Thruway Authority Announces Contract

ALBANY, NY (05/19/2010)(readMedia)-- To strengthen existing efforts to meet the goals established by Governor Paterson's State Energy Plan initiative, the New York State Thruway Authority today announced the execution of a $400,000 agreement with C.J. Brown Energy, P.C., a Buffalo-based energy engineering firm, for the development of an Energy Master Plan for all Thruway and Canal facilities.

"The Authority is taking steps to incorporate renewable, energy-efficient technologies to reduce some of the costs at Authority-owned facilities along the Thruway, while at the same time furthering its environmental stewardship commitments," said Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer. "The development of an Energy Master Plan will help the Authority achieve these important goals."

The contract with C.J. Brown Energy, P.C. will assist the Authority in identifying and analyzing any potential energy efficiency improvements that can be implemented in a cost effective manner.

C.J. Brown Energy, P.C. was selected to perform the Energy Master Plan through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's (NYSERDA) Flexible Technical Assistance (FlexTech) program. NYSERDA'S FlexTech Program provides New York State commercial, industrial, institutional, government, and not-for-profit sectors with objective and customized information to help customers make informed energy decisions. FlexTech's goal is to increase productivity and economic competitiveness of participants and New York State. Through this Program, NYSERDA is planning to cost chare 50%, or $70,430, of the first phase in developing the Energy Master Plan project. NYSERDA anticipates cost-sharing subsequent phases as a result of this initial investigation.

For more than 15 years, C.J. Brown Energy P.C. has worked with businesses, institutions, municipalities, state agencies and utility companies to identify, analyze and implement facility improvements reducing energy use and operating costs.

"I commend the leadership of the Thruway Authority for their initiative to increase the energy efficiency of their operations," said Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. "This project will help identify the most cost-effective and energy-efficient options they have to decrease their energy costs, reduce their impact on the environment, and help New York meet the ambitious energy goals Governor David Paterson has set for New York."

C.J. Brown Energy, P.C will also assist the Authority in the identification and evaluation of any solar and wind power opportunities that may exist along the 70,000 acres of Thruway and Canal right of way currently under the Authority's management. The Authority is not only interested in opportunities to use renewable energy at its facilities, but is interested in learning if there is a potential to utilize the Authority's right-of-way to generate clean, renewable power for the residents and businesses in the communities it serves.

For more information about the Authority's environmental stewardship commitments, please visit www.nysthruway.gov/environmental/index.html .

The agreement was recently approved by the New York State Comptroller's Office.

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