Rawlings tells Clinton about LSC project

From right, John Confer, associate professor of biology at Ithaca College; Elizabeth N. Moran, of EcoLogic, LCC, principal scientific investigator for the Lake Source Cooling environmental impact statement; and Robert Bland, Cornell senior environmental engineer and director of environmental compliance, join Cornell officials and representatives of the town of Ithaca and other organizations to answer questions at a news briefing Jan. 25 at Ithaca Town Hall. Robert Barker/University Photography

Cornell President Hunter R. Rawlings has written to President Bill Clinton to apprise him of a project that Rawlings said, "clearly fits your request [in the State of the Union address] for 'early, voluntary action to reduce greenhouse gases.'"

"The Cornell Lake Source Cooling project will utilize the chilled deep waters of nearby Cayuga Lake as an environmentally friendly, naturally renewable cooling resource," Rawlings wrote in his letter, dated Jan. 26. "Conventional refrigeration and its associated chemicals will be nearly eliminated, and the use of energy produced from fossil fuels will be reduced by 80 percent. Lake Source Cooling will allow us to assume a leading role in reducing the effects of global warming by applying proven methods of transferring heat from the campus to the environment through a cost-effective, innovative, year-round air conditioning design."

The day before Rawlings wrote to Clinton, a group of environmentalists, scientists and municipal and university officials gave a ringing endorsement to Lake Source Cooling at a press briefing in Ithaca Town Hall. The briefing, hosted by Ithaca Town Supervisor Catherine Valentino and chaired by Henrik N. Dullea, Cornell vice president for university relations, was arranged to alert the public to issues related to the planned March 1 start of work on the project's transmission line between campus the lake shore. But a number of those present also took the opportunity to respond to recent comments from a small group of opponents.

Among those who spoke most forcefully were three limnologists -- scientists with a background in the study of lakes -- Associate Professor John Confer of Ithaca College; John Kaminsky, president of the Sierra Club's Ithaca chapter; and Nelson G. Hairston Jr., the Frank H.T. Rhodes Professor of Environmental Science at Cornell and chair of the Center for the Environment's Lake Source Cooling Technical Review Committee. Others who discussed the project and responded to reporters' questions were Valentino; Michael Stamm, president of the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency; Robert R. Bland, senior environmental engineer and director of environmental compliance at Cornell; Shirley K. Egan, associate university counsel; Elizabeth N. Moran, principal scientific investigator for the Lake Source Cooling environmental impact statement; and W.S. (Lanny) Joyce, the project's manager.

Cornell officials said construction of the transmission line will start March 1 and continue until it is complete in November. The project's large 42-inch pipe is en route from Texas to Ithaca via rail. It will be stored at Portland Point and delivered along the route as needed. An open area east of East Shore Drive, just north of the marina, will be used to store other materials and equipment and to house a field office.

The contractor, to be named next week, will appoint a full-time community liaison to work with residents and businesses along the route, municipalities, landowners and the general public on such issues as emergency services, traffic and special needs. East Shore Drive and Lake Street up to Ithaca High School will remain open at all times. Portions of Lake Street, from the bridge over Fall Creek next to the high school to University Avenue, and University Avenue from Lake Street to West Avenue on the Cornell campus will be closed (except for access by residents and emergency vehicles) as the pipe is laid.

As a result of good planning and cooperation, there will be a significant upgrading of school grounds, city streets, intersections and sidewalks and buried utilities as part of the work. No resident should experience reduced access for more than four to six weeks, project officials said. Contractors will use local and regional suppliers and subcontractors and will perform all work using union workers, in accordance with Cornell's standing agreement with Ithaca's Building Trades Council.