NYPA is celebrating Engineers Week to recognize the achievements and contributions of our talented engineers in developing and maintaining reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for New York State.
Name: Rahul Kadavil Title: System Planning Engineer II Location: White Plains Office
NYPA is celebrating Engineers Week to recognize the achievements and contributions of our talented engineers in developing and maintaining reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for New York State.
Name: Michael Laoye Title: Meter Engineer I Location: Eugene W. Zeltmann Power Project What is a typical day/week like for you? A typical day includes submitting metering data to the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) from our generating plants, testing/calibrating meters in our MEG Lab, and supporting meter upgrade projects across our municipal locations.
What drew you to NYPA as an engineer? I didn’t know much about NYPA prior to applying. I was referred by a friend. After doing research, I found NYPA’s mission of providing clean and reliable energy very intriguing. The statistic that stood out to me was the fact that, at the time, 70% of NYPA’s generation was hydroelectric. I wanted to be part of a sustainable organization, and several years later after my hire date, that number is now at 80%. What personal characteristics do you think are needed to become a successful engineer? Becoming an engineer is not for the faint of heart. It takes courage and dedication. A person who has interests in the field of engineering must be willing to constantly learn and be open to new ideas. It also takes sacrifice. I sacrificed a lot of my time studying to get where I am today, and I would do it all over again. To this day, I am still learning, whether on the job or through engineering-related articles. What types of challenges in engineering do you enjoy? I enjoy the challenge of having to solve problems. As an engineer for the past several years, I’ve come across challenges that were not so easy. For example, my recent journey into the field of meter engineering has been stimulating, to the point where there are opportunities to face challenging issues every day. Issues may range from troubleshooting meter malfunctions to resolving blown PT fuses out in the field, all while ensuring data is submitted to the NYISO daily. Although it can be demanding, I take pride in having to come in every day to tackle issues that may arise. Experiencing these challenges is what helps develop my skills as an engineer.
NYPA is celebrating Engineers Week to recognize the achievements and contributions of our talented engineers in developing and maintaining reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for New York State.
Name: Eleanor Rogers Title: Project Engineer II Location: St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project
NYPA is celebrating Engineers Week to recognize the achievements and contributions of our talented engineers in developing and maintaining reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for New York State.
Name: Wing Kong Title: Associate Protection and Control Engineer Location: WPO
What is a typical day/week like for you? A typical week includes developing and reviewing design packages, relay setting calculations and relay setting files, as well as testing relay settings to ensure they meet compliance and operate to protect high-voltage electrical equipment as designed when needed.
What drew you to NYPA as an engineer? The amazing workplace culture as well as the interesting and challenging assignments.
Do you have any advice for engineering students or engineers just entering the workforce?
Organize information well so it’s easily accessible, take initiatives to gain experience, prioritize tasks well and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
What types of challenges in engineering do you enjoy?
I enjoy the challenge from the technical aspect of the work and from the effort to standardize on designs, even though each design has different external limitations or factors.
NYPA is celebrating Engineers Week to recognize the achievements and contributions of our talented engineers in developing and maintaining reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for New York State.
Name: Nishant Sharma Title: Assistant EMS Electrical Engineer Location: Energy Control Center (Marcy)
What is a typical day/week like for you? I start by reading emails and writing down in my notes my goals/plan for the day of what needs to get done and how my week looks. Then I listen in to a meeting we have every day. I discuss with coworkers the work that needs to be done for the day and what the best plan of action is to complete it. I usually go into the control room and work there for the morning of the day to get any urgent work complete until lunch.
Usually I go to my desk in the afternoon and get more work done and have more meetings. I finish the day by completing my goals and discussing with coworkers what we need to do tomorrow and the rest of the week.
What drew you to NYPA as an engineer? I always knew engineering was going to be my full-time job, so picking a career was not difficult.
In my senior year of college, I was fortunate enough to land an internship at NYPA. I worked as an intern for a year and right after I graduated, I applied for the assistant EMS electrical engineer position and got the job. I really enjoyed the internship and was drawn to NYPA’s goals and vision for the future, so it was an easy decision to apply for a full-time position.
Do you have any advice for engineering students or engineers just entering the workforce? One of the most important pieces of advice I would have for new engineers is to have an open mind and ask questions. The best way to learn and grow as an engineer is to learn as much as possible. This is done by asking questions whenever you are in doubt. Gaining knowledge about the position will only benefit you in the future. Always speak with coworkers and discuss what the best plan of action is so that the work is done in the best interests of the organization.
What kind of engineering skills would you like to develop in the near future? I would like to gain more skills with systems and coding. I see myself working on more projects that are in depth with data analytics and system coding. These are skills I want to work on and improve so I can lead projects that are revolved around data.
NYPA is celebrating Engineers Week to recognize the achievements and contributions of our talented engineers in developing and maintaining reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for New York State.
Name: Haoyu (Robert) Wang Title: Mechanical Engineer II Location: WPO
What is a typical day/week like for you?
A typical day for me is collaborating with on-site and home office personnel, providing engineering solutions to NYPA’s generation facilities, and performing calculations and engineering analyses on multiple projects.
What drew you to NYPA as an engineer?
NYPA initiated great projects such as decarbonization and revitalization of the hydro generation plants. The contribution I can make to the organization will bring values to the state and the nation. Can you describe your professional journey and how it led you to NYPA?
My professional journey started with an engineering/consulting firm, where I gained lots of analytical knowledge on providing engineering solutions. NYPA provided opportunities for engineers like me to integrate into existing and future projects. Also, upon joining NYPA, I am broadening my technical and management background as an engineer. This means a lot for career advancement.
Can you tell us about one of your best accomplishments in engineering? What about this project makes you most proud?
In the past, I performed engineering calculations and piping and equipment stress analyses, as well as site walkdowns, mostly for new power plant design and construction. At NYPA, my biggest project is still ongoing, which is the High Energy Piping program at the Zeltmann Project. It has been a successful journey during the past two years with this project. We identified multiple piping failures and saved the plant from many unexpected and forced outages and made it a safer place to work.
Do you have any advice for engineering students or engineers just entering the workforce?
Yes -- when a new engineer enters the workforce, one may be asked to perform certain tasks using an existing software/program. This would make the engineer’s life easier as everything has been set up but make sure to spend more time to learn and ask the engineering theories on the backend. So, the engineer will understand how the process works and it will be helpful in a long run.
What drew you into the discipline of engineering?
I like mechanical engineering as it is related to cars, engines, robots and other cool stuff I liked when I was a child. I always wanted to learn how it works so I chose to study the mechanical discipline.
What kind of engineering skills would you like to develop in the near future?
I would like to gain more engineering skills in plant and transmission operations. My past was more about design, but to be able to gain more knowledge in operations will help me assist NYPA’s projects better.
What personal characteristics do you think are needed to become a successful engineer?
Be open minded, communicative and be willing to help others. Engineering is not a one-man show. It requires a collaborative mind and it is a teamwork process.
What types of challenges in engineering do you enjoy?
To proactively analyze and figure out an issue before it happens.
Why did you choose to become a Professional Engineer?
A PE’s requirement includes comprehensive understanding of various aspects of the engineering world. Also, most importantly, it makes sure that the engineer holds a high standard of engineering ethics, which should be very crucial in this field. A PE is also highly regarded as an individual, and driving for excellence is also a virtue that I hold myself up to.
NYPA is celebrating Engineers Week to recognize the achievements and contributions of our talented engineers in developing and maintaining reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for New York State.
Name: Shawn Parent Title: Senior I&C Engineer I Location: Niagara
What is a typical day/week like for you?
My typical day in the I&C department is reviewing and working on upcoming capital projects like Next Generation Niagara, the Transmission Lifetime Extension and Modernization project in the switchyard, and the new Stamp Substation. When I am needed, I also support the I&C technicians with technical questions that arise during the day.
What drew you to NYPA as an engineer?
When I was a kid, our class went on a field trip to NYPA’s St. Lawrence visitor center. I just thought it was so cool to make electricity out of falling water. From there, I focused my studies to electrical power generation courses. I also wanted to work at the largest hydro in New York, which is owned by NYPA (the Niagara Power Project.)
Can you tell us about one of your best accomplishments in engineering? What about this project makes you most proud?
Supporting the Robert Moses (Power Plant) Unit 13 upgrade at Niagara. It was my first project where I was responsible for procuring parts for the unit board. Designing the wiring prints that included the controls for the unit made me proud.
Do you have any advice for engineering students or engineers just entering the workforce?
Engineering is an art. There are things that you can create, and yes, it works. Then there are things that you can tell an engineer put a lot of time into. They did not cut corners to just make it functional, but to the trained eye, it is a thing of beauty.
What personal characteristics do you think are needed to become a successful engineer?
Patience! You need to learn how to be patient with technology; sometimes it will not do what you want it to do. Sometimes people do not see the same things you do. Finally, with yourself, you do not know what you do not know.
What types of challenges in engineering do you enjoy?
The changing in technology, especially in the evolution from mechanical relays to circuits now being controlled by microprocessors.
NYPA is celebrating Engineers Week to recognize the achievements and contributions of our talented engineers in developing and maintaining reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for New York State.
Name: Reem Kabbara Title: Senior Civil/Structural Engineer 1 Location: WPO
What is a typical day/week like for you?
A typical day for me starts at 7 a.m., going through my emails with a big mug of coffee in hand and looking if any of those emails brings in a new task that needs to be prioritized. Then, a glance on my “to-do list” and my calendar, and those two really determine how the rest of my day will look like: shoveling between reviewing and/or performing design plans or structural calculations, communicating with consultants, attending project meetings, looking to solve a problem, and sometimes discussing it with other experts in my group in hope to develop better ideas. I would stop at noon for an hour lunch and often would go for a stroll in the neighborhood’s streets to get some sun and fresh air. After lunch, my day continues in a similar fashion.
On a light workday, I try to reserve the last hour to monitor project finances, finish some outstanding internal compliance and corporate trainings or read through engineering papers and documents.
A typical week would sometimes include in addition a visit to one of the facilities for a meeting or for field assessment.
What drew you to NYPA as an engineer?
I always knew that being a well-rounded engineer is important for the success of my career and this was the main drive for me to choose NYPA: As the largest state public utility in the United Sates that owns and operates facilities generating hydroelectric and gas-fired power, it gives me an opportunity to get exposed and work with a variety of unique structures I would not have got somewhere else. Between dams, bridges, substations, transmission towers, buildings and much more, what else can a structural engineer ask for?
As an employee, joining an organization that was named among best mid-sized employers for three years by Forbes magazine did not make me hesitate that I was making the right choice.
Can you tell us about one of your best accomplishments in engineering? What about this project makes you most proud?
The Bayonne Bridge Navigational Clearance Project when I was employed by HDR Engineering: this was a challenging project intended to raise the roadway deck 64 feet into the exiting steel arch to allow large ships to pass underneath into Newark Bay. I was proud I was a part of that project owned by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. My assigned task was to strengthen the bearing shoes of the truss arch on either side of the river to be able to withstand the new loadings. Each steel bearing shoe, along with the lower box member of the arch connected to it, had to be filled with high-strength concrete and analyzed as a composite member, which was a big challenge given that this project was one of a kind and consisted of a complex geometry.
What drew you into the discipline of engineering?
I was born in Lebanon, which was torn by a civil war for the first 15 years of my life. Every time the sirens went off for an upcoming raid, my family would flee the building to seek a shelter and most times we would return to find the house in ruins. I witnessed my house being destroyed too many times and watched my parents struggle to build it again. Even after the war ended, the country needed massive infrastructural rehabilitations and major facilities repairs. It only made sense to me back then to choose to become a civil engineer and offer professional help to a community looking to be rebuilt for future generations.
NYPA is celebrating Engineers Week to recognize the achievements and contributions of our talented engineers in developing and maintaining reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for New York State.
Name: Jorge Jimenez Title: Senior Real Time Systems Engineer 1 Location: WPO
What is a typical day/week like for you?
I am fortunate enough to get to work on various multi-disciplinary projects where the engineering decisions that are made can have long-lasting effects. In the process, through thought-provoking technical discussions, ideas are shared between many talented engineers where the collective objective is to provide a sound, robust and optimized solution that ultimately benefits the people of the state of New York.
What drew you to NYPA as an engineer?
The opportunity to work on a wide range of systems and technologies that are in use throughout the NYPA fleet. For example, renewable energy, hydropower, conventional thermal units, transmission systems and substations, distributed control systems, communications networks, cyber security and data-driven asset health predictive maintenance programs, just to name a few. Every day at NYPA is different and every project is different, and I get to put my hand in this mixed box of chocolates where each one has a different and unique delicious flavor.
Can you tell us about one of your best accomplishments in engineering? What about this project makes you most proud?
The opportunity to work on and see to completion the Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant controls long-term extension and modernization program. I got to work with a great team of engineers, mechanics, electricians, technicians and operators throughout this multi-year effort. We had many challenges and problems along the way where, one by one, we relentlessly tackled them from different angles until we came up with the most optimal solution. No stone was left unturned. This was extremely satisfying, and I feel that we, as a team, provided a safe, reliable, intuitive, easy-to-use and overall fantastic product to our internal and external customers that will be in operation for many years to come.
Do you have any advice for engineering students or engineers just entering the workforce?
In school, we are taught how to “answer engineering questions.” When we become engineers with a direct influence on projects, systems and decisions, we should then “question the answers.” In other words, don’t be afraid to ask, “Is this the best and most efficient way to go about this, or can it be done better?” If you have an idea, express it. If you have new potential solution, discuss it. If you have an enhancement, test it. Innovation is key to success.
What drew you into the discipline of engineering?
After high school, I didn’t know for sure what I wanted to major in at college. A family friend suggested I try an engineering major, so I did. I have never looked back since and am grateful that I had that conversation. I don’t see myself doing anything else other than engineering.
What kind of engineering skills would you like to develop in the near future?
Technology is constantly changing, whether we like it or not, and as engineers, we have to constantly keep up to date with those industry advancements. We wouldn’t go to a doctor who is still engaged in medicinal practices from the 1950s, would we? No, we wouldn’t; the medical field has advanced tremendously since then. The world will face new technological problems tomorrow that will be different than those of today, and in turn, we have to continuously develop new skills and gain additional knowledge to be prepared to face tomorrow’s problems. The new skills needed by the industry, and by the world for that matter, are constantly shifting, and we have to adapt accordingly.
What personal characteristics do you think are needed to become a successful engineer?
A curious mind and a willingness to be a perpetual student within your engineering discipline. A willingness to challenge the established norms, to not be afraid to express your creativity, and having problem-solving skills, dedication and passion. Also, not being afraid of what some might call “failure.” It’s not a failure; it’s a just another learning opportunity. As the great Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed 10,000 times - I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”
Dear Canal Colleagues and Friends:
I recently returned from a remarkable and highly relevant experience, participating in the 2022 World Canals Conference in Leipzig, Germany. There, more than 270 international administrators, engineering experts, economic professionals and canal enthusiasts from 20 countries and four continents convened to discuss the global importance of our inland waterways: “Reshaping Landscapes – Waterways in Transition.”
Within the context of a changing world, we discussed new technologies for sustainable water-based economic development, flood protection, options for environmentally friendly utilization. Like so many of our counterparts throughout the world, New York continues to grapple with the challenges of transitioning from an inherently industrial waterway to employing new ideas for a thriving and sustainable recreation-based waterway. My time at the WCC in Leipzig affirmed we are not alone.
Similar in purpose to our own Reimagine the Canals initiative, seeing how other countries and communities are addressing some of these very same challenges was both enlightening and inspiring.
Since 1988, Inland Waterways International has presented the World Canals Conference annually in Europe, North America and Asia. Our four-day conference in the heart of Germany’s Saxony region concluded with an announcement by IWI leaders of the selection of Buffalo, New York as the official site of the 2025 World Canals Conference!
Presentations and discussion by dozens of speakers throughout the week built a foundation for facing the key demands confronting our international inland waterways through central themes, including:
Scottish Canals and Waterways of the Czech Republic
Two general session presentations especially relevant to our ongoing work here in New York were delivered by the directors of Scottish Canals and the Waterways Directorate of the Czech Republic.
Scottish Canal CEO Catherine Topley discussed the remarkable transformation and growing economic impact of Scotland’s 140-mile network of five canal systems and waterways spanning from the southeastern coastal capital of Edinburgh on the North Sea to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Largely abandoned and forgotten from the mid-1900s forward, Scottish Canals began an aggressive program in 2000 to reclaim its proud canal heritage and vintage waterways.
In 20 years, they have been cleaned, re-watered and reopened for tourism and economic development with environmental, health and broad-scale community benefits. Catherine Topley’s full presentation can be seen here.
Lubomir Fotju, Director of the Czech Waterways Directorate, reviewed his country’s ongoing efforts to rebuild and modernize aged canal infrastructure for improving commercial and recreational navigation. In just 10 years, Czech waterways have seen an 80 percent increase in pleasure and passenger boat traffic, while additional locks are proposed to enhance maritime industry and power generation along rivers, while providing added environmental benefits.
Berlin Pre-Conference Field Tour - Niderfinow Ship’s Hoists
A pair of colossal technological marvels, old and new, stand side by side on Germany’s Havel-Oder Canal connecting Berlin with Szczecin and the Baltic Sea. The original steel riveted structure, which opened in 1934 under Nazi Germany’s emerging Third Reich regime, remains fully operational, impeccably maintained and an engineering masterpiece.
Standing adjacent and soon to come online, a significantly larger and more efficient hoist will meet the modern parameters of a Class V European waterway, lifting ships more than 100 feet to complete the canal’s navigation connections above and below.
Ships hoists like these replace the need for multiple lift locks, as their larger capacity provides for more rapid transiting of both commercial and recreational traffic over the same distance in a single operation.
By isolating watercraft from the navigation channel in a single compartment and through the structure’s lifting process, the massive hoists could provide a protected chamber to ensure ships and recreational watercraft are cleaned of any aquatic invasive species prior to reentering the navigation channel.
Afterward, a peaceful cruise along the pastoral 400-year old Niederfinow Canal through the bucolic German countryside.
Grimma City on the Water- Curse and Blessing
The historic Town of Grimma along the River Mulde is where a €46 million flood protection system of automated gates and architecturally adaptive barriers have been integrated into this picturesque waterside community to guard against repeated and historically devastating flooding.
Mayor Matthias Berger provided conference delegates with a walking tour of the comprehensive flood protection measures installed by the German government following record flooding, which all but destroyed his community in 2002.
Flood protection gates and walls are ingeniously integrated and concealed within the town’s historic walls and streetscapes facing the river.
Saale-Elster Canal and Hitler’s unfinished locks
Leipzig’s scenic but never completed 18-kilometer Saale-Elster Canal is an economic engine for recreation, tourism and spurring new housing and business development for the city’s growing millennial population.
But more than 80 years ago, Adolf Hitler’s vision for the Saale-Elster was to create a large-capacity shipping lane for Germany’s growing textile and coal industry exports.
Construction began in 1933, and later, a pair of enormous locks were designed to connect the White Elster River with the Saale River. Ultimately, this would enable Leipzig to connect to Germany’s inland waterway network and on to the Baltic Sea.
The full onset of WWII halted construction in 1943, and the massive staircase of dual locks was never completed. Hitler ordered military and engineering resources redirected in his futile effort to sustain the doomed Third Reich.
The Allied Victory in Europe and the end of the war brought overwhelming and competing economic priorities for a broken Germany.
Completion of the project as originally designed, a goal of many local enthusiasts, would not be possible today, as the structure is a protected historic artifact. Meanwhile, Leipzig is actively moving forward on planning and construction of an 18- meter recreational cycling path adjacent to the completed and original planned route of the Saale-Elster Canal.
Frankfurt
An extended layover in Frankfurt allowed me to briefly explore some of this vibrant and cosmopolitan West German city. As country’s historic trading capital for centuries, and today’s international financial center, Frankfurt combines Old World Charm with a rich cultural vibe, and all at a modern metropolitan pace.
The River Main bisects the city’s eclectic mix of old and new neighborhoods, providing a splendid walkable feast of museums, culinary offerings and amazing panoramic views of Frankfurt’s nonstop maritime tourism and shipping plying the waters!
The 2022 World Canals Conference in Leipzig was truly inspiring, but as with any extended journey, nothing is quite as enjoyable as returning home.
Now, our focus turns to the future. In that spirit and under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, we join with our partners—the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation and Visit Buffalo Niagara—on planning and preparing for the 2025 World Canals Conference in Buffalo.
So, get ready and stay tuned!
Brian
For the first time since 2019, the New York International Auto Show is back at the Javits Center. Canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, attendees have visited the show in the millions for more than a century - the first NY Auto Show opened in November 1900! The show offers consumers the ability to see what the automobile industry has to offer and to get a glimpse of the future, where technology can be explained and explored freely.
The 2022 New York Auto Show might look a little different than other years’ shows – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. For the first time ever, the entire lower level is dedicated to electric vehicles and e-mobility/micromobility exhibits. With new electric vehicle (EV) brand debuts, e-mobility press conferences, the World Car Awards, and an EV test track, it really showcases that electric vehicles are becoming ‘the norm’ and that we’re moving to an all-electric future.
This past Wednesday, April 13, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State electric vehicle programs and an EV test track powered by our EVolve NY high-speed chargers will be front and center this year at the New York International Auto Show opening to the public today, Friday, April 15, and running through April 24. "I am proud to welcome the New York International Auto Show back to New York in person this year and I encourage everyone to visit the Auto Show to see how EVs are fast becoming integral to New York's clean energy economy."
Additional electric vehicle announcements include our project to add ten EV fast chargers at LaGuardia Airport. The EVolve NY charging hub, able to power compatible vehicles in less than 30 minutes, will be one of the largest publicly accessible fast-charging stations for EVs in the Northeast. Anticipated to open in 2023, the chargers will serve the general public, including rideshare and taxi drivers, and should provide charging to all EVs, including Teslas with an adapter. In 2020, a similar site was opened at JFK International Airport. In the last year alone, the JFK site registered more than 11,000 charging sessions.
At an Auto Show press conference with industry leaders from the automobile industry, dealer association, utility companies, government agencies and our own Interim President & CEO Justin E. Driscoll, an opportunity was provided for speakers to lay out their plans for EV adoption and electrification, product innovation, infrastructure development, marketing initiatives and incentives and more.
"New York is investing in EV infrastructure, building charging stations across the state, and implementing programs to make EVs more affordable for all New Yorkers," said Justin E. Driscoll, Interim President & CEO, New York Power Authority. "We’re building a high-speed EVolve NY charging network along key travel corridors and installing chargers at our government and ReCharge NY customers making charging more accessible for more New Yorkers every day. To continue advancing New York's aggressive e-mobility goals, Governor Hochul has committed to a $1 billion investment to further support EV infrastructure and ensure that New York continues to lead the transportation sector's transformation to electrification."
Our EVolve NY electric vehicle charging network will soon have more than 100 high-speed charging ports across the state. To learn more about New York State programs that support EV purchasing, driving and charging, visit our Charge NY booth at the show - conveniently next to the Level 1 test track, powered by EVolve NY chargers, where Auto Show visitors can take a ride, with an authorized driver, in a range of EVs and explore their options.
April 13 also marked the kickoff of the World Car Awards - with four of the top awards going to electric vehicles. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 won 2022 World Car of the Year and 2022 World Electric Vehicle of the Year, also marking the debut of that awards category. The Mercedes-Benz EQS picked up the 2022 World Luxury Car award, while the Audi E-Tron GT received the 2022 World Performance Car Award.
Nearly every car brand on display offered electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles - from the currently available Fiat 500E, Volkswagen ID.4, and Chevrolet Bolt to new EV models like the Nissan Ariya, Subaru Solterra and Ford Lightning pickup truck. The 2022 New York Auto Show even marked the debut of new EV brands Indi EV, Vinfast, Cobera & Deus.
Happy birthday to electrical pioneer and inventor Thomas Edison! One of the great American scientific minds of the 19th and 20th centuries, Edison held literally hundreds of patents for a variety of machines, designs, products and ideas.
These patents were developed in the United States and also registered internationally, including the telegraph (and dozens of related technologies), the microphone, the printer, the typewriter, the record player and of course, the electric motor, naming just a few. The world as we know it in the 21st century would simply not exist without the mind and ideas of Edison.
From his Edison Electric Light Company in Menlo Park, NJ, Edison assembled a team of researchers and scientists who routinely registered patents and continuously pumped out a seemingly never-ending stream of new gadgets of never before seen technological wizardry. Through the 1870s and 1880s, Edison collected rival patents until his company grew into the General Electric Company - today’s GE, which includes more than 275,000 employees with subsidiary companies in a variety of industries around the world.
Additionally, in December 1880, the Edison Illuminating Company was formed to construct the first electric generating stations, supplying the first commercially available electricity to downtown Manhattan. The first station was the Pearl Street Station, supplying Manhattan’s finance district - remnants of which can still be found.
Clearly, Edison was an electrical force to be reckoned with. He even wrote a science fiction novel titled Progress! Not only is he one of the most prolific minds in American history, he also is credited with some potent quotes. The next time you need a confidence boost, consider this, one of Edison’s best-remembered lines: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Chris Copeland is approaching his 30th year with NYPA, serving the Authority as the manager of Support Services, where he oversees the mailroom and the repro department. And it all started because of a rather unusual job interview.
While working for Reader’s Digest, Chris heard about a job opening at Con Edison. In search of a new opportunity, he went in for an interview and found himself seated at the end of a long table with a large group of people hurling questions at him.
“They were asking me all kinds of questions,” Chris recalled. “And then this one gentleman says, ‘Why should we hire you? You’re the least qualified out of everyone we interviewed.’ That kind of took me back for a second, but then I said, ‘That might be true. But there is no one else you interviewed today who is going to give you this guarantee. You hire me and, after six months, if for any reason you’re not happy, you can let me go. I’ll put that in writing. But that won’t happen. Because I’ll learn everything I need to know, and you’ll be glad you hired me.’ Two weeks later, they called me up with an offer.”
On his first day at Con Ed, Chris walked into his new workspace and found himself facing the man who had posed that question.
“I asked him, ‘Why did you hire me?’” said Chris. “And he told me it was because of that answer. He said, ‘I don’t need someone coming in here thinking they know everything. I need someone who is going to come in and be willing to learn what needs to be done.’”
After more than a decade at Con Ed, he came to NYPA, where he’s been ever since. And he maintains that he has never regretted the move.
“I would say about ten percent of my job is routine,” he said with a laugh. “Stuff that I have to do every day. The rest of it is, ‘Can we get this done? Can we move this here? We’ve got to do this now!’ I love it. Some people say to me, ‘I’m sorry things are so crazy!’ And I tell them, ‘No! I want the crazy!’ I’d always rather be busy.”
In the three decades he’s spent at NYPA, Chris says he has seen a lot of changes, but the one constant has been the quality of the NYPA employees and their commitment to excellence.
“What I really love about NYPA is the way they care about the people,” he said. “Every thought, every decision they make is employee-focused. It’s not just about business. They’re customer-focused and employee focused. The work-life balance, for example. They really believe in that, and they practice it.”
NYPA’s employee-centric mindset was crystalized for Chris during a Christmas party when he had an unexpected encounter former NYPA CEO Gene Zeltmann.
“Everyone was trying to get his attention and have a conversation with him,” Chris remembered. “And he just comes over to my table and strikes up a conversation and we started talking about cooking turkey. We were trading tips and talking about smoking and frying turkey for more than an hour. And everyone around me was like, ‘What? How is Chris just sitting there talking to the CEO?’”
When he’s not working, Chris is very active in his community church and spends time traveling with his wife, a hobby inspired by his youngest daughter’s love of globetrotting.
“My daughter has been all over,” he said. “She’s been to London, Paris, everywhere. Just last year, we all went to Africa for seventeen days. That was incredible. When I was younger, a big trip was getting in the family car and driving from Georgia to Florida! But she’s really opened up our horizons.”
Looking back on his NYPA career, Chris feels very grateful for all that he’s been able to accomplish. But he has never forgotten that it all started with a roll of the dice in a Con Edison boardroom, and the biggest lesson he learned that day.
“I truly believe that a person needs to just believe in themselves,” he said. “There are going to be things in life that you’re not the best at. But you have to believe that you can learn it. And I know that there’s nothing I can’t learn. Give me the chance, give me the opportunity and I will learn what I need to learn and show you that I’m capable.”
A brand new year is right around the corner and we want you to add “save energy” to your list of resolutions. Here are a few ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and save some money in 2022:
1. Don’t leave your lights on.
This is a simple resolution, but can make a big difference on your electric bill. If you’re not using the lights in a room, turn them off.
2. Use power strips.
Even when appliances aren’t turned on or in use, they still use power when they’re plugged in. Instead of unplugging things all the time, invest in a power strip that you can plug multiple things into and turn off all at once.
3. Take shorter showers.
Shorter showers mean less hot water that your water heater needs to heat, and less hot water means a lower electric or gas bill.
4. Use your ceiling fans.
This year, give your HVAC system a break and use your ceiling fans more. Set your fans to spin clockwise in the winter and counter-clockwise in the summer. They’ll pull warm air down from the ceiling when it’s cold and create a wind chill effect when it’s warm.
5. Get a programmable thermostat.
With a programmable thermostat, you can save both energy and money by setting your heat or air conditioning to run only when you need it to (as in, when you’re home).
6. Wash full loads.
Most of the energy used by dishwashers and washing machines goes toward heating the water, and washing only half loads of dishes or laundry wastes money. Wait until you have a full load of dishes or clothes before you wash them.
7. Keep doors and windows closed.
When you have your heat or air conditioning on, close your doors and windows to prevent hot or cold air from flowing into your home and making your HVAC system work harder than it has to.
8. Invest in efficient light bulbs.
We’ve learned that traditional incandescent light bulbs use a lot more energy than they need to (and they also burn hotter), so ditch the incandescents and turn to energy-efficient LEDs. Your electricity bill will go down and you’ll also save energy.
9. Keep the freezer full.
Just like the loads of dishes or laundry, your freezer will use more energy to keep a few items frozen than you will if you filled the freezer.
10. Improve your ductwork.
Holes or bad connections in ductwork can leak the hot or cold air that’s coming from your HVAC system. By sealing and insulating your ductwork, you can prevent air leakage and improve airflow.
Just a few minutes into a conversation with Ed Birdie and one thing becomes very clear. The man is adept at telling stories. And, with a career that spans nearly 50 years, 20 of those spent at NYPA, he’s amassed quite a few of them. Now, after two decades with NYPA, Ed is retiring from his role as Senior Director of Community Affairs.
“It’s been a great time,” he says, looking back on his years with the Authority. “I’ve always found it very gratifying to work in a high-performance organization that is doing important things for the residents of New York state. I’m very proud of my time at the Power Authority.”
Prior to joining NYPA, Ed spent years in the newspaper business, working his way up at the Daily News from copy boy to feature makeup editor. During the newspaper strike in 1978, Ed found himself working at an interim paper, a newspaper created solely to fill the vacuum.
“They hired all the people who went on strike,” he recalled. “They’d hire the editorial staff, get advertising and then put together a newspaper and deliver it through the same channels.”
The resultant paper was called the Daily Press and, at the time, was the sixth-largest newspaper in the entire country.
“I was twenty-five years old and my name ran on the masthead as assistant to the publisher,” Ed remembers. “It was an interesting ride.”
In his role at the Daily Press, Ed managed to live out one of his dreams as a journalist.
“Every journalist wants to be able to do two things,” he says. “Win a Pulitzer Prize and be able to run into a press room, yell, ‘Stop the presses!’ and have the press man actually hit the red button and stop them. Well, I haven’t won a Pulitzer, but I did get to yell, ‘Stop the presses!’”
The story in question? Bucky Dent’s infamous tie-breaking home run that clinched the AL East for the Yankees and extended the Red Sox’s playoff woes for another season.
Not long after Ed started at NYPA, the world was changed forever when the tragic events of 9/11 unfolded. For the 2001 annual report, Ed was tasked with writing a piece on 9/11 and NYPA’s connection to the Port Authority.
“That’s one of the pieces I am most proud of,” he says. “I remember that day and how, because they didn’t know what was going to be the next target, they curtailed the power transmission into the city and revved up all of our Small Clean Power Plants. They were brand new at that time, and the ISO used them to provide in-city generation and resiliency in case the terrorists had decided to take out some of the transmission lines from Indian Point.”
In his twenty years at NYPA, Ed has seen a lot of changes, especially in recent years as the Authority begins to look towards the future, with new clean initiatives like VISION2030
The other positive change Ed has witnessed in his two decades at NYPA is the diversity that has become prevalent within the organization. We’ve done a lot of ground-building to get us to this point. There’s been a lot of investment in people and processes to launch us into these new marketplaces and energy-efficient work that we might not have done before.”
As retirement approaches, Ed is looking forward to spending some time traveling with his wife. In fact, they have already booked a cruise to Alaska, and trips places as far-flung as Ireland and Australia are also being planned.
But, before he can set sail into new and uncharted waters, Ed doesn’t mind taking one last moment to reflect on his time spent at the Power Authority. For all the work he has done, the thing that stands out to him are the connections he’s formed with his co-workers and the value the organization places on its employees.
“It’s been a really terrific place to work,” he says. “There’s a reason why it’s been named one of America’s best mid-size employers. It’s because of what the Authority stands for. The employees are NYPA’s biggest resource. I’m very grateful for the opportunities they’ve given me.”
Back in early 2020, NYPA hosted a birdwatching event at our Niagara Power Vista, educating the community about the many species of birds found in the area, #environmental conservation efforts and showcasing some of the best birdwatching spots in the #Niagara region.
“When Lewis Payne began his career at the New York Power Authority (NYPA) in 2003, he was tasked with implementing the New York Public Service Commission requirement that the state’s electric utilities develop long-range, systemwide integrated vegetation management plans. As part of this work, Payne’s team wanted to create good habitat for pollinators. “We removed tall trees and tall woody shrubs to promote and manage lower growing vegetation,” said Payne. “This increased the biodiversity of the plant life, which in turn enhanced the habitat favorable to pollinators as well as to birds, mammals, and other fauna”.
Learn more: https://eprijournal.com/utilities-abuzz/
Imagine replacing the dashboard of a 60-year-old firetruck with one from a 2021 model. All the new sensors, computers, bells and chimes need to be installed, and if a signal is misread, the unit shuts down.
That’s how Rick Fremming, senior operations engineer II at the Niagara Power Project, describes Next Generation Niagara – a 15-year, $1.1 billion effort underway to prepare New York State’s biggest electricity producer for the next several decades. Launched in July 2019, it’s the single most expensive lifetime extension and modernization (LEM) project in NYPA’s 90-year history.
The Niagara Power Project “is one of the last of the big boys left on the block,” Rick said. “Keeping it up to date is so important so it can continue to regulate for the grid.”
The project is also key to the parts of VISION2030—our 10-year strategic plan—related to hydropower.
“Next Generation Niagara is directly tied in to one of the main pillars of VISION2030,” said Tim Poe, project manager, Western New York generation. “The name of the program is so appropriate, because we really are doing all these things to ensure the plant will be in good shape for the next generation.”
Jack Doescher, Niagara’s asset performance superintendent, said hydropower “has been, and will continue to be, a critical source of electricity in New York’s energy portfolio.
The hydro generators included in Next Generation Niagara are the workhorses of NYPA. They provide a substantial amount of power to the state, ensuring we can continue to meet the renewable energy needs of New York State and our customers for years to come.
There’s a secondary benefit, Jack said: “In addition to this, the income these generators provide to NYPA is critical to funding many of the strategic projects and initiatives that are crucial to meeting our VISION2030 objectives.”
Four Projects in One Next Generation Niagara, which includes work at the project’s Robert Moses Power Plant, has four components:
Each of these on its own would be a significant LEM, Tim said.
“The fact that they’re happening at the same time only increases the complexity of it all,” he said. “And the plant must stay operational when we perform this work.”
Making Progress Already
The Niagara Power Project has been generating electricity since 1961. Although upgrades to many of its components have occurred in the ensuring years, some parts are original.
“Some things, when they fail, will not be replaceable,” Rick said. “The original manufacturers may no longer exist, or they no longer make the parts that they made way back when. To keep Niagara viable, we have to adjust.”
Even though we’re less than three years into Next Generation Niagara’s 15-year timeline, there has been significant progress made on its overall goals.
In September, we celebrated the completion of the installation of digital controls on the first turbine generator unit at the Robert Moses Power Plant. The work, which began in November 2020, created a digital link to the facility’s control room—part of the control room upgrade and redesign—and to Niagara’s switchyard, where power is pushed out across the state’s transmission system.
In the switchyard, digital controls were placed on transformers and circuit breakers that correspond with the upgraded turbine (click here to watch an animation that describes the connections between the generating unit and the switchyard).
More to Come
A planned outage to digitize a second Robert Moses plant turbine generator unit control system is expected to start in May 2022, and many other elements of Next Generation Niagara will unfold over the next several years.
“For me and my team, it’s a once-in-a-career opportunity,” Tim said, “and for NYPA, “it’s a once-in-a-generation situation.”
