The New York Power Authority will finance about $500,000 in energy upgrades to two city-owned indoor ice rinks in Hyde Park.

The energy upgrades will coincide with a city project to renovate the 37-year-old ice pavilion before the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Under-20 Championship is played at HSBC Arena and Niagara University's Dwyer Arena in December 2010 and January 2011.

City officials hope the city's ice facility will be used for practice and other events by teams in the region for the championship.

"It's going to take some substantial reinvestment here," Mayor Paul A. Dyster said.

Richard M. Kessel, NYPA's president and CEO, traveled today to Niagara Falls to announce the energy project.

The power authority has already conducted a walk-through audit of the building and has determined that the following upgrades will likely be addressed:

• Retrofitting and replacing lighting in the entire complex.
• Replacing two old hot water tanks and converting them to a single point-of-use system with a high-efficiency boiler to heat water.
• Upgrading heaters and air handling units to bring outside air into the complex and to heat it more efficiently.
• Modernizing chilling equipment.
  Sealing and weather-stripping the building.

Officials estimate that the energy upgrades, excluding upgrades to ice-making equipment, will cost about $500,000 and will be paid back with an estimated $40,000 in energy savings from the work.

Kessel said the authority also would investigate the possibility of using the agency's energy conservation financing program to purchase an electric Zamboni for the ice rinks.

Other upgrades to the ice pavilion will be paid for by the city.

City officials already have agreed to use $300,000 of a planned $3.97 million bond issue to pay for improvements at the ice pavilion. The city has hired a consultant to determine what other upgrades need to be done in the building.