Cornell's proposed Lake Source Cooling project has received an important approval, one of the necessary steps before proceeding with the project. The latest approval, for right-of-way and easements from the city of Ithaca, came Wednesday, Nov. 19, at a meeting of the Ithaca Common Council.

Lake Source Cooling (LSC) still requires approval from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and construction permits from a number of local agencies. LSC would circulate cold water from the depths of Cayuga Lake to a heat-exchanger that chills water from a campus system that cools university buildings and laboratories. Water from the lake and Cornell would never mix. LSC could consume as much as 80 percent less energy than traditional cooling systems and would reduce the need for ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants.

In addition to the agreement with the city, easements have been granted by the village of Cayuga Heights, the Ithaca City School District and a number of private property owners, including the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce. In exchange for the easements, Cornell will provide cooling to Ithaca High School and make improvements to city streets, roads, sidewalks and water and sewer lines.

In the city alone, Cornell will pay for more than $1.1 million worth of improvements along Lake Street and University Avenue. In addition, the city will benefit by scheduling other related projects while the university works in about one mile of city streets along the LSC pipeline route.

Cornell Vice President for University Relations Henrik N. Dullea said negotiations with property owners and municipalities have resulted in a positive situation for all the parties.

"In addition to the many ecological benefits that Lake Source Cooling provides, the cooperative nature of our discussions with the city and school district will mean upgrades in infrastructure and improvements to streets and sidewalks at no cost to taxpayers," Dullea said.

"We're pleased that local officials and city department heads recognized the many opportunities for cooperation and that university engineers and administrators coordinated their efforts with their municipal counterparts. Not only will this mean major savings in a municipal budget, but the close coordination will help reduce the impact on the public once construction starts," Dullea said.

After four years of planning, research and public presentations, university engineers and environmentalists prepared a 1,500-page Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS and supporting documents are in final review by the state's DEC, which must decide whether to issue a series of environmental permits that would allow construction to begin. If the DEC issues permits in early 1998 and university trustees approve the estimated $55 million project, installation of the LSC pipeline and related facilities will take place over the next two construction seasons.