Lt. Governor Donohue Announces University at Buffalo is Largest Purchaser of Wind Power in New York State

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Lt. Governor Mary Donohue today praised the University at Buffalo for its commitment to become the state's largest purchaser of wind-generated electricity. The university was the first campus in the State University of New York (SUNY) system to purchase a portion of its power from a commercial supplier of wind-generated electricity.

"UB has proven over the years that it is one of the country's leading academic institutions," said Donohue. "Today we stand here to praise it for not just teaching about environmental responsibility, but for practicing it. UB's commitment to the use of renewable energy sends a tremendous message to the student body, the community, and the state that our actions make a difference. The leadership that UB is demonstrating is what we need to achieve the state's energy security and environmental goals."

Donohue also praised UB for its aggressive efforts in implementing the provisions of Executive Order No. 111, which Gov. George Pataki issued in June 2001 and that directs state agencies, authorities, SUNY, and other entities to be more energy-efficient and environmentally aware. It established guidelines for improving efficiency, reducing energy consumption by 35 percent by 2010 relative to 1990 levels, procuring energy-efficient products and procurement of alternative-fueled vehicles. It also set energy efficiency standards for new buildings and renovations, and established requirements for increasing the purchase of renewable power.

UB became the first campus in the SUNY system to buy a portion of its electrical power from a commercial supplier of wind-generated electricity in 2002 through the purchase of 1.5 megawatts from the Fenner Wind Farm in Madison County. The 2003 purchase agreement with Community Energy, Inc. is for about half of the output of the entire Wethersfield Wind Farm in Wyoming County and UB's 2004 purchase will be for the output of three 1.5 megawatt wind turbines from the Fenner Wind Farm.

"We at UB are pleased and proud to lead the way in utilizing clean, renewable sources of power such as wind energy," said UB President William R. Greiner. "As the state's largest and most comprehensive public research institution, UB has historically been very aggressive on energy conservation and sustainability issues through many different university initiatives -- we see it as a natural outgrowth of our larger public mission.

"Under the governor's leadership," he added, "Executive Order 111 and the newly introduced Renewable Portfolio Standard have created an environment that has empowered UB to become the largest purchaser of wind-generated electricity in New York State -- setting an example, we hope, for both the public and private sectors.

"UB salutes Gov. Pataki and Lt .Gov. Donohue for their commitment, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to help make our region and state a more environmentally sustainable community."

UB Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi noted that "UB's nationally recognized energy-conservation program is credited with saving more than $9 million in energy costs annually and in earning the admiration and respect of our fellow research universities. With this purchase of wind power, UB is taking a bold and important step into a future where sustainable sources of energy will not just be desirable, but critical."

Commercial wind power supplier Community Energy is providing its New Wind Energy product with marketing support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and its Green Marketing Program, a component of its New York Energy $martSM Program. UB was first contacted by representatives of the western New York division of New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG). NYSEG voluntarily started New York State's first green power program in August 2002 as a Community Energy marketing partner.

NYSERDA Acting President Peter R. Smith said: the Green Marketing Incentive Program "provides financial incentives to leading clean-power marketers, such as Community Energy, Inc., to market clean and renewable power generated in New York to retail customers, such as the University at Buffalo. Our Green Marketing Incentive Program is helping the governor fulfill his mandate outlined in Executive Order 111 'Green and Clean,' which was to improve New York's energy efficiency, protect our environment and improve our state's economic base."

Brent Alderfer, president of Community Energy, Inc., noted: "This is a customer-driven market. UB has made a strong statement that it wants new sources of energy that produce no pollution and use no fuel.

"Other colleges and universities," Alderfer said, "as well as residents and businesses throughout the State, can make similar statements by purchasing wind energy directly from Community Energy, while NYSEG and Niagara Mohawk customers have the option of purchasing wind energy from their utility provider."

Under the Governor's Executive Order, state agencies are required to meet 10 percent of their electrical needs with environmentally friendly "green" power generated from renewable sources like biomass, wind, and solar by 2005. The percentage will increase to 20 percent by 2010. In terms of future wind capacity, the governor said NYSERDA has announced new awards of $17 million to support five new wind projects that would increase the number of wind projects in New York from three to eight, and the installed capacity from about 50 to about 365 MW.

UB began on Jan. 1 paying a small premium to procure 8 million kWh of clean "green" power from the Wethersfield site in Wyoming County, one of the first wind farms in New York State. In 2004, the university will purchase 12 million kWh of wind from the Fenner Wind Power Project, located in the Town of Fenner in Madison County in Central New York. The Fenner project operates 20 huge, 1.5-megawatt wind-driven generators connected to the New York power grid.

In 2003, five of the 150-foot-tall Wethersfield Wind Turbines will be designated as the "University at Buffalo Wind Turbines," while in 2004, three of the larger 300-foot-tall, 1.5 MW Fenner wind generators will be designated to UB. The monthly output of one of Fenner's wind turbines is equivalent to approximately 330,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, enough to power approximately 500 homes.

In addition, UB's "green" power purchase will provide a significant environmental benefit by reducing pollutants associated with acid rain and smog. It's estimated that by 2004, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions will be reduced annually by more than eight million, 92,000 and 36,000 pounds respectively as a result, according to Community Energy, Inc.