Governor Hochul Announces Completion of Dynamic LED Lighting at Empire State Plaza

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of a LED lighting project throughout the buildings at Empire State Plaza that will allow the plaza to be dynamically colored on special occasions. The New York State Office of General Services (OGS) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) have partnered to complete the installation of more than 360 exterior LED lights with new color-changing technology that will transform the plaza's unique architecture into visual celebrations throughout the year. The new energy efficient lighting will debut for the public later today at the Empire State Plaza annual holiday tree lighting ceremony at 5:15 p.m.

"I am happy to announce the completion of this exciting lighting display in the heart of our state capital, just in time for the tree lighting," Governor Hochul said. "The tree lighting and the larger completed lighting project are symbols of hope and optimism after a rough year and a half, and reflect our state's commitment to a greener, more efficient future."

The exterior lighting is part of a nearly $16 million comprehensive LED lighting project at the plaza scheduled to complete in 2023. NYPA, which is financing and implementing the project, is coordinating with OGS on the replacement of more than 95,000 lights throughout the buildings in the plaza with new LED fixtures. The initiative directly supports the state's commitment to a green Empire State Plaza and the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act by increasing energy efficiency and annually reducing electricity demand by three percent—equivalent to 1.8 million New York households—by 2025.

OGS Acting Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, "This annual holiday festival at the Empire State Plaza is the perfect opportunity to unveil a new LED outdoor lighting system. It will reduce energy usage by at least 85 percent and illuminate the architecturally unique buildings at the Plaza in spectacular colors. The new lights will be a striking addition to the Albany skyline for this event and future special occasions. I am proud of what OGS and NYPA are accomplishing together to build a greener, more sustainable New York State."

NYPA Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, "NYPA and OGS are implementing a comprehensive energy transformation at Empire State Plaza through the development of significant remote solar generation, energy efficiency and resiliency projects for the benefit of the complex and we are very pleased to complete the new LED lighting system in time for the annual tree lighting and holiday season. The lights have the capability of dynamically illuminating the buildings within the plaza to correspond with the variety of celebrations throughout the year."

In September 2019, NYPA and OGS completed an evaluation of energy options for Empire State Plaza through a series of technical reviews, community listening sessions, and meetings with neighborhood associations. The developed comprehensive plan, which includes the LED lighting upgrade, comprises these additional initiatives:

• Development is underway on a more than 30-megawatt remote solar array in Oriskany that will provide up to half of the plaza's energy needs.
• Construction is underway on a nearly $30 million electrification upgrade to one of the on-site steam-driven chillers to reduce local gas use and emissions by 18 percent. The project is expected to be completed next year.
• Implementation is in progress on the $60 million replacement of the existing on-site emergency generators with state-of-the-art efficient, low-emission and low-noise units. The project is expected to complete within the next two years.
• The old, out-of-use steel smokestack at the former ANSWERS plant has been demolished.
• In addition, OGS and NYPA have plans to begin a comprehensive energy audit of the plaza to determine what further actions and projects should be pursued.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $21 billion in 91 large-scale renewable projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting more than 150,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2019, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

The Office of General Services (OGS) was established in 1960 to provide essential support services for the operations of state government. Since then, OGS has grown significantly in scope and complexity. Today, OGS is a diversified organization providing a broad spectrum of services to state agencies, local governments, and the public.

NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. 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. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow up on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.