Stephen Rich is excited about what the future holds for Auburn's new municipal power agency - lower rates for consumers and businesses. He's also aware that he and fellow members of the agency have a lot to learn about energy independence.

"This is something new for all of us," said Rich, chairman of the agency and commercial loan officer with the Bank of Geneva. "There's a big learning curve we'll have to get over."

Rich presided over the first meeting of the agency Tuesday afternoon in a training room on the third floor of Auburn City Hall, where seven of the nine members were present, along with a few members of the power task force that helped secure the public's approval for the agency in the fall.

The agency is responsible for prioritizing energy issues, recommending alternative energy purchases to city council, buying wholesale energy on the open markets, negotiating for the use of New York State Electric & Gas' substations and transmission lines and securing funds for all of the matters.

While the meeting mostly involved organizational issues, the group passed a measure to join the American Public Power Association. John Montone, chairman of the task force and superintendent of the village of Solvay Electric Municipal Power, said joining this group and others like it is vital to becoming an independent power community.

"These groups give communities insight into all the public rules, regulations and costs associated with this effort," he said. "They can lobby for different resources and provide useful services to the city."

Frank DeOrio, Auburn's director of municipal utilities, gave an overview of some of the alternative energy efforts already underway.

The Mill Street hyrdro installation, which has been running since 1981, needs an upgrade of its turbine, and DeOrio said the agency will have to debate whether it's "more advantageous for us to use the energy there rather than to sell it to NYSEG."

The North Division Street turbine generates more power, and DeOrio said that a future Dunn & McCarthy hydro site could prove as efficient.

There are plans to capture heat from sewage incinerators, up to two mega-watts of power, to power parts of Tech Park. Collecting farm animal waste is also being debated.

Montone said it's important to act quickly in teaming up with an energy service provider. Rich said the agency will have a short amount of time to absorb the initial information so they can do such things. He also said it's too early to appoint a director of the agency; a full-time employee may be hired in the future.

The agency will meet every two weeks (the next one is scheduled for 3 p.m. Feb. 16 ) and the public is invited to attend.

Other members are: James Dacey, former vice president of Nucor; Vijay Mital, former city planning director; Robert Bergan, a lawyer; Robert Buschman, an accountant; Michael Luksa, president of Donovan-Luksa Paper Products; Mayor Timothy Lattimore and councilor William Jacobs.

Staff writer Benning W. De La Mater can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or ben.delamater@lee.net