Economic development awards support more than 2,300 jobs, $671 million in capital investments

Low-cost hydropower allocations to create nearly 1,600 jobs across New York

√ Economic development incentives to create nearly 350 jobs at six firms in Western New York

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the New York Power Authority board of trustees approved economic development awards to 17 companies that will support more than 2,300 jobs – nearly 1,600 newly created – and spur more than $671 million in capital investments. Low-cost power through the statewide ReCharge NY program was allocated to 14 applicants, while the remaining three awards are to Western New York firms that will benefit from Niagara hydropower allocations.

"These economic development awards from the New York Power Authority will help attract the nation's most promising industries to New York state," Hochul said. "The items approved today by NYPA's board of trustees will add nearly 1,600 new, good-paying jobs to our state workforce, further supercharging our economic comeback as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic."

ReCharge NY Awards

The approved power allocations of more than 9,300 kilowatts (kW) of low-cost power under the ReCharge NY program will be directed to 14 companies in the Finger Lakes, Western New York, Mid-Hudson, Capital District, New York City, and on Long Island. The awards directly support nearly 2,150 jobs – more than 1,450 newly created – and nearly $629 million in capital investments.

NYPA Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, "ReCharge NY provides clean, reliable, low-cost power to enterprises that call New York their home. The power allocations approved under the program at today's board meeting will strengthen the state's economy, sparking large-scale community investment and adding to the more than 390,000 jobs already supported through the program."

Some notable allocations approved by the NYPA board through ReCharge NY include awards to David Peyser Sportswear on Long Island, Great Lake Cheese Company in Cattaraugus County, and Ionomr Innovations in Monroe County.

Also included among the awards is a 1,310-kW power allocation to Plug Power, a hydrogen fuel manufacturer, for its new manufacturing facility in Albany County. In return for the NYPA power, the firm has committed to creating more than 1,100 jobs as announced by the governor earlier this month.

A full list of ReCharge NY power allocations and economic development awards is available here.

Hochul’s team said, “ReCharge NY has strengthened New York state's economy by encouraging companies to retain and create jobs, while sparking capital investment throughout the state. ReCharge NY offers power contracts up to seven-years. Half of the power – 455 megawatts (MW) – is from NYPA's Niagara and St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt hydroelectric power plants. The remaining 455 MW is lower-cost power bought by NYPA on the wholesale market.”

Western New York Awards

The NYPA board also approved economic development awards to three companies that will benefit from low-cost hydropower allocations from the Niagara Power Project.

NYPA Chairman John R. Koelmel, said, "The Niagara Power Project directly supports tens of thousands of jobs through low-cost hydropower awards. By supplying businesses with reliable, low-cost power, we are realizing a strong, resilient Western New York economy through clean energy."

Chocolate Delivery Systems, a Buffalo-based manufacturer of chocolate and confectionary products, was awarded a 4,210-kW hydropower allocation for a $26 million expansion project that will allow the company to significantly increase its production capabilities. The project will create 91 new, full-time, permanent positions while retaining nearly 100 existing jobs. The company's application was considered under the expanded diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) evaluation criteria approved by the NYPA board at its December 2021 meeting.

RubberForm Recycled Products was awarded a 410-kW hydropower allocation by the NYPA board for an expansion that would support 30 permanent, full-time jobs – nine newly created -and spur more than $2 million in capital investment. RubberForm, a manufacturer of products made from recycled rubber and plastics for various industries, is expanding recycling operations at its Lockport facility. RubberForm's application has been considered under the Power Authority's green jobs evaluation criteria, which was approved by the trustees in December 2020, to allow NYPA to consider green job impacts in New York when evaluating economic development power applications.

Worksport, a producer of tonneau covers for truck beds, was approved for a 430-kW hydropower allocation in West Seneca that will increase the company's manufacturing capabilities and represent the company's initial expansion into the U.S. The proposed facility would produce Worksport's TerraVis product line, which incorporates tonneau covers integrated with solar panels to allow consumers to charge electric vehicles or store electricity in its mobile power stations. The project will create 20 new, permanent, full-time jobs and support $14.2 million in capital spending. Worksport's application was also considered under the Power Authority's green jobs evaluation criteria.

Low-cost Niagara hydropower is available for companies within a 30-mile radius of the Power Authority's Niagara Power Project or businesses in Chautauqua County. Niagara hydropower is linked to tens of thousands of existing jobs in the region.

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. For more information, visit www.nypa.gov.