Being a Good Neighbor 2019 Environmental Justice Program 11-586-19 GBROEJAR_r10.indd 1-2 2/24/20 4:39 PM About the New York Power Authority Letter from Lisa Payne Wansley, Vice President, Environmental Justice and Sustainability What Environmental Justice Means at NYPA As we have built our EJ Program over the past three years, I have learned that there NYPA’s Environmental Justice (EJ) program is driven by our is one universal truth; although experiences or geographic regions may differ, people across all demographics have the same goal—to make life better for their families, commitment to always be a good neighbor to the historically neighbors and communities. disadvantaged and marginalized communities located near our statewide facilities. Community collaboration and To assist our communities in reaching some of their quality of life goals, our team is engagement are the hallmarks of NYPA’s EJ constantly developing or refining tools and programs that align with our EJ program’s four strategic areas; STEM Education, Community Energy Literacy, Community program. NYPA leverages its expertise in energy Outreach and Advocacy, and Energy Efficiency Projects. It is my belief that these and energy technology to provide no-cost efforts will help to provide a bridge in some of the gaps found in traditionally programs and services that meet the unique underserved areas. Making meaningful connections and helping to provide options needs of our communities. are in part what drives my team. This publication provides highlights of our 2019 accomplishments and a pathway to the work we The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is the largest state-owned intend to continue in 2020 and beyond. electric utility in the nation. Seventy percent of NYPA’s power is We are proud of these achievements and are generated using clean, renewable hydropower. NYPA is an industry thankful to have had the opportunity to learn from, and work with, members of leader in operational digitization, renewable energy technology, the community as we continue to energy efficiency, and electric vehicle infrastructure. evolve the important work of the EJ program. Lisa Payne Wansley 1 | New York Power Authority • Being a Good Neighbor New York Power Authority • Being a Good Neighbor | 4 Lisa Payne Wansley (L) and long-time community leader, Soccoro Rodriguez – Highbridge Green School, Bronx 11-586-19 GBROEJAR_r10.indd 3-4 2/24/20 4:39 PM Touching 10,000 Lives Massena Northern NY Across New York State 23 37 in 2019 260 Total: 320 New York City by Borough Manhattan Bronx 270 333 Capital Region Total: 270 1178 Utica Total: 1511 Niagara Falls 40 1720 Staten Island Queens Buffalo Western NY Central NY Total: 1760 33 240 149 66 40 105 103 270 Albany Total: 73 185 950 Total: 336 Total: 530 Total: 1202 Brooklyn 821 150 1605 Total: 2576 PEOPLE SERVED BY PROGRAM Westchester STEM 1675 Energy Education and Weatherization Workshops Total: 1675 Community Engagement and Advocacy New York City Total Total: 4960 3 | New York Power Authority • Being a Good Neighbor New York Power Authority • Being a Good Neighbor | 4 11-586-19 GBROEJAR_r10.indd 5-6 2/24/20 4:39 PM Stronger Together NYPA’s Community Partners Massena Housing Authority St. Sylvester Roman Catholic Church McKinley Houses Staten Island Community Board 1 Medgar Evers College Research Foundation Sunset Park Senior Center Collaboration and continuous communication are the building blocks of successful Medgar Evers College Science and Technology Entry SUNY Albany Liberty Partnership Program partnerships. Consistently showing up for our community partners enables NYPA to Program SUNY Cortland Liberty Partnership Program build trust and expand our programs to reflect the changing needs of our neighbors. Millbrook Houses SUNY Polytechnic Institute Collegiate Science The list of our community partners is continually growing. We are grateful for their Mohawk Valley Community College Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program and Technology Program insight and support. SUNY Potsdam Science and Technology Entry Montessori Magnet School – Albany Program Mott Haven Academy The Belle Center Academy of Urban Planning and Engineering – Brooklyn Girl Scouts of Western New York National Night Out The Floating Hospital Bronx Works Good For Girls Inc. New York Sun Works Third Avenue Business Improvement District Catholic Archdiocese of New York Highbridge Green School – Bronx Tuscarora Nation Niagara Falls Boys and Girls Club Catholic Archdiocese of Brooklyn and Queens High School for Environmental Studies United Neighborhood Houses – Manhattan Niagara Falls Housing Authority Center for the Integration & Advancement of New UPROSE Americans Historic St. George Episcopal Church Niagara University Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology North Country Housing Council CUNY Staten Island Science and Technology Entry Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York Science Program Nos Quedamos Hostos Community College Collegiate Science Wagner High School – Staten Island Bronx Community Board 1 and Technology Entry Program Office of the Bronx Borough President Wagner Houses – Supportive Children’s City University of New York – the College of Staten Island Hostos Community College Liberty Partnership Office of the Brooklyn Borough President Advocacy Network Program Della Monica Senior Center P.S. 377 – Brooklyn Westchester Community College IS 227 – Louis Armstrong Middle School – Queens Eagle Academy for Young Men P.S. 2130 – Bronx Westside Senior Center Jacob Riis Afterschool Program Eastside Houses – Mitchell Community Center P.S. 179 – Brooklyn White Plains High School Laboratory School of Finance and Technology Edward R. Morrow High School – Brooklyn Queens Community Board 1 White Plains Youth Bureau LaGuardia Community College Liberty Partnership Feeding Westchester Program Queensbridge Houses Women of Westchester First Central Baptist Church of Staten Island Levesque Institute Say Yes to Education Woodside Houses Fulton Montgomery Community College Liberty Lincoln Academy of Science – Bronx Southeast Bronx Neighborhood Centers YWCA of Westchester – GEMS Program Partnership Program Long Island University Liberty Partnership Program St. Lawrence County Community Development Center Fulton Montgomery Community College Science and Technology Entry Program Massena Boys and Girls Club St. Regis Mohawk Nation 5 | New York Power Authority • Being a Good Neighbor New York Power Authority • Being a Good Neighbor | 6 11-586-19 GBROEJAR_r10.indd 7-8 2/24/20 4:39 PM Bringing STEM Programs to Education Equals Our Communities Empowerment Our STEM program provides a fun, hands-on and collaborative learning experience for students. It focuses on topics that include: basic electricity, electric generation and transmission, energy STEM Education and efficiency, renewable energy, and the effects of Community Energy Literacy climate change. We bring our programs to the community in Highbridge Green School, Bronx STEM Education a variety of different ways. Whether it is an Science, Technology, Engineering, Math afterschool program, STEM camp, green classroom program, or a one-day workshop, we strive to Our supplemental STEM education program is build students’ interest and confidence in science designed to improve the academic performance outside of the traditional classroom setting. of K-12 students who attend under-resourced schools in EJ communities. Our goal is to help level the playing field by providing age- appropriate, energy related education so students are better equipped to compete School of Finance and Technology, Bronx academically and professionally. Fulton-Montgomery Community College Liberty Partnership, Johnstown Fulton-Montgomery Community College Liberty Partnership, Johnstown SUNY Albany and SUNY Cobleskill St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Massena Students. Liberty Partnership, North Blenheim 9 | New York Power Authority • Being a Good Neighbor New York Power Authority • Being a Good Neighbor | 8 Massena Boys and Girls Club 11-586-19 GBROEJAR_r10.indd 9-10 2/24/20 4:39 PM STEM Career Preparation Community Energy Literacy: Energy Education Workshops NYPA places a premium on cultivating a write an impactful resume and how to According to the U.S. Census, the national help alleviate some of this burden by tech-savy and diverse workforce. Bringing prepare for interviews. Another feature average energy bill for low-income teaching low- income homeowners and awareness of the numerous career of this initiative is speed mentoring. households is 8.6%—3 times higher than for renters simple and no-cost ways they can opportunities in the electric utility industry Students engage in a fun exercise non-low-income households. NYPA’s Energy conserve energy and lower utility costs to upper level high school and college whereby they get a wide range of career Education and Weatherization Workshops without compromising comfort or safety. students is another EJ initiatives. and educational and advice from NYPA professionals. Career panels also provide Our goal is to help students gain a a relatable way to share personal stories real-world understanding of the career and help students understand pathways benefits of STEM proficiency. Human to professional success. Resources staff teach students how to Catholic Charities Niagara Falls Boys and Girls Club, Niagara Falls Della Monica Senior Center, Queens Women at Dellamonica 11 | New York Power Authority • Being a Good Neighbor New York Power Authority • Being a Good Neighbor | 12 Hostos Community College STEM Career Workshop,