AUBURN - In an attempt to work together with another economic development agency in the area, David Colegrove, president of the Auburn-Cayuga Development Corp., visited the Auburn Industrial Development Authority meeting with a proposal to coordinate on an energy savings project for five local businesses.

Cynthia Aikman, executive director of AIDA, said the services AIDA has to offer would not be compatible with the A-CDC project. But Aikman said A-CDC may still be able to coordinate with others by working with the city planning and economic development office on the projects.

"I don't believe the tools in our toolbox will be able to deliver what you need," Aikman told Colegrove at Tuesday's AIDA meeting.

A-CDC is developing a project to install compatible heat and power units at the Auburn Holiday Inn, the Auburn YMCA, the Springside Inn, Cayuga Community College and the soon-to-be-built SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Colegrove said. The units produce hot water and generate electricity, lowering energy costs for businesses.

Two of the businesses are located outside of Auburn, meaning AIDA would not be able to assist them. Aikman said because the YMCA and the community college are not-for-profit organizations and because the Holiday Inn already receives incentives through the Empire Zone Program, AIDA would not have any new incentives to offer to them.

Colegrove said he was interested in exploring options for working with other organizations and would also seek partnerships elsewhere. The $600,000 project would be funded by the businesses and a potential New York State Energy Research and Development Authority grant. The rest of the funding would have to be secured elsewhere.

"There is potential value in the development of alternative energy projects. The issue is always the front-end investment," Colegrove said. "If it can be broken into three components, it makes the project doable."

Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net