The New York Power Authority (NYPA) Board of Trustees approved the award of a competitively bid six-year equipment contract, valued at $70.6 million, to REEL COH, Inc. of Boisbriand, Quebec, for the design, fabrication, delivery, and installation of two new gantry cranes at the St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project in Massena, N.Y. The new cranes will enhance the operational efficiency and reliability of the facility, a vital hydroelectric generation resource for New York's energy system.
"These crane replacements are crucial for the future operational safety and efficiency of the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project, for our IBEW workforce and for NYPA," said Judge Cecily Morris, NYPA Trustee and North Country resident. "This investment in modernizing our equipment demonstrates the Power Authority's commitment to best-in-class upgrades to this essential North Country power generation asset."
"These two new cranes are essential for the continued safe and efficient operation of the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project, ensuring the plant can continue to provide up to 1 GW of reliable, clean energy from this facility to New Yorkers for many years to come," said Justin E. Driscoll, NYPA President and CEO. "The current cranes are original to the project and have served the plant well since it began operation more than 65 years ago. The cranes have reached the end of their operating lives, and we are grateful to have found a nearby, highly qualified vendor with the capacity to build this unique machinery using American steel."
Under the terms of the contract which was approved at the Dec.10 NYPA board meeting, the existing STL-90-ton crane will be upgraded to a 100-ton crane to accommodate reserve capacity, ice buildup, and dynamic forces when lifting intake gates. The existing STL-300-ton crane will be upgraded to a 350-ton crane to provide a greater margin for dynamic forces and future potential upgrades to the project's generating units. The contract also includes rail replacement/ refurbishment, conductor bus bar system replacement, and power feeder replacements. The design and engineering work is scheduled to begin in Jan. 2025. The 100-ton crane is scheduled to be completed in mid-2028, and the 350-ton crane in 2030.
About NYPA
NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 17 generating facilities and more than 1,550 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.
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