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Just In! for June 8, 2024
The weekly newsletter of the New York Geothermal Energy Organization (NY-GEO)
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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 Fails to Pass NY HEAT Act – Nydia Gutierrez - Earthjustice – Yesterday, “the Assembly killed any chance of a strong deal on the most watched climate legislation, the NY HEAT Act, before the close of the 2024 legislative session. The Senate passed the legislation earlier this year. Additionally, NY HEAT was in the Senate’s one-house budget proposal and partially in the Governor’s proposal as ‘the Affordable Gas Transition Act’. Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate for Earthjustice: noted… ‘With utilities already proposing to raise already high bills rising due to our reliance upon gas infrastructure, and one year after we saw orange skies, the Assembly has turned their backs on the policy solution. The same body that once championed our nation-leading climate law has now earned a reputation as the body holding back the policies New York needs to meet what is laid out in this law.’ ” Link. | |
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Long Island Field Study of 33 Geothermal Systems – NYSERDA – “This field test study evaluated the performance of 33 ground source heat pump systems installed in 27 Long Island homes. Measured data for the WaterFurnace dual stage and variable speed heat pumps were collected for a year or more using the on-board Symphony™ monitoring system. A survey was also conducted to capture homeowner perceptions and experiences with the systems. This study follows a similar test of 49 Water Furnace heat pumps in Upstate New York (NYSERDA Report 18.03). The results showed that the seasonal average heating COP was 3.8 (with pumps, fans, and resistance elements), compared to 3.6 for the upstate systems. Ground loop temperatures were correspondingly higher in the milder heating climate. Homeowners reported that these systems maintained good comfort in the winter, which was corroborated by the minimal resistance heat use. Greenhouse gas savings were also documented, and annual cost savings were as high as $295 per installed ton compared to fuel oil at current, post-pandemic prices." Link.
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Massachusetts Activates Thermal Energy Network (TEN) – Jeff St. John – Canary Media – This article covers the 2024 06 06 opening of Eversource’s $14 Million - 88 borehole - mile-long - 125 customer - thermal energy network pilot in Framingham Massachusetts. It includes a look at the factors homeowners consider when deciding to participate. It also lays out the advantage TENs have over air source heat pumps, which can require far costlier expansions of the electric grid. Because TENs use the even temperatures found beneath the ground, they maintain their efficiency on the hottest and coldest days of the year, which minimizes the need to add transmission and distribution infrastructure to power the pumps. Link.
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Climate Superfund Act Moves Forward – At 3:22 AM, by a vote of 95 to 46, the Assembly did pass the Climate Superfund Act. As the Senate had passed it May 7th, that will put the fate of the measure in the hands of Governor Hochul. From the Senate website: “The purpose of the bill is to establish the climate change adaptation cost recovery program, which would require companies that have contributed significantly to the buildup of greenhouse gases, the primary cause of climate change, to bear a share of the costs of infrastructure investments required to adapt to the impacts of climate change in New York State.” NY’s Legislature becomes the second in the nation to pass a Climate Superfund, as Vermont’s Legislature passed their own version last week. Link.
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California Bans Gas Heaters After 2030 – Clean Energy Connection – Through adoption of a net-zero appliance standard, “In 2023, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to ban the sale of new gas furnaces and water heaters beginning in 2030. A widespread switch from natural gas to electric appliances has the potential to reduce carbon emissions significantly in California… while home electrification is the ultimate goal, California homes do not have to be all-electric by that date.
- This regulation does not limit the use or repair of existing gas furnaces or water heaters.
- You will not be forced to replace any gas appliances that are currently in use in your home.
- All new space and water heaters installed after 2030 must be zero-emission appliances.”.
While the net-zero standard has been adopted, regulations to define the standard are currently being written and are scheduled for adoption in 2025. Link.
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Union Is Aiding Spread of Thermal Energy Networks - Jay Egg - Egg Geo – Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Piping website – “The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) has played a key role in helping pass legislation (like NY's Utility Thermal Energy Networks and Jobs Act) that promotes the adoption of thermal energy networks (TENs) throughout the United States." Link.
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NY Senate Passes $50,000 GJGNY Loan Limit – On June 6th, the NY Senate passed S9744, a bill sponsored by Kevin Parker, the Chair of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee by a vote of 58 to 3. “This legislation will increase the maximum loan authorized for residential properties from $25,000 to $50,000 and modify the payback period for loans in excess of $13,000…and requires that the payback period does not exceed the useful life of the energy efficiency measures installed.” As of Saturday morning, it appears the Assembly did not move the measure before wrapping up its session. NY-GEO had submitted a support memo on this bill. Thanks to Kristin Bennett, Interim Executive Director of the Building Performance Contractors Association, for this tip. Link.
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Senator Kevin S. Parker
ANOTHER Gas Leak Evacuation – James Battaglia – Rocester First.com – “A portion of Stone Road in (the Rochester, NY suburb of) Greece was evacuated Thursday morning so crews could address a gas leak. According to the Ridge Road Fire District, construction workers hit a gas line in the area around 11:30 a.m. The road was immediately closed and the area evacuated as a precaution. Residents were told to shelter in place. No one was injured.” Link.
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DOE Defines a “Zero Emissions Building” – DOE Press release – “The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today (2024 06 06) announced a National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building to advance public and private sector efforts to decarbonize the buildings sector, which is responsible for more than one-third of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions… By the definition, at a minimum, a zero emissions building must be energy efficient, free of onsite emissions from energy use, and powered solely from clean energy. Future parts of this definition may address emissions from embodied carbon (producing, transporting, installing, and disposing of building materials) and additional considerations… The Definition is not a regulatory standard or a certification. It is guidance that public and private entities may adopt to determine whether a building has zero emissions from operational energy use.” Link.
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Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm
NY-GEO Files Support Memo for Fuel Switching Grant Program – Assemblymember Zebrowski and Senator Harckham have submitted a bill - A8595 / S8504 - that authorizes NYSERDA to fund a fuel switching grant program. NY-GEO submitted a support memo for the program “to provide grants, loans, and other services for costs related to fuel-switching, via clean energy measures, energy-efficiency measures, resiliency measures, and more. Such a program would enable residents stuck with expensive propane or fuel-oil heating systems to upgrade to energy efficient heat pumps, save money on energy bills, and improve home comfort and reliability.” The memo notes “The average fuel oil or propane user would save $868 annually by upgrading to a medium-efficiency heat pump - and even more if they weatherized or upgraded to a geothermal heat pump.” The bill passed the Senate on June 6th. As we go to press it is not yet clear if it subsequently passed the Assembly. See NYSERDA Fuel Switching Grant Program ½ way down the page at this link.
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Benzene, a Carcinogen, Found in 97% of Gas in US and Canadian Homes – PSE – Bringing Science to Energy Policy - "A new study from PSE Healthy Energy, published…in Environmental Research Letters, is the first to assess whether gas leaks contain enough odorant to protect against elevated levels of benzene exposure, and provides the most comprehensive data to date on residential natural gas composition… Their findings show that hazardous air pollutants are present in the natural gas used in homes throughout North America, with the known carcinogen benzene found in 97% of gas samples. Additionally, the researchers found that even people with an ‘average sense of smell’ are living with gas leaks they cannot smell. If these leaks go undetected for long periods, they can impact indoor air quality, the climate, and potentially public health.” Link.
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Maryland Governor’s Executive Order Requires Zero-Emission Heating Standard - Aman Azhar – Inside Climate News - “Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (has) issued a wide-ranging executive order on reducing climate pollution, directing the Maryland Department of the Environment and other agencies to develop a host of initiatives including a zero-emission heating equipment standard to reduce pollution and improve ambient air quality inside homes. ‘Burning fossil fuels in our buildings is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland,’ said Josh Tulkin, director of the Sierra Club’s Maryland chapter. ‘By developing zero-emission heating equipment standards this year, Maryland can make a measurable dent in climate pollution while delivering cleaner, healthier air for residents.’ " Link.
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Hydrogen is 13 Times More Flammable than Methane (aka Natural Gas) - Michael Scholand – M2S2 Energy - Debunking the Hydrogen Hype - Why Europe should pursue electrification instead of Hydrogen for cooking and heating – “…Hydrogen can catch fire 13 times more easily than methane, at lower concentrations in air. The higher volatility of hydrogen exacerbates the risk of burn-back into the pipes which could trigger explosions. A report published by the UK Government in 2021 assessed the risk of introducing hydrogen to the residential gas network and found it could result in 4 times as many injuries as gas.” Page 1 at this link.
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NYSERDA Case Studies of Three Different Approaches to Electrification – “Building electrification is the process of switching from technologies and equipment powered by fossil fuels (fuel oil, natural gas, propane, and coal) to efficient, all-electric options. These three case studies feature different approaches to electrification. They show innovative ways to tackle energy efficiency and emissions reduction together.” Link.
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UN Leader Calls for Ban on Fossil Fuel Advertising – “United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres used his World Environment Day address Wednesday to call for a ban on advertising by the fossil fuels industry, and he asked public relations firms and ad agencies to stop representing fossil fuels. ‘I call on these companies to stop acting as enablers to planetary destruction,’ Guterres said in a speech on climate action delivered at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. ‘Fossil fuels are not only poisoning our planet, they're toxic for your brand,’ he said.” Link.
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Electric Lawn Mower as a “Gateway” to Home Electrification – Allison Takemura – Canary Media – “The best way to get people to electrify everything might be getting them to electrify something — anything at all. That’s because those who have already dipped their toes into home electrification are more likely to dive into additional projects, according to a new survey that could help shape electrification programs around the country.” Link.
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Solar Panel Prices Are Low Again. Here’s Who’s Winning and Losing – Dan Gearino – Inside Climate News – “For decades, one of the near-constants in the shift to renewable energy was that solar panel prices were decreasing. This downward curve hit a bump in 2020. Global prices began to rise, largely due to supply disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, analysts said the price increases likely were a short-term phenomenon as the supply adjusted to meet demand. Now we can say conclusively that those analysts were correct. Prices have gone down, and down, and down.” Link.
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NY-GEO Conference Presentation:
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For Details on the Upcoming October NY-GEO Conference in Brooklyn see 2024 10 21 in the Green Events Section Below or Go Directly to the NY-GEO Website | |
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Review of Major Geothermal Drilling Techniques - Presented on April 9th at NY-GEO 2024 in Albany, NY
This session was packed with knowledgeable drillers describing the methods of drilling they know best. Presenters reviewed mud rotary, air rotary, sonic, auger, angled, dual rotary and more! Sure to be an instant classic for our industry!
Moderator:
• Brock Yordy / The Developed Well Group
Panel:
• Robert Meyer / Thermex Geothermal - Mud to Sonic
• Dmitry Kuravskiy / Celsius Energy - Angled Drilling & Air Rotary
• Derek McGladdery / Derex Drills - Dual Rotary
• Kim Ojanne / Rototec USA - Downhole Hammer & Job Site Productivity
Presentation Deck
YouTube Recording
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Some the best minds in the borehole business drill deep into the issues inherent in providing geo-exchange excellence.
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Spread The Word!!
The NY-Geo Spring Conference Pictures Are Out!!!
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Top Job 2024 Competition @ NY-GEO Conference in Brooklyn, NY - The Top Job Competition presented by GeoStar has been an integral part of the NY-GEO annual conference since its inception in 2015. Its objective is to highlight and recognize the incredible skill, talent, and creative imagination that exists in geothermal system designers and installers. We are thrilled to announce that in 2024 we will be recognizing and awarding Three Top Job Winners, at our Brooklyn Conference in October, one each in the categories of 1) Residential, 2) Commercial and 3) Drilling.
Why Apply? Word of mouth is probably the best way to spread new ideas and transformational technology, and the Top Job format provides just the right platform to create buzz about your projects. You know how much goes into the best geothermal projects you’ve installed and how much can be learned from your experience! Top Job gives you a chance to showcase your accomplishments and give the world a glimpse at the passion, creativity and dedication that drives this incredible technology. Please consider entering one of your projects in this year’s Top Job competition and help NY-GEO inspire and motivate as we explore the wide-ranging possibilities and benefits of geothermal energy. Learn more and submit.
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2023 Top Job Contestants - Left to Right:
Jim Thomas – Thomas Geothermal Engineering, LLC – Moonshot Farm
Steven Taylor - Boucher Energy Systems, Inc. – Historic Fitch Tavern
Joanne Coons – Top Job 2024 Organizer
Johannes Rosemann – Buffalo Geothermal Heating – Pierce Arrow Lofts
Bruce Cole – Vice President - Residential Sales and Marketing - GeoStar
2023 Contestants not pictured:
Claire Lukasiewicz - NY Creates - Zen Building
Christie Reaves - Geosource - 240 Markland
Behavioral Science and Electrification - A new nationwide survey found that among those interested in transitioning their homes from fossil fuels to efficient electric systems, the most common reasons were safety, the environment, health and energy efficiency. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) surveyed nearly 2,000 U.S. homeowners and renters about their interest in electrifying their home heating, hot water, and cooking appliances. Link.
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German Activist Nears Death in Hunger Strike - Keerti Gopal – Inside Climate News – “Nearly three months into his fast, Wolfgang Metzeler-Kick says he won’t eat until the German government acknowledges the severity of the climate crisis and the world’s failure to address it. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shows no inclination of doing that…The physicians overseeing the health of the four remaining hunger strikers in Berlin, Germany have ceded responsibility and advised him to give up his fast, warning he could collapse any day, and that he is at high risk of falling into a coma or going into sudden cardiac arrest.” Link. |  | |
Mexico Elects Climate Scientist as Next President - Kylie Madry and Valentine Hilaire- Reuters – “Claudia Sheinbaum, a Nobel Prize-winning climate scientist, will become Mexico's first female president after winning a landslide election victory and promising to continue the work of her mentor and outgoing leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Sheinbaum, 61, secured between 58.3% and 60.7% of votes, according to the INE electoral institute's rapid sample count released late Sunday night, the most support won by a candidate in a Mexican presidential election since the end of one-party rule in 2000.” Link.
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For an in-depth look at how Sheinbaum’s administration might or might not improve Mexico’s climate mitigation efforts by Martha Pskowski of Inside Climate News, click this Link.
Salt in the Womb – Rising Seas and Reproductive Health - Zoya Teirstein and Mahadi Al Hasnat – Grist – “Women in Bangladesh are confronting the dangerous health effects of consuming salty water. They won't be the last… As sea levels rise, rivers dry up, and cyclones become more severe… low-lying districts…have been among the first in the world to experience the sting of climate change-driven saltwater intrusion — the creep of seawater inland… Studies have shown that saltwater consumption has negative, long-lasting effects on nearly every stage of a woman’s reproductive cycle, from menstruation to birth.” Link.
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Nationwide Heat and Health Tool to Protect Communities Most Impacted by Extreme Heat – U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – “The Heat and Health Index (HHI) is the first nationwide tool to provide heat-health outcome information at the ZIP code level. The HHI will help state and local officials identify communities, at the zip code level, most likely to experience negative health outcomes from heat, ensure that outreach and medical aid reach the people who need it most, and help decision-makers prioritize community resilience investments." Link.
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Europe’s Swing to the Right Threatens Global Climate Policy – Bob Berwyn – Inside Climate News - Many populist, nationalist and far-right parties have attacked environmental, climate and clean energy policies during the campaigns for this week’s EU parliamentary election. Link.
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"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
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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
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2024 06 11 – Michigan Geothermal Energy Association Annual Conference - 8:00 am – 4:00 pm ET - This conference features Missy Stults, City of Ann Arbor as our keynote speaker. Educational session will be in three (3) separate tracks, Residential, Commercial and Utility. Ryan Dougherty from GEO Exchange to provide the national perspective. Conference Registration.
*2024 06 13 – 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. Program changes to be discussed include the creation of “dollar per dwelling unit” incentives for heating and hot water in multifamily buildings, and the termination of Con Edison’s Limited Time Offer incentives. Registration here.
*2024 06 17 – Non-Pipeline Alternatives (NPA) to Extending or Replacing Gas Lines - 1:00 pm ET – RMI and National Grid – “In this webinar, RMI and National Grid speakers will share findings from researching case studies in the US and Europe where utilities have pursued alternatives to traditional gas infrastructure projects, in service of cost reduction and climate action.” Register here.
*2024 06 19 –Designing the Underground Heat Exchanger - 3:00 pm ET – California GEO – “Our next UNDERGROUND will feature the intricacies of underground heat exchangers for geo heat pump use. This event is free to members and their company's employees, but $10 for others. Underground heat exchangers are not simple or straightforward but they must be effective for a geo heat pump to reach its performance potential. Our experienced engineer Lisa Meline will help us focus on what's necessary.” Register here.
2024 10 21 to 23 – NY-GEO 2024 – Fall Conference – Brooklyn – The New York Brooklyn Bridge Marriott will host a two-day conference with a day of local project site tours, over 40 educational sessions, and the NY-GEO Annual Dinner. This is NY-GEO's first conference Downstate and will emphasize content on how to address densely populated areas and large commercial buildings. As NY-GEO gears up for an extraordinary event, we invite you to register for two days of informative education sessions, and a showcase of geothermal energy solutions presented by our committed sponsors and exhibitors. To register for NYC and learn more about becoming a sponsor and or exhibitor click here.
Key Notes include:
Doreen Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA
Matthew Ketschke, President, Con Edison of New York
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This event goes beyond the ordinary by offering attendees the unique opportunity to visit geothermal sites in NYC on October 21, providing firsthand experience and insights. Networking opportunities and access to top industry experts, this gathering is a must for professionals, policymakers, businesses, and building owners dedicated to decarbonizing New York State. Immerse yourself in the world of geothermal technology and join us in Brooklyn October 21-23. Learn more and register
Top Job 2024 Competition @ NY-GEO Conference in Brooklyn, NY
The Top Job Competition presented by GeoStar has been an integral part of the NY-GEO annual conference since its inception in 2015. Its objective is to highlight and recognize the incredible skill, talent, and creative imagination that exists in geothermal system designers and installers. We are thrilled to announce that in 2024 we will be recognizing and awarding three winners, one each, in the categories of:
- Residential
- Commercial
- Drilling
Why Apply? Top Jobs provides an opportunity for us to learn about the latest advancements in geothermal technology. How it is being implemented in a wide range of building types and applications and showcasing the benefits of geothermal systems, from their energy efficiency and cost-savings to their positive impact on the environment. Top Jobs projects allows the geothermal industry to communicate to those outside the industry including policymakers the variety of ways this technology can be applied, especially in situations where daunting challenges seem impossible to overcome and yet they are.
Please share your Top Jobs project that will inspires, motivates and explores the possibilities of geothermal energy. Learn more and submit.
NY-GEO Members can attend the conference at a discounted rate, so now is a good time to renew your membership through 2024. 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.
NY-GEO 2024 Spring Conference - Albany Recordings Available
Access the conference recordings now to stay at the forefront of geothermal advance and drive sustainable change here.
2025 03 11th-13th – 2025 IGSHPA Annual Conference – Breaking New Ground– From the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA): “Join us in Champaign, IL next March for our 2025 Annual Conference in collaboration with the Geothermal Alliance Of Illinois! Don't miss out on early bird pricing, and as always, if you are a GAOI or IGSHPA member you get to register at a discount!” Conference website here.
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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.
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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 a 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 a NY-GEO member and why your membership is important to advancing GHP, Click here.
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