Last week the Buffalo News ran a front page expose on the New york Power Authority, citing the following...
Even though high utility rates are blamed for hurting the local economy, one-fifth of the low-cost power generated at the state power project in Lewiston and earmarked for local industry has gone unused by area businesses over the past four years, a Buffalo News investigation has found.
Instead of helping the local economy, the cheap power has been sold by the New York Power Authority for an estimated $161 million and used mostly to subsidize businesses outside the region and fund authority operations statewide, The News found.
What’s more, profits at the Niagara Power Project more than tripled the past four years. The Lewiston facility once accounted for a quarter of the profits generated at the 18 power plants the authority operates. But thanks to the explosion in profits — nearly $1 million every other day — the Niagara River facility last year provided nearly two-thirds of profits generated by authority plants statewide.
Confer Plastics was featured in this story which included a photo of our factory...
....business owners who tried unsuccessfully to get hydropower from the authority voiced frustration over the surplus.
Bob Confer, vice president of Confer Plastics in North Tonawanda, said his company approached the authority last year, seeking an increase in its 300-kilowatt allocation. The company employs about 130 people to manufacture molded plastics for industry, the military and consumer products, and was trying to cut its electricity bills.
Confer’s bills average 11.5 cents per kilowatt, more than double the rates paid by his major competitors in Ohio. The authority turned down the request, saying the company’s application didn’t meet the program’s criteria.
“This is quite frustrating,” Confer said after being told of the authority’s unused power.
“It seems to me the state tends to bend over backwards to serve the new companies coming into New York but does nothing for those already here.”
To read the article in its entirety, visit the Buffalo News at:
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/365785.html?imw=Y
Even though high utility rates are blamed for hurting the local economy, one-fifth of the low-cost power generated at the state power project in Lewiston and earmarked for local industry has gone unused by area businesses over the past four years, a Buffalo News investigation has found.
Instead of helping the local economy, the cheap power has been sold by the New York Power Authority for an estimated $161 million and used mostly to subsidize businesses outside the region and fund authority operations statewide, The News found.
What’s more, profits at the Niagara Power Project more than tripled the past four years. The Lewiston facility once accounted for a quarter of the profits generated at the 18 power plants the authority operates. But thanks to the explosion in profits — nearly $1 million every other day — the Niagara River facility last year provided nearly two-thirds of profits generated by authority plants statewide.
Confer Plastics was featured in this story which included a photo of our factory...
....business owners who tried unsuccessfully to get hydropower from the authority voiced frustration over the surplus.
Bob Confer, vice president of Confer Plastics in North Tonawanda, said his company approached the authority last year, seeking an increase in its 300-kilowatt allocation. The company employs about 130 people to manufacture molded plastics for industry, the military and consumer products, and was trying to cut its electricity bills.
Confer’s bills average 11.5 cents per kilowatt, more than double the rates paid by his major competitors in Ohio. The authority turned down the request, saying the company’s application didn’t meet the program’s criteria.
“This is quite frustrating,” Confer said after being told of the authority’s unused power.
“It seems to me the state tends to bend over backwards to serve the new companies coming into New York but does nothing for those already here.”
To read the article in its entirety, visit the Buffalo News at:
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/365785.html?imw=Y
