 million Life Extension and Modernization Program. Under a related $6-million initiative, NYPA also completed upgrades to control equipment at the two Mohawk River plants, and at its Ashokan small hydro facility. Photos of the facilities are available here. These initiatives are part of NYPA's Five-year Strategic Plan to upgrade and maintain its assets so they deliver optimal outcomes for energy customers.
 
Richard Kauffman, Chairman, Energy and Finance, New York State, said, "With the completion of these major improvements at NYPA's small hydroelectric plants, we are affirming our commitment to clean energy while we simultaneously focus on updating critical infrastructure to ensure we meet our 50 percent by 2030 Clean Energy Standard target."
 
Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO, said, "Generating clean, low-cost power is what we do at the Power Authority. It's painstaking, careful maintenance and modernization efforts like this recently completed work at our small-hydro facilities that enable us to continue supplying economical, reliable power to our customers."
 
NYPA purchased the Vischer Ferry and Crescent plants from the New York State Department of Transportation in 1984. It added two turbine-generators to each project in 1990, for approximately 6,000 kilowatts (kW) of combined new capacity. This preceded its 1993 overhaul of the two original turbine-generators at each facility, dating back to 1925.  
 
The recently completed upgrades involved the newer turbine-generators. The work included refurbishing the major turbine-generator components, as well as replacing three river-flow regulating gates and two overhead cranes, both of which were nearly a century-old. NYPA is currently undertaking an engineering assessment for the overhaul of the four original turbine-generators.
 
The output from NYPA's small-hydro facilities help activate locks on the Erie Canal and provide supplemental power for NYPA's governmental customers.
 
NYPA is the nation's largest state public power organization through the operation of its 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. More than 70 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. For more information visit www.nypa.gov. Follow NYPA on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.
 
Reforming the Energy Vision
 
Reforming the Energy Vision is Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's strategy to lead on climate change and grow New York's economy. REV is building a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers by stimulating investment in clean technologies like solar, wind, and energy efficiency and generating 50 percent of the state's electricity needs from renewable energy by 2030. Already, REV has driven a nearly 800 percent growth in the statewide solar market, enabled over 105,000 low-income households to permanently cut their energy bills with energy efficiency, and created thousands of jobs in manufacturing, engineering, and other clean tech sectors. REV is ensuring New York State reduces statewide greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and achieves the internationally-recognized target of reducing emissions 80 percent by 2050. To learn more about REV, including the Governor's $5 billion investment in clean energy technology and innovation, please visit www.ny.gov/REV4NY and follow us at @Rev4NY.

Photos of the Facilities Available Here

For more information

New York State

www.ny.gov/


Governor's Press Office
Albany Press Office
Press.Office@exec.ny.gov
518.474-8418


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