Ultralife selects WindTamer for its energy storage system demonstration project

Arista Power's WindTamer wind turbine has been selected by the Ultralife Corporation to be the wind component for a 1 megawatt-hour energy storage system demonstration project at Ultralife's corporate campus in Newark, New York. The demonstration project is funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and will integrate lithium ion batteries, ultra capacitors, wind and solar technologies. Ultralife's system is designed to provide energy utilities and renewable energy generators with an intelligent way to manage energy for consumption or storage.

The WindTamer uses diffuser augmented wind turbine technologies to maximize energy production while reducing the noise/vibration associated with the operation of traditional horizontal axis wind turbines.

For more information visit http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/windtamer-selected-to-participate-in-nyserda-funded-large-scale-renewable-energy-storage-system-prototype-121992673.html.

NYSERDA seeks proposals for deep energy retrofit solutions

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has released a program opportunity notice (PON) for teams composed of building material manufacturers, building science professionals and building contractors to develop, investigate and implement design strategies to provide deep energy retrofit solutions to existing residential building envelopes.  NYSERDA is seeking a strategy that provides an exterior air barrier, has insulating properties, addresses window and door opening details, accepts or includes a finished cladding material and be capable of being fastened to the exterior of a residential building.  

The proposals, which are due by July 13, will be selected on the applicant's ability to illustrate their team's understanding of the problem, suggest solutions and provide detailed descriptions of how field trials will be conducted.

For more information about the notice, including application instructions visit http://www.nyserda.org/funding/2254pon.asp.

Gotham Gazette aims to bring attention to PlaNYC2030

Four years after the ambitious release of New York City's ambitious long-term sustainability plan, PlanNYC2030, the public has seemed to have lost interest. After last month's release of the four-year progress report, the media has reported on very little of the plans content.

Troubled by the lack of media coverage, Hunter College and the Gotham Gazette has teamed up to provide the public with information about the plan. The new service, titled the Sustainability Watch, will compile articles written by climate activists, policy experts and scholars. The Sustainability Watch will appear in the Gotham Gazette in the coming weeks.

The Gotham Gazette can be accessed online here.

A group of SU students win first place at the New York State Business Plan Competition

A group of students from Syracuse University won first place in the New York State Business Plan Competition at the University of Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

The students have developed the company "Helios" to commercialize an ultraviolet engineering technology to be used for the sterilization of medical tools/equipment. The competition provided Helios with a total of $50,000 to bring their technology to the market.

Helios was not the only group of Syracuse University students to win the competition. Broodr.com, an aggregated marketplace for unique products, designs and inventions, walked away from the competition with $10,000 in funding.

For more information, including other winners visit http://blog.timesunion.com/business/su-students-win-biz-plan-competition-at-nanocollege/23541/.

NYSERDA aids SUNY ESF in the establishment of a new research, development and testing center

NYSERDA and SUNY ESF have announced the establishment of a new research, development and industrial testing center to make manufacturing processes in New York State more energy efficient, environmentally friendly and economical.

The facility, named The Ultraviolet Light (UV) and Electron Beam (EB) Process Curing Systems Technology Center, will be located on SUNY ESF’s campus. The center will help develop formulas to  reduce the harmful emissions associated with the manufacture/application of inks, paints and coatings. The facility will also aid in the development of resin binders used in the fabrication of composites such as fiberglass.


For more information visit http://www.esf.edu/communications/view.asp?newsID=924.

SUNY Potsdam recognized for their efforts in sustainabily

SUNY Potsdam has been recognized for their ongoing efforts in environmental sustainability in the recently released "Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges: 2011 edition". The University's sustainability and operations coordinator, Richard Mattimore, attributes the ranking to a variety of initiatives taken by Potsdam Auxiliary and College Educational Services.

Potsdam's food service, PACES, supports local farmers while reducing carbon emissions by purchasing more than $300,000 worth of local produce. In addition, PACES converts all of its used fry oil to biodiesel fuel, composts, recycles and has introduced reusable food containers in its dining halls.

Mr. Mattimore gives additional credit to the University's student environmental club, the Middle Ground, for their efforts in educating the community about environmental problems.

For more information visit http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20110503/NEWS05/305039995.

NYSERDA invests $20 million for 19 combined heat and power projects

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has announced that they will invest $20 million in 19 combined heat and power generation projects throughout the state. Combined heat and power, also known as co-generation, is a method of combusting fuel on-site for energy generation while utilizing excess exhaust for heating. The $20 million will provide customers with up to 50% (or $2 million) of the total costs involved with buying/installing combined heat and power and is expected to leverage $68 million in private investments.

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse is among the 19 recipients and has received $963,000 for a 275 kW biomass turbine as well as a 195 kW gas-fired engine.

For more information (including a complete list of recipients) visit http://www.nyserda.org/Press_Releases/2011/PressReleas20110421.asp.

NYSERDA extends the popular Customer-Sited Wind Turbine Incentive Program

After receiving a record number of applications, The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has added an additional $1.4 million to the Customer-Sited Wind Turbine Incentive Program. In addition to the new funds, NYSERDA has announced a 6 month extension to the program.

The Customer-Sited Wind Turbine Incentive Program provides qualified property owners with approximately 30% of costs associated wind the purchase and installation of wind turbines. Since its origins in 2008, the program has provided $3.6 million in incentives, leveraging an additional $5.2 million in private investment. To date, all of the turbines installed to date generate more than 1.7 megawatt-hours annually, saving participants more than $240,000 in energy costs each year.

To find out if your area has sufficient wind speeds for an on-site turbine refer to NYSERDA’s interactive “New York State Small windExplorer” map at http://nyswe.awstruepower.com/.

For more information on the program visit http://www.nyserda.org/funding/2097pon.asp.