Just In! for March 9, 2024
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.
| |
Ithaca Electrifies Building by Building – Jeff Brady – NPR – “This is how Ithaca is working to meet its climate goals – building by building until all 6,000 buildings eliminate their greenhouse gas emissions. There are signs the pace is picking up. Installers say business is brisk. ‘I've kind of earned the nickname the boiler killer because I go around taking people's boilers out,’ says Brian LaMorte, co-owner of LaMorte Electric Heating and Cooling. Before Ithaca passed its Green New Deal, he was an electrical contractor. He added heating and cooling to his business, rightly predicting that the resolution would create new demand. At one point his company was so busy it booked customers a year out." Link to article and 5-minute broadcast here. | |
Another Gas Home Explodes – This Time in Monticello, NY – “Monticello Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief John Wells said that there were nine people in the home at the time of the explosion. Family members on the scene said that they smelled gas, which they suspect was the cause of the explosion… The family had just begun renting the home and settled in for the evening after moving their belongings into the house earlier in the day.” Article link here.
| |
Bill Supports Geothermal Awareness - Senator Pete Harckham has introduced S7884, a bill “to amend the public authorities law, in relation to directing the New York state energy research and development authority to take certain actions to increase awareness for geothermal energy systems. The authority (meaning NYSERDA), in consultation with appropriate industries, shall develop basic consumer education or guidance about geothermal energy systems and shall develop business models for geothermal projects in the state to match equivalent programming and guidance for solar energy." The full bill language is here.
| |
Hot & Toxic - Earlier this week, the Gas Leaks Project launched “Hot and Toxic,” the largest campaign ever to inform the public about the harms of so-called natural gas. Using reality TV tropes, Hot & Toxic follows one unsuspecting homeowner with a "natural" gas hookup, who didn't realize she'd be living with the hottest, most toxic housemates imaginable — the 21 toxins found in methane gas. The campaign.is running in states across the country with high numbers of household with gas in the home. You tube link here.
| |
Gas Industry Loses Bid to Block Green Building Codes – Alexander C. Kaufman – Huffpost – “Gas companies and furnace manufacturers have one more chance to make their case, but it's an uphill battle. The natural gas industry lost its initial bid to strip key climate-friendly measures out of national homebuilding guidelines, HuffPost has learned. The rules in the model building code will require new homes to come equipped with the circuitry to hook up induction stoves and electric car chargers, and will be used as a benchmark in almost every state." Article link here.
| |
NY HEAT Is a Win for Energy Affordability - NY Renews and Win Climate – “The NY HEAT Act, among other provisions, directs NY’s Public Service Commission to engage stakeholders in findings ways to make good on New York’s goal of limiting New Yorkers’ energy burden to 6% of income. A new report released by NY Renews, a statewide coalition of over 370 environmental justice, faith, labor, and community groups, includes an analysis of potential savings for households in each region and county of the state, with dramatic implications for highly burdened households. “A household’s energy burden refers to the percentage of annual income spent on energy bills. For instance, if a family makes $30K and spends $3K a year on gas and electricity, they have an energy burden of 10%. Households with energy burdens above 6% are considered highly burdened.” Report link here.
| |
Thermal Energy Network Summit – On March 6th in Albany, The Building Decarbonization Coalition, NYS Pipe Trades Association and City & State NY presented a NY Thermal Energy Networks (TENS) Summit: Scale up! Decarbonizing NY’s Neighborhoods. The event was keynoted by Jessica Waldorf , Chief of Staff and Director of Policy Implementation at the NY Department of Public Service. Article link here.
| |
Electrification Policy Menu – Rewiring America – This 30-page “Electrification Policy Menu for Local Leaders enumerates the abundant policy options for local governments to electrify buildings in their jurisdictions… Local leaders without the federal power of the purse or the jurisdiction of state legislators may wonder how they can help their residents take advantage of efficient electric technologies that can make their lives better. Happily, local officials have many tools at their disposal... The policy approaches in this guide are high-impact, proven to be successful, and use tools familiar to local governments." Document link here.
| |
Maine: Expensive Heating Oil Drives Heat Pump Transition – New York Times – “No state has adopted them (heat pumps) faster than Maine… Last September, Maine met its goal of installing 100,000 heat pumps in households two years ahead of schedule, and is aiming to install another 175,000 by 2027. Maine’s rapid adoption is being spurred by a combination of state rebates on top of federal incentives and a new cadre of vendors and installers, as well as mounting frustrations over the high cost of heating oil… Mr. Stoddard of Efficiency Maine said while many Mainers use heat pumps in tandem with oil and gas heating systems, the hybrid approach reduces the effectiveness of the heat pump. His agency recently changed its program so only households that fully convert to heat pumps get state rebates.” Article link here.
| |
Bill Would Provide Property Tax Abatements for Local Law 97 Compliance – Steven Goodstein – Bronx Times – “…data from New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) suggests that approximately 15,000 property owners would be forced to invest more than $15 billion by 2030 in order to comply with the new emission standards imposed by Local Law 97… The GREEN Buildings Act, modeled after the J-51 tax abatement and exemption program, would provide tax abatements as well as exemptions to buildings covered by Local Law 97 in order to help building owners meet the goals of the law and have their properties meet energy efficient requirements.” The bill A.5050/S.943-A is sponsored in the Assembly by Edward Braunstein with 24 cosponsors and in the Senate by Energy Committee Chair Kevin Parker and a dozen co-sponsors Article link here.
| |
Electrify Without Blowing a Fuse – Michael J. Coren – Washington Post Climate Coach – “Smart panels reimagine the old metal box connecting you to the electric grid as a computer. This hub first accepts electricity from the utility. It then detects all the electrical devices in your home, distinguishing each device’s energy signature, and tracking how you use each one. Based on that information, it orchestrates your home’s energy consumption by talking directly to connected devices — over WiFi or near-range signals — or physically turning on and off circuits when they reach capacity.” Article link here.
| |
UK Claims to be First Major Economy to Cut Emissions in Half – Clare Coutinho, MP & Department for Energy Security & Net Zero- “The UK is the first major economy to halve its emissions – having cut them by 50% between 1990 and 2022, while also growing its economy by 79... This compares to a 23% reduction in France and no change in the USA between 1990 and 2021. With renewables now accounting for more than 40% of the country’s electricity – up from just 7% in 2010, this shows the UK is leading the way on cleaner energy.” Article link here.
| |
S Curves – What Will Heat Pump Adoption Look Like? – from Pace of Progress by the Building Decarbonization Alliance - “Technology adoption and diffusion does not usually progress along a straight and linear path. Instead, it typically follows an S-curve, with slower initial adoption rates, a period of exponential growth, and another slow tail as the last late-adopters come on board. The exact shape of the curve will vary based on a range of factors, such as consumer behavior and regulatory frameworks, but many innovative technologies have followed such S-curve models; the telephone, electricity, refrigerators, and cell phones are but a few examples of this pattern of growth.” Report link here.
| |
An In-Depth Look at Ontario’s Gas Utility – Jay Shepherd – Shepherd is a Toronto attorney and energy expert who has played important roles in Ontario regulatory proceedings. Here he examines in-depth the strategy of Enbridge Gas Inc. for surviving the transition to clean heating. Shepherd acknowledges Enbridge’s strengths, but locates them in the context of the climate emergency: “It doesn’t matter how good your buggy whips have been over the years, once the buggy itself becomes an historical anomaly.” Link to part 1 here and the link to part 2 is at the bottom of the web page.
| |
Jay Shepherd
Con Edison Offers Incentive for Replacing Fossil Boilers with Fossil Boilers – “It’s now even easier to earn incentives on gas-saving measures, such as boiler cleanings, tune-ups, and replacements; pipe and roof insulation; and energy management systems. Pre-war multifamily buildings (built before 1940) with 5–50 units may be eligible to receive up to $500 in incentives per dwelling unit. Plus, we’re waiving pre-installation inspection requirements and requiring post-inspections for select projects only.” Fast Track web page here.
| |
LNG Exports = Price Swings for US Consumers - Julian Spector – Canary Media – “The global gas trade has brought new volatility home to domestic markets — a factor the White House is considering as it reassesses the LNG buildout… The Ukraine invasion prompted European companies to pay top dollar to replace the gas they had been getting from Russian pipelines. Much of the new supply came from the United States. European buyers, backed by wartime subsidies, made gas a much hotter commodity than it had been in years — globally and locally in the U.S.” Article link here. | |
NYS Offshore Wind Projects Back On Track– Maria Gallucci – Canary Media – NYS has selected the 924 MW Sunrise Wind project and the 810 MW Empire 1 project for offshore wind contracts. Developers for both projects had agreements in 2019, but opted to rebid the projects to secure more favorable terms in response to economic disruption from the covid pandemic. New York is aiming to build 9 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2035 — the most ambitious near-term goal in the country, and enough to meet about 30 percent of the state’s total electricity needs. Article link here.
| |
Clean Heat Program Changes Meeting Date, Defines Full Load Heating – The NYS Joint Utilities Clean Heat program has changed their quarterly meeting date from March 14th to April 18th. Clean Heat has made several changes to the program which take effect March 1st, including to the Definition of Full Load Heating System: This is updated as: "A system installed that satisfies at least 100% of total building heating load (BHL) at design conditions." Previously, projects were required to satisfy at least 90% of BHL to qualify as full load. All space heating incentives are for Full Load Heating Systems unless otherwise noted.” See the Events section (green typeface) below for more information.
How to Apply for Direct Pay (Refundable) Tax Credits – Clean Energy Group – This web site includes 4 new fliers on direct pay tax credits. The site is focused on solar and battery storage, but the same provisions apply to commercial geothermal installations. The site notes: “The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) updated and expanded the Investment Tax Credit (ITC)…Nonprofits with no tax liability can now apply for Direct Pay reimbursement equal to the full value of the tax credit… The ITC now includes several ‘bonus credits’, which can significantly increase savings for projects serving low-income and underserved communities.” Website link here.
| | |
DEC Proposes Amendments Standards and Reporting for HFC Refrigerants - The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Office of Climate Change is proposing amendments to 6 NYCRR Part 494, “Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reporting.” The proposed regulation includes prohibitions, reporting, and other requirements regarding the sale, use, and supply of HFCs and new products and systems that contain HFCs. The goal of this proposed rule is to implement recommendations of the Climate Action Council Scoping Plan necessary to achieve the required statewide GHG emission limits and net zero goal outlined in the Climate Act. Comments and requests for further information can be sent to Suzanne Hagell at climate.regs@dec.ny.gov. Include “Comments on Part 494 HFC” in the subject line of the email. Written comments on the proposed Part 494 revisions may be submitted until 5 p.m. on March 19, 2024. Two public comment hearings for the proposed Part 494 revisions will be held via electronic webinar on March 13, 2024 at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm, go to the DEC webpage for registration details. Also listed in the Events section (green typeface) below. | NY City Sea Level Rise – NY Post - “Sea levels surrounding New York City are expected to rise at least 6 to 9 inches in the 2030s and potentially up to 13 inches in some areas due to climate change, according to state projections. The assessment done by the state Department of Environmental Conservations also claims that sea levels in the lower Hudson River could swell by 23 inches in the 2050s and up to 45 inches in the 2080s.” Link to article and 1-minute video here. | |
Skyrocketing Insurance Rates Testing Resolve of Homeowners - Amy Green – Inside Climate News – “Research shows the soaring costs hint at widespread, unpriced risk as the global climate warms, with states like California, Florida and Louisiana hit hardest…After (Hurricane) Ian, (Cory) Infinger’s taxes and homeowners insurance…jumped by $450 a month. That amount could be considered moderate in a state where annual home insurance rates in the five and six figures have not been unheard of in recent years, and many homeowners have received letters from their insurers informing them that their existing policies will not be renewed.” Article link here.
|
Incredible Pics from the Texas Panhandle Fire – Washington Post – “Photos show how the Texas panhandle wildfire became the largest in state history.” Link to the pics here.
|
Coolcationing – Jennifer A. Kingson – Axios – “ ‘Coolcationing’ could potentially reshape the travel and resort industries — as well as real estate investments, as climate change alters where people choose to recreate. Driving the news: Condé Nast Traveler named coolcationing one of the ‘biggest travel trends to expect in 2024,’ noting that heat waves are making a summer vacation in Norway seem more appealing than one in Sicily or southern France.” Article link here.
| |
John Kerry Reckons with the Country’s Climate Past and Future – Kiley Price – Inside Climate News – “The United States’ former climate envoy spoke candidly about his time in the role and what he projects for the country’s climate future”. Among his comments “It shocks me that I and others are guilty of not really having focused on methane in Paris or before…Methane is responsible for 50 percent of the warming of the planet, but it’s also where you get the fastest reduction in heat. So if we can make the methane thing work, we actually can buy ourselves a little time.” Article link here.
| |
****************************************************************************************
"We know from a recent study that every tenth of a degree in temperature rise that we prevent keeps 140 million of our brothers and sisters in habitable zones on this planet. And nothing has changed my basic conviction about the key: we need to keep building huge movements to finally break the political power of the fossil fuel industry and force the emergency conversion to clean energy." —Bill McKibben
| You've Got to Be Kidding: | Bogus Ad Campaign Against the NY HEAT Act Starts – “New Yorkers for Affordable Energy”, a fossil fuel front group, has initiated its next well-funded attempt to undercut New York’s Climate Law. Its facebook ad claims “The Governor’s budget includes a proposal to take away your access to safe and affordable natural gas heat - Raising your utility bill and costing thousands of jobs.” The ad urges readers to send their legislator a message to reject the Affordable Gas Transition Act, the version of the NY HEAT Act Governor Hochul included in her draft budget. They will apparently stop at nothing. Ad 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.
EVENTS:
*Indicates a New Listing or Updated Information
| |
2024 03 12 to 14 - Thermal Energy Networks Symposium in Rochester, MN – Geothermal Rising - “It is no small feat to tear up streets and install thermal pipelines that share energy between buildings; however, we now have the tools, the talent, the trades, and the engineering to do this at a time when geothermal solutions are more efficient and affordable than ever. All that is needed is for you to begin your journey by registering for the Thermal Energy Networks Symposium and be prepared to start your community on the path to energy independence.” Registration fees from $575 to $775. Register here.
2024 03 13 - Renewable Heat Now’s Rally & Lobby Day for the NY HEAT Act in Albany – 11 am to 4 pm 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!" Click here for more.
2024 03 13 - Evaluating Geothermal Heat Pumps with REopt - 11:30 am–1:00 pm ET - .2 CEUs – “This training program is designed to educate agencies on geothermal heat pumps (GHP) and equip them with the skills to model and evaluate these systems for their specific site(s) using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) REopt tool. The REopt tool, available for free, offers a user-friendly web interface and open-source code, enabling users to assess the techno-economic feasibility of distributed energy resources, including solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, battery storage, geothermal heat pumps, combined heat and power, and thermal energy storage. Register here.
2024 03 13 – Geothermal RECs - 11:30 am–12:30 pm ET - IGSHPA Town Hall – “We will be hearing from David Sadik, Senior Vice President of Carbon Solutions Group who will be presenting What Are GRECs (Geothermal Renewable Energy Credits), And How Do They Drive Decarbonization?.” Register here.
*2024 03 13 – Two (2) Public Comment Hearings – Proposed DEC Hydrofluorocarbon Standards & Reporting – 2:00 pm & 6:00 pm ET - The DEC’s Office of Climate Change is proposing amendments to 6 NYCRR Part 494, “Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reporting.” Comments and requests for further information can be sent to Suzanne Hagell at climate.regs@dec.ny.gov. Include “Comments on Part 494 HFC” in the subject line of the email. Written comments on the proposed Part 494 revisions may be submitted until 5 p.m. on March 19, 2024. Two public comment hearings for the proposed Part 494 revisions will be held via electronic webinar on March 13, 2024 at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm, go to the DEC webpage for registration details.
*2024 03 14 – Clean Heat Program Stakeholders Meeting – rescheduled - see 2024 04 18
*2024 03 14 – The Future of Gas in Massachusetts Report - 12:00 -1:00 pm ET – ZeroCarbonMA - “Mike Walsh of Groundworks Data… will review the major findings of this groundbreaking report, which used the utilities own data to predict the future cost of gas in Massachusetts. Other studies have analyzed present costs of gas and electricity, but none to date have analyzed costs with a forward-looking lens.” Walsh has noted, “Most building owners will ultimately need to undergo a disruptive retrofit of regret to escape increasing costs and align with climate goals. This can be avoided by ensuring new buildings go beyond gas with the latest clean energy technologies.” Register here
2024 03 14 – 4 Ways to Make Your HVAC Business More Efficient - 2:00 pm ET – ACHR News - “A tightly operated HVAC contracting business is one that has a high profit margin. Join us as we discuss the most effective ways to optimize operational productivity for your HVAC business. Finding, hiring, and keeping skilled employees is job number one. We will also discuss overall office efficiency and the improvement of internal procedures.” Register here.
2024 03 19 – UTEN Performance Metrics – DPS Technical Conference - 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET – 3 Empire State Plaza, 19th Floor Board Room, Albany, NY - As a follow up to the PSC Guidance Order on Utility Thermal Energy Networks (UTEN) Pilot Projects, the Department of Public Service (DPS) is holding a Technical Conference on establishing consistent performance metrics so utility pilot projects can be more effectively evaluated and compared. UTEN performance metrics to be considered include, but not limited to, the categories of: (1) technical; (2) financial; (3) customer/societal; and (4) safety/reliability. Those interested in submitting comments to this matter (CASE 22-M-0429) and/or participating (in person or via WebEx) should follow the instructions in the Notice of Technical Conference filed 02/28/2024 on this page.
2024 03 20 – NY Renews Albany Rally for the Climate, Jobs & Justice Package, which includes NY HEAT - 10am-4pm ET – New York State Capitol, 89 Washington Ave, Albany NY 12234 - From NY Renews, a group that was key to passing New York’s Climate Law – “We’ll be calling on Governor Hochul and the state legislature to pass key climate legislation along with the People’s Climate Justice Budget to invest in critical climate and environmental justice projects across the state. Together we can kickstart New York’s clean energy transition, lower energy bills for families, and create good, union jobs along the way.” Register here.
2024 03 22 – How GSHPs Can Contribute More Than Wind and Solar - 11:30 am ET – Bill Eggertson, President of NetZeroPLUS Canada – IGSHPA Town Hall – Geothermal “Promoting itself simply as energy efficient obscures its value in the wind-solar future and gives no credit to a major source of energy production… In the US, thermal production from GSHP in the residential sector would be 2,000 billion kWh .” Register here.
2024 03 27 – AEE/ASHREA Clean Energy Symposium – 8:00am - 6:00 pm ET, TEC-SMART, Malta, NY – “The Association of Energy Engineers – Capital Region (AEE-CR) and the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Northeast Chapter (ASHRAE-NE) in conjunction with Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) are proud to host a day long Symposium at the TEC-SMART facility which features a ground source heat pump (GSHP) system and clean energy laboratories to train students to enter the workforce. Symposium attendees will hear a keynote address from US Representative Paul Tonko and participate in full day of workshops on Thermal Energy Networks, Camus Electrification, Heat Recovery Chillers, and other clean energy topics. Engineering professionals can earn 3 PDH credits.” Learn more and register here.
************************************************
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 New York State. 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.
2024 04 08 and 09 – NY-GEO 2024 - 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. Check out the Draft Schedule for the Albany conference here.
· To register for Albany and learn more about becoming a sponsor and or exhibitor click here.
· Book your stay at the Albany Marriott by clicking here.
Keynotes Announced for NY-GEO 2024 in Albany – NY-GEO’s annual conference, will take place in 2 locations, Albany, April 9th (with an exhibitor mixer from 4:00 to 6;00 pm on the 8th) and Brooklyn, October. At the Albany conference, Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian will give the opening keynote. Alexis McKittrick, Program Manager, Low Temperature and Geothermal, U.S. Department of Energy, will be the lunch keynote presenter. To learn more and register click 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 for NYC 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.
NY-GEO members: to receive the discounted member rates, employees of your organization must be populated in the member database. Reach out to NY-GEO Executive Director Christine Hoffer at christine@ny-geo.org for assistance.
Not a Member? Click here to Join!
*************************************************
*2024 04 18 – Clean Heat Program Stakeholders Meeting – 9:00-10:00 am ET - (Note: Previously scheduled for March 14) 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 link.
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
| |
We NEED Your NY-GEO Member Job Postings – Please add any job openings you may have to our NY-GEO Job Listings to 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.
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. All qualified individuals will be evaluated for each relevant position for which they apply. Check this page periodically to learn about new career opportunities. |
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.
| | | | |