Press Releases

Skip to Content

Quicklinks

Use the following links to quickly jump to the desire location in the page.

You are on this page: Press Releases

For immediate release: November 23, 2015
Contact: Monica Mahaffey
Email: monica.mahaffey@ocfs.ny.gov
Phone: 518-402-3130

NYS Office of Children and Family Services Awarded $315,000 in NYPA Grants for Energy Savings Initiatives

Funds Will Help OCFS Achieve One Quarter of Governor Cuomo’s 2020 Energy Savings Mandate

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has awarded $315,000 in competitive grant funds to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to help the agency meet energy savings goals outlined in an Executive Order to state agencies. Two OCFS grant applications were successful in a field of more than 130 submitted by state agencies in the NYPA Operations and Maintenance Acceleration Program (OMAP) Grant Competition.

A $250,000 NYPA award will enable OCFS to replace exterior lighting along fence line perimeters at eight juvenile justice facilities across the state with energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lights. The improvement is expected to conserve approximately 500,000 kilowatt hours (kwh) per year, which will save some $60,000 annually in energy costs. OCFS will receive an energy use intensity (EUI) credit of three percent for the reduction in energy use.

A second award of $65,000 will enable OCFS to replace 1,000 interior lights at all 12 juvenile justice facilities in New York State with more energy-efficient T8 fluorescent tubes. This improvement will generate $35,000 in annual energy savings, crediting OCFS with a one-and-a-half percent EUI credit.

“OCFS is honored to have been awarded these grants to move the agency’s energy saving projects forward,” said OCFS Acting Commissioner Sheila J. Poole. “The improvements will net significant annual savings while maintaining proper lighting both inside and outside our facilities.”

“NYPA is proud to partner with the Office of Family and Children Services in driving down its energy consumption and costs,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “As one of the first to receive an OMAP grant award, OCFS demonstrates that an integrated energy management strategy yields benefits for the agency, taxpayers and the environment.”
Combined, the two projects will save nearly $100,000 a year in energy costs at OCFS and achieve four-and-one-half percent of the 20-percent mandated energy savings improvement outlined in Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order #88 of 2012, which requires state agencies and authorities to meet energy savings goals by April 2020.

About OCFS:
The Office of Children and Family Services serves New York by promoting the safety, permanency and well-being of children, families and communities. For more information, visit ocfs.ny.gov, "like" the New York State Office of Children and Family Services Facebook page, or follow @NYSOCFS on Twitter.

About NYPA:
NYPA is the nation's largest state public power organization, through the operation of its 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. More than 70 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. For more information visit http://www.nypa.gov/and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, WordPress, and LinkedIn.

NYPA Contact:
Julieanne Sullivan | Julieanne.Sullivan@nypa.gov | (914) 390-8121

###