NYSEFC Acting President Matt Millea Presents $245,000 Green Innovation Grant to the Village of Cooperstown

ALBANY, NY (10/23/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Acting President Matthew Millea today presented the Village of Cooperstown Mayor Carol Waller with a $245,000 ceremonial check for monies provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With this funding, the Village will install new equipment to its wastewater treatment plant to direct the facility's effluent to reconstructed wetlands on the site, providing a long-term, sustainable treatment process. This project will save local taxpayers an estimated $30,000 per year in operational and maintenance costs and further improve the water quality of the Susquehanna River and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

Governor Paterson said: "Every Green Innovation Grant Program project will save local taxpayers money for years to come and increase the State's appeal to "green" industries. Upgrading wastewater treatment systems is critical to public health and environmental quality, and our long-term economic viability. I would like to thank President Obama and the New York Congressional Delegation for these federal dollars that support job creation in the Mohawk Valley and make critical infrastructure improvements in the Village of Cooperstown."

U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri (NY-24) said: "Protecting our water supply is critical to the quality of life of all Upstate New York residents. I am glad to see that Cooperstown has received these federal dollars to protect their water supply because addressing the needs of our region's aging infrastructure is critical to our economic and environmental success now and in the future."

Village of Cooperstown Mayor Carol Waller said: "I am pleased that the Village of Cooperstown's innovative project for wastewater treatment was given this grant. I thank the Governor and his office for this recognition and award. It is through the hard work and extra efforts of the Village Staff, especially our Clerk, Teri Barown, our Senior Water Plant Supervisor John Cankar and our volunteer consultant for our sanitation system, Dr. Ted Peters that this project can be put into place and save the residents of Cooperstown from extensive and expensive renovations to this plant. Each of these people played an important part in this grant process, but I want to single out Dr. Peters for his continued expert advice, intense interest and hard work on behalf of our Village, all as a volunteer."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Environmental Facilities Corporation Board Chairman Pete Grannis said: "Cooperstown is demonstrating what it means to be a green leader by implementing infrastructure improvements that go beyond the status quo and will result in significant environmental benefits. I thank President Obama, Governor Paterson, our Congressional delegation, and the many other partners who are supporting the improved water quality, energy savings, and lower operating costs this project will provide."

The Village's project includes the installation of a new, energy-efficient pump station, force main, and wetland influent structure that enables the wastewater treatment plant to incorporate naturally occurring wetland processes. As a result, the facility releases significantly cleaner discharges that reduce nutrient pollution levels in the Susquehanna River without the use of additional equipment or chemical treatments. Construction is scheduled to begin in December 2009.

New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Acting President Matthew Millea said: "Each Green Innovation Grant Project represents a step towards building a "green" industry and sustainable water treatment network in New York State. We appreciate Governor Paterson and the New York Congressional Delegation's support of this unique program. I want to commend the Village of Cooperstown for their determination and vision to submit this innovative project to the Green Innovation Grant Program."

The recently-inaugurated Green Innovation Grant Program supports up to 90% of eligible project costs for the installation of innovative, cost-cutting solutions for progressive water conservation, energy-efficient technologies to clean water infrastructure. In order to identify all opportunities to utilize "green" infrastructure throughout the State, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation solicited projects on March 25th and received nearly 300 applications totaling approximately $468 million in grant requests. For more information about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Green Innovation Grant Program, please visit www.nysefc.org/greengrants.

The following quotes were provided in support of the Village of Cooperstown Green Innovation Grant project:

New York State Senator James Seward said: "As the headwaters of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay, the Village of Cooperstown takes water quality very seriously. This forward-thinking project safeguards our vital environmental resources while at the same time protecting the bottom line for local taxpayers. I applaud Mayor Carol Bateman Waller and the Village of Cooperstown for thinking locally and globally in conceiving this project."

New York State Assemblyman William Magee said: "I am pleased to learn that the Village of Cooperstown, located within the 111th Assembly District, will be receiving stimulus funding for a major water quality project. Funding provided through the Green Infrastructure Grant Program will certainly create new jobs and most importantly create a safer environment for it' residents by improving water quality."

Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet Spokesman: David Neustadt | dneustadt@ins.state.ny.us | 212.681.4640

Posted Friday October 23, 2009 at 11:15 am by New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation