Albany school district revieces $450,000 for environmental improvements

The Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District in Albany, New York has received $450,000 in funding to increase the environmental/educational performance of its schools.  Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Department of Environmental Conservation, the program will increase energy efficiency and environmental conditions while reducing operating costs for the District.  The funding comes from a multi-state settlement with the cement manufacturing company, Lafarge North America.  The company violated the federal clean air act by emitting sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide at its 13 plants in the USA including its facility in Ravena, New York.

The school improvements are expected to go far beyond energy savings. Studies have shown a dramatic correlation between classroom environmental conditions (lighting, heating, ventilation, indoor environmental quality) and academic performance.

For more information visit http://www.empirestatenews.net/News/20111118-3.html.

Governor Cuomo announces new commercial electric vehicle incentive

New York State Governor, Andrew Cuomo has announced the development of a multi-year commercial electric vehicle incentive program that will provide businesses with funding to build and/or convert their fleet to electric.  The program, which will be managed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, will run for five years and provide companies with up to $20,000 for every electric vehicle purchased weighing over 10,000 lbs.  The New York State Department of Transportation has committed $10 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding for the programs first year.

The program will greatly benefit Smith Electric Vehicles Corporation, the U.K. headquartered commercial electric vehicle company which has recently announced the opening of a new manufacturing plant in New York City.  The plant will be located in the South Bronx and is expected to generate 100 jobs in the borough.

For more information visit http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/23163.

ReEnergy Holdings LLC to acquire 5 biomass plants in New York and Maine

ReEnergy Holdings LLC, an Albany, New York based company that specializes in converting biomass to energy is in the process of acquiring five plants from Boralex Inc. for $93 million.  The biomass energy-production plants are located in Chateaugay, New York; Fort Fairfield, Maine; Ashland, Maine; Livermore Falls, Maine; and Stratton, Maine.

Pending on due diligence and regulatory approval, the deal is expected to close by the end of the year. The five plants will employ 240 people and generate 240 megawatts of electricity. 

For more information visit http://blog.timesunion.com/business/albany-company-acquiring-biomass-energy-plants-in-new-york-maine/52018/.

The Customer-Sited Wind Turbine Incentive Program

The New York State Energy Research Authority (NYSERDA) has released a PON for the Customer-Sited Wind Turbine Incentive Program. The program, which has a total of $4.6 million, provides eligible installers with as much as 50% of the total installed cost or $400,000 to install new, grid-connected wind energy systems. To qualify, wind energy systems must meet NYSERDA's eligibility requirements and be less than 600 kW.

The program requires installers to pass on the incentive, in it's entirety to their customers; stimulating business growth while making wind energy systems more economically feasible.


Applications are due December 31st, 2011 by 5pm.

To view the PON in its entirety, visit http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Funding-Opportunities/Current-Funding-Opportunities/PON-2097-Customer-Sited-Wind-Turbine-Incentive-Program.aspx.

Governor Cuomo nomitates Gil Quiniones for NYPA's presidency

Governor Andrew Cuomo has nominated Gil Quiniones to be the new president of the New York Power Authority (NYPA). Gil Quiniones, NYPA's current chief operating officer has been standing in as NYPA's president since Richard Kessel resigned earlier this year.

In addition to serving as NYPA's Chief Operating Officer, Gil Quiniones is a member of the Board of Directors of the Electric Power Research Institute, serves on the steering committee of the Large Public Power Council and is NYPA's primary representative to the American Public Power Association.

For more information visit http://www.lohud.com/article/20111101/NEWS05/111010304/Cuomo-taps-NYPA-s-Quiniones-authority-s-new-leader.

NYSEIA partners with SEIA to grow New York's solar industry

The New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) has partnered with the national Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) to promote the growth of New York State's solar energy market.  According to the Solar Foundation's 2011 Solar Jobs Census, New York State ranks 5th in the nation for it's number of solar industry jobs.  New York's solar value chain is composed of 263 companies, employing 4,200 within the state.

With growing energy costs and population, New York State is posed to be a national leader in the solar industry.  The new partnership will help make this a reality by working to pass key solar legislation, including the Solar Jobs Bill.

For more information on the partnership visit http://nyseia.org/posts/nyseia-and-national-association-partner-to-grow-ny-solar-market-81.php?g=0.

The Paper Battery Co. reveives $1 million in NYSERDA funding

The New York Energy Research and Development Authority has awarded The Paper Battery Company $1 million in funding, which will be matched by the company and its investors to commercialize it's PowerPatch line of paper-thin ultracapacitors by 2013.

The Paper Battery Company's product line of ultracapacitors are patternable devices that are scalable in voltage, energy and power. The devices use a cellulose based material to contain and separate their components. Such composition allows for the PowerPatch Products to be paper-thin and flexible, making them an ideal power source for a myriad of clean energy applications. In thin-film solar panels they can be applied to provide power while retaining elasticity; and can easily provide quick acceleration/ regenerative braking power in hybrid electric vehicles.

The Paper Battery Company is located at the Russel Sage College INVEST business incubator in Troy, New York and is one of the Clean Tech Centers portfolio companies.

For more information on the Paper Battery Company visit http://www.paperbatteryco.com/.

New West Technologies recieves NYSERDA funding to demonstrate electric-powered refridgerator trucks

New West Technologies, a national engineering and management consulting firm with a branch in Utica, New York has received $300,000 in funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to demonstrate the cost and environmental benefits of investing in infrastructure to support electric powered refrigerator trucks. 

New West Technologies will work with Hannaford Supermarkets to identify and install plug-in connectors in locations that will reap the greatest economic benefit from such infrastructure.  With a fleet of 50 trailers, Hannaford has committed 15 electric standby plug-in trailers for the project.

NYSERDA's objective for the the project is to facilitate a network where refrigerator trucks can load and unload using only electricity.

For more information visit http://www.cnybj.com/Channels/Technology/tabid/73/itemid/15425/sourcemid/417/Utica-company-lands-project-to-promote-electric-powered-refrigerator-trucks/Default.aspx?returnUrl=%2FChannels%2FTechnology.aspx.

The NanoCollege purchases solar manufacturing research facility in Halfmoon

The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at the University of Albany has purchased Veeco Instruments's former solar manufacturing research facility in Halfmoon, New York. The NanoCollege will use the facility for the R&D of thin-film solar cell prototypes. The NanoCollege's acquisition of the facility has saved 17 Veeco employees from being laid-off after the facilities closure.

The solar manufacturing research facility will be instrumental in moving the U.S. Photovoltaic Consortium a step closer to its mission of increasing the United States share in the global solar industry.  The U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium is a federally funded partnership between The College of Nanoscale Science an Engineering, SEMATECH and The University of Central Florida.

For more information visit http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/NanoCollege-makes-deal-for-Veeco-2234490.php.