New York Power Authority celebrates Energy Awareness Month with events at Niagara Power Vista

The New York Power Authority is celebrating Energy Awareness Month with free activities and presentations focused on energy education and conservation on select Saturdays throughout October at the Niagara Power Vista, the visitors center for the Niagara Power Project. The events, which begin at 11 a.m., will each have a different theme.

•Oct. 7, Electrical Safety: The Power Vista will hold interactive demonstrations on electrical safety. Guests will have the opportunity to speak with NYPA electricians about their job, tools of the trade, and proper protective gear. Visitors will be provided with activity books and have access to STEM kits.

•Oct. 14, STEM Weekend Workshop: Mary MacSwan, chief environmental compliance specialist for Erie County, will teach visitors how to build a barrel, which can be utilized to reduce the amount of water that flows from properties, and conserves water. At the conclusion of the event, the barrel will be raffled off to those in attendance.

Additionally, the Power Vista will host exhibitors from Penn Dixie Fossil Park. The park will display echinoderm fossils – relatives of modern sea stars and sand dollars – found on their site. Visitors will be able to practice fossil hunting and have the chance to build a model of one of Penn Dixie's frequent fossil finds, a crinoid, also known as a sea lily. Visitors can also learn about carpoids, rare fossils of an extinct marine invertebrate, that were recently found at Penn Dixie for the first time.

•Oct. 21, Weatherization Workshop: Visitors will learn the benefits of a home energy audit and how to prepare their home for winter using simple weatherization strategies.

The Niagara Power Vista offers an array of multimedia exhibits, including hands-on interactive technologies, large touch screens, and a virtual rollercoaster relating to the production of electricity, energy efficiency and the area’s history. The location also provides unique views from the observation deck 350 feet above the Niagara River Gorge. The Niagara Power Vista is a stop on the Discover Niagara Shuttle’s “Falls to the Fort” route.

The Power Vista is located at 5777 Lewiston Road. Parking is free and will be available in the Power Vista parking lot and adjacent lots at Niagara University.