Just In! for December 30, 2023

The weekly newsletter of the New York Geothermal Energy Organization (NY-GEO)

Just In! is NY-GEO's weekly news feed for members. See more information on memberships here. If we send you a complimentary copy and you're not a member of NY-GEO, it means we value your role in the transition to renewable heating, but without a membership, please don't count on getting Just In! weekly. For past issues, check out the Just In! Archive available on the NY-GEO.org website.

NY-GEO 2024 CONFERENCES –

See details in the 2024 listings in the Events section below in green type.

The Greenhouse Gas Footprint of US Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Exports – Robert W. Howarth - Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University – Author Bill McKibben calls Professor Howarth “the planetary authority on methane”. Howarth’s October 2023 paper notes, “Before 2016, the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States was banned… Today the United States is the largest exporter of LNG… In all of the scenarios considered, across all types of tankers used to transport LNG, methane emissions exceed emissions of carbon dioxide from the final combustion of LNG… While some proponents of LNG have argued it has a climate benefit by replacing coal, the analysis presented here disproves this. Across all scenarios considered, total greenhouse gas emissions from LNG are larger than those from coal, ranging from 24% to 274% greater.” Link to archived pre-print copy of manuscript submitted to a peer-reviewed journal on Oct 24, 2023.

Boston Redirects Building Electrification Efforts – Ysabelle Kempe – Smart Cities Dive – “Boston is pulling out of the race to be one of the 10 Massachusetts cities and towns allowed to ban fossil fuels in new construction through a state pilot program… Mayor Michelle Wu said she’d gotten ‘clear indications’ that Boston would not be selected for the one remaining spot left in the pilot.  In an emailed statement to Smart Cities Dive, she added that the city will instead focus on clearer pathways to get fossil fuels out of buildings, such as zoning changes and a ‘home-rule petition’ to the state asking for permission to develop new building electrification rules.  The city will also continue to advocate for Massachusetts to allow all cities to ‘have the legal authority to take urgently needed action,’ Wu said in the statement.” Article link here.

90 Hospitalized with CO Poisoning from Gas Furnace at Buffalo Area Hockey Rink – Brianna Roesser – Spectrum News – “Nearly 90 people, including children, have been hospitalized and treated for exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide at the Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga on Wednesday, (2023 12 27) according to officials… Parent and team manager Jay Calabrese said his team of 8-year-old hockey players were complaining of feeling tired and unwell during their 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. games Wednesday. Calabrese said the referee called the later game when players on the other team began vomiting…National Fuel…sent Spectrum News 1 a statement, saying: ‘National Fuel was called to Holiday Twin Rinks after numerous complaints from guests about not feeling well. Upon investigation, we confirmed that the carbon monoxide levels were high and evacuation was necessary... The situation was quickly made safe. It was determined that an improperly working furnace in the snack bar area caused high levels of carbon monoxide to build up over the course of several days. This was not a gas leak, as reported, but a carbon monoxide build-up due to an improperly functioning piece of heating equipment.’ " Article link here.

Ontario Cuts Free Gas Line Extensions Subsidized by Ratepayers, Provincial Minister Seeks Override – The Canadian Press & CBC – The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has ruled that “Enbridge's ‘business as usual’ plan to amortize the cost of a natural gas connection over 40 years for customers will leave a large stranded asset risk as some customers inevitably get off natural gas, and that's a cost that would be paid by future ratepayers. Instead, the OEB says the connection cost, which Enbridge estimated at about $4,400, should be paid up front by home developers to address that risk and incentivize developers ‘to choose the most cost-effective, energy-efficient choice’… Ontario's energy minister (Todd Smith) says he will introduce legislation to reverse…(the OEB) decision that would increase costs for new homes heated with natural gas.” Thanks to NY-GEO member Dave Hatherton for this tip.  Article link here.

Members of the Ontario Energy Board

HVAC Electrification Adds Highest Boost to Home Value – Michele Lerner – Green Builder – “The gap between eco-conscious remodeling projects and less environmentally friendly upgrades is clear in the 36^th annual Remodeling 2023 Cost vs. Value Report published by Zonda Media.  The project with the highest return on investment (103.5%) in the report is a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) electrification conversion, which is also an extremely popular renovation. In other words, heat pumps are hot.” Article link here.

100 Local Elected Officials and 180 Youth Organizations Urge Governor to Include the Climate Change Superfund Act in Her Budget – NYPIRG Press Release – “Governor Hochul today (2023 12 28) received two letters from 280 local elected officials in Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) and youth groups such as Fridays for the Future, urging her to include the Climate Change Superfund Act in her Executive Budget next month… NYPIRG recently released an analysis showing that NYS taxpayers were heavily burdened by over $2 billion in climate costs from December 2022 to December 2023, or $272 per household... The analysis shows that without a revenue source for climate programs, by default the costs have been placed on the backs of state taxpayers while Big Oil companies have made a whopping $750 billion in profits since 2021.” Press release here.

Climate Superfund Holiday Message Campaign link here

UK Social Housing Geo Project Means Deep Cuts to Residents’ Heating Bills –UK GSHPA Newsletter – “In line with the Government’s plans to decarbonise social housing, three high-rise tower blocks in Essex received new ground source heat pump systems, three times more energy-efficient than their old night storage heaters, reducing heating and hot water bills by up to 66% for some residents. Join the team as they take you through a walkthrough of the site, detailing the installation process and finishing with a closer look at the Kensa Shoebox (heat pump).” Thanks to Stephen Bielby of the UKGSHPA for this tip. Link to 12 minute video here.

NYSERDA’s Top Five 2023 Clean Energy Victories – They include the Community Heat Pump pilot project as one of the five: “Just a few feet beneath the earth’s surface the underground temperature is a steady 54°F year-round. A ground source heat pump (also known as geothermal), which is highly efficient, uses this steady temperature to heat buildings in the winter and cool them in the summer. A ground source heat pump can also be integrated with a network of underground pipes to serve multiple buildings. When the heat pump works this way, it’s referred to as a ‘community thermal energy network,’ or a 'community heat pump system.' ” Article link here.

A UK Take on the IGSHPA Conference – Email from the UK Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA), on Andrea Ellison, a Director of UKGSHPA, who recently attended the IGSHPA conference in Las Vegas (while visiting the city on holiday).  “The event was rich with discussions on the latest industry trends and solutions, reflecting similar challenges we face here. Andrea reconnected with industry expert Jeff Hammond, building on their previous meeting at the GSHPA Conference in Hull.  They exchanged ideas on global challenges and underlined the need for international teamwork. In her words: ‘The conference was an eye-opener, emphasizing that we're all in this together, facing similar issues.’ "

You’re Invited to an Albany Event to Pass the NY HEAT Act – Click here or see more in the Events section below.

Framingham Thermal Network Ranked #1 Climate Tech Innovation – Adele Peters - Fast Company – This publication ranked the Framingham geothermal network pilot and its large-scale potential for moving buildings off fossil fuels #1 on their Top Ten list of climate tech innovations that give them hope for 2024!  “A gas utility is helping a neighborhood shift to a geothermal heat. Heat pumps now outsell gas furnaces. But the transition to clean energy is also starting to happen at a larger scale than in individual homes. In a Boston suburb, the local gas utility, Eversource, is helping nearly an entire neighborhood move to geothermal heat…The pilot, a first-of-a-kind experiment for a utility in the U.S., will demonstrate how this type of large-scale transition can work.”  Article link here.

U of Toronto Named Most Sustainable University in the World – “On the St. George campus, U of T has implemented a number of infrastructure projects aimed at achieving the goal of becoming climate-positive by 2050. These include the construction of Canada’s largest urban geoexchange field beneath Front Campus, set to be operational in spring 2024, and plans for a significant retrofit of its district energy systems… At U of T Mississauga… the campus has a high-tech geothermal system beside the Instructional Centre and is actively expanding the use of solar energy across its buildings.” Thanks to NY-GEO member Dave Hatherton for this tip. Article link here.

Kickstart Mass to Stimulate Geo District Project Pipeline – “Kickstart Mass is a funding opportunity for Massachusetts cities and towns to conduct initial feasibility studies to assess potential sites for networked geothermal, a clean, renewable, non-combusting way to heat and cool our homes and businesses.  The program is a collaboration between HEET and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and will provide up to $50,000 grants to 7-10 communities through a competitive application process. Our intent with this funding is to begin developing a pipeline of shovel-ready network geothermal projects in Massachusetts, both to support the scaling of this extremely promising pathway to decarbonization, and to help the selected communities access further funding opportunities.” The first awards are scheduled to be announced in January.  Kickstart website here.

Value Added Tax (VAT) Eliminated for Geo in the UK – Plumbing Heating and Air Movement (PHAM) News - “Following a consultation with industry, the UK government has expanded VAT relief for Energy Saving Measures (ESMs) to include electrical battery storage, water-source heat pumps, and diverters retrofitted to ESMs (e.g., solar panels and wind turbines) in residential properties…A list of groundworks necessary for the installation of certain types of heat pumps will also be brought within scope of the relief, allowing all aspects of the installation of ground-source and water-source heat pumps to be relieved of VAT, even those activities that are co-contracted.” Thanks to Stephen Bielby of the UKGSHPA for this tip.  Article link here.

Climate Updates:

Stop Planting Trees, Says Guy Who Inspired World to Plant a Trillion Trees- Wired – “Ecologist Thomas Crowther’s research inspired countless tree-planting campaigns, greenwashing, and attacks from scientists.  Now he’s back with a new plan for nature restoration…  In a cavernous theater lit up with the green shapes of camels and palms at COP28 in Dubai, ecologist Thomas Crowther, former chief scientific adviser for the United Nations’ Trillion Trees Campaign, was doing something he never would have expected a few years ago: begging environmental ministers to stop planting so many trees. Mass plantations are not the environmental solution they’re purported to be, Crowther argued when he took the floor on December 9 for one of the summit’s ‘Nature Day’ events.  The potential of newly created forests to draw down carbon is often overstated. They can be harmful to biodiversity. Above all, they are really damaging when used, as they often are, as avoidance offsets— ‘as an excuse to avoid cutting emissions,’ Crowther said.” Article link here.

Climate Lawsuits Having an Impact – Michael J. Coren – Washington Post Climate Coach – “More than 2,300 climate change litigation cases have been filed around the world, according to the Sabin Center at Columbia Law School, the vast majority since 2015. Despite some high-profile losses, more than 50 percent of climate cases have led to decisions ‘understood as favorable to climate action,’ says the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.”  This article is the second one down in the column. Article link here.

The Most Hopeful Climate Stories of 2023 – Michael Thomas & Nicole Pollack – “17 climate stories you might have missed this year… Surely you read the same stories that we did this year. 2023 was the hottest year on record. COP 28 was overrun and corrupted by fossil fuel lobbyists. Oil and gas production continues to grow. But the current moment we live in is a complicated one because while there is so much to despair about, there are also countless signs of climate progress. As climate scientist Kate Marvel told the New York Times’s David Wallace-Wells last year, ‘We live in a terrible world, and we live in a wonderful world.’ ”  Among the stories cited is NY’s banning of fossil fuels in new construction. Article link here.

Frequent Sources for Just In! briefs:

Green Energy Times

City & State First Read

POLITICO Weekly NY & NJ Energy email)

Canary Media

National Building Electrification Network & Sunstone Strategies



Just in! thanks NY-GEO board member John Ciovacco of Aztech Geothermal for his frequent proofreading contributions to this publication and Paul Maliszewski for his work on the briefs.

(and Go Bills !!! :)

EVENTS:

*Indicates a New Listing or Updated Information

*2024 01 04- Treasury Guidance on Direct/Elective Pay (Refundable) Tax Credits – 1pm ET – Beneficial Electrification League - With new changes to tax law, non-profit organizations are now able to directly take advantage of tax credits via direct payments from the US Treasury for eligible clean energy investments. In this webinar tax experts will discuss the intricacies of direct pay incentives, shedding light on important guidance and considerations for infrastructure investment. This webinar will be focused on electric sector investment, particularly related to electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. A representative from the US Treasury Dept. and from the GeoExchange Organization are among panelists. Register here.

2024 01 08 – NY Renews Climate State of the State Press Conference – 11 am ET – “Join us for our virtual ‘Climate State of the State’ press conference to discuss this year's climate justice priorities: the People's Climate Justice Budget and Climate Jobs and Justice Package. The press conference will include a bench of legislative speakers, as well as a Q&A for press only, at the end of the event.” Register here.

2024 01 10 – IGSHPA Town Hall with Pete Prydybasz on The Importance of a Site Survey – 11:30 am ET – “Pete Prydybasz of B.J. Terroni will be speaking…on how a geothermal heat pump operates and what conditions must exist and be addressed at the site in order for the installation to be successful.” Register here.

2024 01 16 – Live - 10 Week Online Certified GeoExchange Design (CGD) Course or Pre-Recorded Option with Ed Lohrenz – The Live course starts Jan. 16^th and runs until March 19^th – Tuesdays Noon to 1:30 pm ET – “This workshop is designed to provide a solid understanding of GeoExchange systems for mechanical designers …This course was developed for IGSHPA with accreditation offered by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE).” For more information and to select either the Live or Pre-Recorded course including options on course materials go to this link.

*2024 01 17 – A Geo Contractors’ Roundtable –  3:00 pm ET - California GEO – Our next “feature for THE UNDERGROUND will be a panel (of) three geo veterans... Jeff Brower, Mark Morelli, and Kent Penning. Each has operated a geo-focused firm in northern California. You're going to get an entire hour to hear the ups and downs of this business from those who've taken the ride. We are aiming this program at contractors, including those who wish to consider adding geo heat pumps to their existing repertoire. As an inducement to reach that audience, this session will be FREE when you register. Register here.

2024 01 22 to 24 – Online IGSHPA Accredited Installer Training with Ewbank Testing – “This Accredited Installer Course will be taught online over the course of three days. Cost includes all materials (digital) needed for course, 3 years of IGSHPA membership & AI Certification.” Register here. To register through Farmingdale State College, click here.

2024 01 23 - Renewable Heat Now’s Rally & Lobby Day for the NY HEAT Act in Albany – 11 am to 4pm ET – “Join Renewable Heat Now and multiple allied groups in calling on Governor Hochul and the Legislature to put the NY HEAT Act in the budget!"

·      11:00 We will gather in an area of the Legislative Office Building (LOB) known as the 3rd Floor Terrace. There you'll sign in and meet up with your lobby team leader. Coffee and bagels will be provided. You can leave your coat etc. in this area during the day.

·      12:00-12:30 Rally on the Million Dollar Staircase in the Capitol Building.

·      12:30-1:30 Lunch on the 3rd Floor Terrace of the LOB

·      1:30-4:00 Lobby visits with your team Click here for more.

*2024 01 23, 25 and 26 – Cap & Invest Webinars – “DEC and NYSERDA are continuing the public process to develop NYCI regulatory proposals prior to issuing a draft regulatory package and starting the formal regulatory process." The agencies are holding virtual stakeholder meetings next month that include:

Jan. 23, 3 to 4:30 p.m. – The Role of Cap-and-Invest

Jan. 25, 1 to 4 p.m. – Pre-Proposal Outline Overview

Jan. 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Preliminary Analysis Overview

Recordings of the webinars will be posted online following the events.”

Register here.

2024 01 26 – IGSHPA Dig Deeper - GHP Impact Analysis – 11:30 am ET – Speaker: Jeff Winick & Sean Porse of U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office, “In Fiscal Year 2022, with GTO support, ORNL and NREL conducted a modeling assessment of the grid impacts resulting from the mass deployment of GHPs. Modeled changes in end use load profiles for the US building stock and their impacts on the bulk power system were analyzed under various carbon policy, electrification, and sensitivity scenarios using capacity expansion modeling (ReEDS) and production cost modeling (PLEXOS). The results demonstrate GHPs’ significant aggregate value to a decarbonizing grid through reduced infrastructure requirements, reduced emissions, and improved grid efficiency.” Register here. 

*2024 03 14 – Clean Heat Program Stakeholders Meeting – 9:00-10:00 am ET - The NYS Clean Heat Utility Joint Management Committee (JMC) will host the next quarterly meeting of the Working Group Series for Participating Contractors and Industry Partners. This series is billed as an ongoing platform for contractors and industry partners affiliated with NYS Clean Heat to discuss program improvements and address questions related to the program. Registration not available yet .

2024 – NY-GEO 2024 Conferences

Yes That’s Plural

We are excited to share there will be two conference events in 2024 with content focused on both the diverse residential and commercial markets in NYS. The programs will include dynamic keynote speakers and panels, educational tracks that are relevant and applicable, and an opportunity to network with exhibitors showcasing products and services that will support and advance your knowledge. For information on the NY City Conference see 2024 10 21 to 23 listing below.

2024 04 08 and 09 - Albany - Once again hosted at the Albany Marriott, we bring together the best of the best in the Geothermal Heat Pump Industry. We will open with an exhibitor mixer on April 8 followed by a full day of programming on the 9th with focused attention on Upstate.  NY-GEO 2023 maxed out with attendees and exhibitors, so register today if you don’t want to miss out. 

·      To register and learn more about becoming a sponsor and or exhibitor - Click Here 

·      Book your stay at the Albany Marriott by Clicking Here

Not a Member? CLICK HERE to Join! 

2024 05 28 to 30 – IGSHPA Research Conference - The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) is pleased to announce that the next IGSHPA Research Conference will be held at Polytechnique Montréal. This is the fourth in a series of research conferences held in Denver (2017), Stockholm (2018), and Las Vegas (2022).  Conference website here

2024 10 21 to 23 – NY-GEO 2024 – New York City - The New York Brooklyn Bridge Marriott will host a two-day conference with sessions and tracks, the NY-GEO Annual Dinner, and a day of local project site tours. This is NY-GEO's first conference Downstate and will emphasize content on how to address densely populated areas and large commercial buildings.

·      To register and learn more about becoming a sponsor and or exhibitor - Click Here 

·      Book your stay at the Brooklyn Bridge Marriott by Clicking Here

NY-GEO Members can attend the conferences at a discounted rate, so now is a good time to renew your membership through 2024.

JOBS !                                                                    * = new listing

NY-GEO Job Postings - Include NY-GEO in your posting for job openings - gain visibility and help recruit new employees to your organization. This feature is available to all NY-GEO members, simply log into your account, select the NY-GEO Job Listings in the left toolbar, select Add in the upper right, and complete the form. If you need assistance, let us know at christine@ny-geo.org.

New Yorkers for Clean Power is proud to lead the charge for green jobs through Clean Energy Careers NY, a collaborative initiative to create equitable clean energy careers pathways in New York to help achieve the state’s climate and clean energy goals…”We're excited to launch the Clean Energy Careers New York Newsletter! The newsletter is chock-full of Clean Energy Careers NY resources, event information, job opportunities, and more. If you're a job seeker, a trainer, an employer, or a clean energy advocate, this newsletter is for you! (listed 2023 07 22) Read the newsletter here.

The Building Performance Contractors Association (BPCA) Career Center is here. 

Ongoing – NYSERDA is hiring! The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has ongoing recruitment opportunities. Join our email list or check this page periodically to learn about new career opportunities. All qualified individuals will be evaluated for each relevant position for which they apply. Opportunities include:

Become an NY-GEO Member

NY GEO is the driving force in the mass adoption of Ground Source (Geothermal) Heat Pumps for residential, commercial, and utility-scale heating and cooling in New York State. NY-GEO's mission is to grow the geothermal heat pump industry and develop its workforce while educating policymakers building/property developers and residents about the benefits of geothermal heat pumps.

We are a member-funded, non-profit trade organization and we depend on YOUR SUPPORT to expand the use of clean, renewable, geothermal heating and cooling systems for the benefit

of all.

Learn more about the benefits of becoming an NY-GEO member and why your membership is important to advancing GHP, Click here.