by Dan Miner

minerd@gnnewspaper.com

Nuclear reactors near Syracuse? Nope.

AES Somerset? Try again.

The Niagara Power Project — which diverts water out of the Niagara River above the falls and drops it back in several miles downstream in Lewiston — is the state’s largest producer of electricity.

But you’d never know it by looking at the seven member Board of Trustees for the New York Power Authority, which runs the power project and a number of other hydropower and traditional power plants in the state.

The last trustee who could call Niagara County home was John B. Daly. In 1995.

“We have the state’s largest electrical producer. We should have somebody on the board,” said Niagara County Legislator John Ceretto, R-Lewiston. “It’s just common sense to me.”

Ceretto is the main sponsor of a bill unanimously approved by the county Legislature asking Gov. David Paterson to appoint somebody from the county to the board. The state’s governor makes the appointments and they’re confirmed by the state Senate.

A similar bill — which requests a representative from both Niagara County and the area of another power authority hydropower plant, St. Lawrence — was recently sponsored by Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, D-Lewiston, and is currently in Assembly committee.

“It’s very important to have representation from the areas who host these facilities,” DelMonte said, “who are familiar with the impact they have on local committees.”

What’s at stake

The power authority’s trustees have a range of responsibility, approving low-cost hydropower allocations, keeping watch on its corporate officers and reviewing operations and finances. Trustee Elise Cusack, who lives in Eggertsville, called local representation “absolutely important” but also cautioned that many of its decisions are mandated by the state Legislature.

Ceretto repeated a number of familiar sentiments about the power authority, saying scant good in Niagara County is done compared to the power authority’s vast electrical production.

“We have the largest electrical producer in the state right here and our economy has been down for years,” Ceretto said. “I believe the power authority can do more for our community.”

Open spots exist

Two trustees — Robert Moses, of Marietta, and Thomas Scozzafava, of Gouverner — have expired terms and are serving until Paterson selects their replacement.

The open appointments are one of the reasons Ceretto is acting now. He appeared at Monday’s Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees meeting to promote his request and the village’s board unanimously supported him.

Ceretto has also raised the issue in the past, receiving little acknowledgment from the state, he said. Several years ago he proposed legislation to move the power authority’s corporate office to Niagara County.

“We cannot be heard if we don’t have anybody on that board who listens to us,” he said.

The idea also has Cusack’s backing.

“We’re very proud of the fact that we in Western New York have such an amazing asset,” Cusack said. “So to me it’s almost common sense for Niagara County to want to have a representative.”

Of the board, Cusack said the trustees respect each other’s opinion, but also, “It’s hard not to have the perspective from your own hometown area.”

All of the trustees serve without pay except for the board chairman, Frank McCullough Jr. of Rye, who earns $90,800 annually for his duties.

Room at the top

The two trustees seats aren’t the only power authority appointments on Paterson’s docket. The power authority’s president, Roger Kelley, announced his resignation June 14 and will work his last day on July 31.

Both DelMonte and state Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, praised how Kelley handled the authority despite his short tenure — he replaced Timothy Carey in May 2007 at an annual salary of $246,750. They also said they’d prefer his replacement to be someone from Western New York.

“I just hope (Paterson) picks someone with a lot of management experience and somebody who can get the message out about the Niagara Power Project,” Maziarz said. “They keep saying that’s the crown jewel for the power authority. I say there’s a lot more that the (Power Project) could do for Western New York.”

A spokesperson for the Paterson said that he couldn’t talk specifics on the issue. But if members of the state delegation want to bring the subject of with Paterson, the governor will listen, said Morgan Hook, the spokesperson.

“He absolutely makes himself accessible and is willing to listen to every one of those Legislators,” Hook said. “So if (Maziarz and DelMonte) want to talk to the governor about this issue he’s more than willing to listen and take their recommendations and advice under consideration when he makes his appointments.”

Contact reporter Dan Miner

at 282-2311, ext. 2263.