Just In! for February 11, 2023

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

Just In! is NY-GEO's weekly news feed for members. NY-GEO's calendar-year memberships are open to everyone and available for as little as $35. See more information on memberships here. If we send you a complementary 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.

Affordable Geothermal District Projects in NYC – Maria Gallucci – Canary Media – The second half of this article focuses on two exciting geo projects in Queens and Brooklyn. “Arverne East’s developers say their geothermal district heating system will be the largest in New York City when completed in the coming years. For now, however, that title belongs to a new beachside project in Brooklyn. Construction is well underway on 1515 Surf Ave., a 471,000-square-foot residential and retail complex in Coney Island, the neighborhood best known for its amusement park and hot dogs. The development, which is slated to open in 2024, won’t use any fossil fuels for heating, cooling or hot water — only geothermal. About one-third of the project’s apartments, or 139 units, are designated as affordable housing.”  A number of NY-GEO Members are involved in these projects including EcoSave, CDM Smith, Allied Geothermal Drilling, Salas O’Brien and ZBF Geothermal - who won the GeoSmart Top Job Award in 2021 for Beach Green Dunes project. Full article here.

A worker drills a geothermal borehole in the sandy soil at the site of 1515 Surf Ave. (Ecosave)



Eugene Oregon – No Gas in New Residential Construction Starting July, 2023 – “The ordinance requires that all new residential construction, including single-family homes and multi-family buildings three stories and below, be constructed all-electric starting June 30, 2023... Eugene is the 97th city across the country to pass a climate policy incentivizing or requiring electric appliances in new homes and buildings. New all-electric homes in Eugene cut climate pollution by 74% compared to homes that burn gas, while lowering utility bills by nearly $400 annually, according to an analysis from RMI.” NAACP Eugene Springfield, Eugene Springfield Tenants Association, Beyond Toxics, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Sunrise Eugene were among the organizations supporting the ban.  Thanks to Dylan Plummer of the Sierra Club for this tip. Sierra Club press release here.

Eugene City Council meeting of February 6, 2023

Scaling Up Green Building – BF Nagy – Corporate Knights – Green architects are moving beyond smaller projects like single family homes to address greening of larger buildings and developments. “Whisper Valley, one of several expansive sustainable subdivisions… in the Austin area in Texas…will soon reach 3,000 low-energy homes, all cooled and heated with geothermal. The low-carbon system uses artificial intelligence to save about 60% on energy through networking, sharing and optimization. In Ontario, GeoSource Energy has organized itself as a utility to address developers’ concerns regarding upfront costs and is now delivering heat as a service to increasingly large condo projects in Ontario with geothermal borefields under them. Full article here.

Einstein's Contribution to the Evolution of Geothermal – Adam Bisno – Smithsonian Institute – Refrigerators of the 1920s used a compressor with valves prone to leaking toxic refrigerant gases. In response to the problem, Einstein and Leo Szilard invented a hermetically-sealed pump with no moving parts to replace the refrigerator’s motorized compressor. The pump was never commercialized due to the economic collapse and political chaos of the 1930s. However, Einstein’s pump was a forerunner to the fully hermetic compressors used in modern heat pumps. Thanks to NY-GEO member Bob Wyman for this tip. Full story here

EV Battery to Power Your Home During a Power Outage? - Michael J. Coren – Climate Coach column from the Washington Post – “The next time the power failed, Graham was prepared. He had a power strip and a $150 inverter, a device that converts direct current from batteries into the alternating current needed to run appliances, hooked up to his new Chevy Bolt, an electric vehicle. The Bolt’s battery powered his refrigerator, lights and other crucial devices with ease. As the rest of his neighborhood outside Albuquerque languished in darkness, Graham’s family life continued virtually unchanged. ‘It was a complete game changer making power outages a nonissue,’” Ford’s F-150, pictured below, has been a leader in using a vehicle to supplement power. Full article here.

Vermont Gas Utility Includes Geothermal in its Carbon-Cutting Portfolio – Lisa Prevost – Energy News Network - Director of Energy Innovation at Vermont Gas Systems, Richard “Donnelly said Vermont Gas has been trying to develop a business model around geothermal for the past two years, ‘primarily because it’s a unique way for the company to use its core functions and decarbonize.’ The company is currently considering the feasibility of installing its first networked system at a multifamily housing construction project that includes some affordable units. They are largely focused on new construction projects as possible testing grounds because it is easier to put in a system where the ground hasn’t been developed yet, Donnelly said.” Thanks to NY-GEO member Paul Coons for this tip. Full article here.

Retiring Coal and Gas Fired Power Plants – Power Engineering – According to the DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, December 2022, operators plan to retire 15.6 GW of electric-generating capacity in the United States during 2023, mostly natural gas-fired power plants (6.2 GW, around 1.3% of the total fleet at the start of the year) and coal-fired power plants (8.9 GW, around 4.5% of the total coal-fired capacity at the start of the year). Full story here

Consumer Reports Article on Induction Cooking - Paul Hope – Consumer Reports - Consumer Reports (CR) testing finds that induction offers superior performance, with fewer health risks than gas units. 80 percent of induction ranges tested by CR earn a recommendation from CR, compared to less than 50 percent for gas ranges tested. Prices for induction ranges are falling and the Inflation Reduction Act provides credits for new induction ranges and cooktops. Full article here.

Contractors Corner:

Moving HVAC Contractors to Electrification – Canary Media - “U.S. homes can’t go all-electric unless lots of contractors know they’ll make money doing the work. Here are some companies offering a path to profitability.” According to Nate Adams of HVAC 2.0 “Of the roughly 120,000 HVAC contractors in the U.S., ‘80 percent of them are conservative or centrist,’ he estimated — and that doesn’t take into account their customers’ points of view. ‘If the argument is climate, you’ve shut them down.’” Full article here.

NATE Updates Heat Pump Exams and Study Guides – “In 2021 NATE decided to update the exam as part of its regular review process. NATE regularly reviews exam questions flagged as not performing well by looking at exam statistics.” Full article here.

NY-GEO Member Map-Here's the map we refer folks to when we get requests for services or interest in a geothermal install.

Click here or on the image above to see the live version of the map

Climate Updates:

Polar Vortex in New England – Chris Oberholtz, Katie Byrne – FOX Weather – Last weekend, a polar vortex in New England caused record low temperatures. Boston experienced the lowest morning temperatures in decades and trees in Maine were “exploding” from freezing sap. “The worst has been reported in Mount Washington, New Hampshire, where the recorded minimum wind chills overnight was negative 108 degrees. It was so extreme that the National Weather Service software that generates their temperatures refused to include it, the agency said.” Full story here

“Exploded” (split) tree blocks road in Maine.

Carbon is the New Calorie – Michael J. Coren – Climate Coach column from the Washington Post – “Climate labels are now on everything from gas pumps to burritos to oat milk. In the coming years, Unilever alone is set to add climate labels to more than 70,000 products. These labels are designed to work like nutritional labels. But instead of telling you what’s in your food so you can make better decisions for your health, they show products’ greenhouse gas emissions, so you do what’s best for the health of the planet.“ Full article here.

UN Secretary General’s Message for the Fossil Fuel Industry – In his February 6^th annual report on priorities, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres noted: “We must end the merciless, relentless, senseless war on nature.” That war, he continues, “is putting our world at immediate risk of hurtling past the 1.5-degree temperature increase limit and now still moving towards a deadly 2.8 degrees… I have a special message for fossil-fuel producers and their enablers scrambling to expand production and raking in monster profits: If you cannot set a credible course for net-zero, with 2025 and 2030 targets covering all your operations, you should not be in business. Your core product is our core problem. We need a renewables revolution, not a self-destructive fossil fuel resurgence.” Thanks to author Bill McKibben for this tip. Full article here.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

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

2023 04 26-27 – Conference Registration Is OPEN - NY-GEO’s annual conference brings together the best of the best in the geothermal heat pump industry. The conference will be hosted at the Albany Marriott April 26-27 and will include dynamic Main Stage presenters, educational breakout sessions, dynamic exhibitors showcasing equipment and information, along with plenty of time to mix, mingle and connect. To register and learn more, click here. The intro overview details the early bird and member discounts. To learn more about sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities click here. To reserve a room at the Albany Marriott at the NY-GEO 2023 rate (which expires April 14^th) click here.

2023 02 16 - Networked Geothermal Heat Pump Systems as an Alternative to Natural Gas - 11:00 am -12:00 pm ET John P. Ciovacco, CGD, the President of Aztech Geothermal will be giving a virtual presentation the rapidly emerging topic of Networked Geothermal Heat Pump Systems. The seminar will cover the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), expanding and extending federal tax incentives, the Utility Thermal Energy & Jobs Act (UTENJA) requiring all major utilities to file their plans for networked geothermal pilot projects and NYSERDA’s Community Heat Pump Systems program. This seminar is only one session in the larger two-day Capital District Engineers Week designed to give engineers the opportunity to earn up to 10 PDH credits over two days (5 sessions/day), February 16^th & 17^th for a flat $150 registration fee. Information and registration.

*2023 02 21 Building Decarbonization on the Ground: Insight from Installers – 2:00 pm ET - Zack Strauss, building decarbonization lead at Atlas Public Policy, runs a podcast called Buildings Hub Live, which spotlights changemakers and technologies moving the needle on building sector electrification. The next features Clare Doyle Dowd (BlocPower) and Maria Cecilia Quiñones Peña (Elevate Energy), whose companies focus on air source heat pumps for decarbonizing heating. Registration page here

2023 03 09 – 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 link here.

*2023 03 09 – Renewable Heat Now Power Hour – 7:00-8:00 pm ET - Renewable Heat Now (RHN) is organizing intensively for a package of NY legislature bills designed to aid NY’s transition to clean, fossil-fuel free heating. Join RHN for its monthly strategy meeting designed to inspire and inform. Register here.



 *2023 03 24 - Ensuring Electricity Affordability (on the way to Decarbonization) – 9:00 am-12:30 pm ET - Convener/Moderator: Janet Gail Besser for Raab Associates, Ltd. Host: Foley Hoag LLP - The art of rate design requires attention to behavioral considerations as well as to economics. What will it take for customers to respond to time-varying rates, and how do we design rates that support the electrification of both buildings and vehicles? Presenters will speak to approaches that make rates simpler for customers to understand and provide tools for them to respond. They will also discuss how active demand can address some of the reliability, as well as affordability concerns, especially for customers with high energy burdens. There is a $50 to $100 charge for this event Register here.

Can You Find Your Picture from NY-GEO 2022? – Over 1,000 pictures from NY-GEO’s annual conference have made it to the web. See if you can find yourself among the 450 who took part in this groundbreaking event that annually celebrates and advances the most efficient and economical way to heat and cool our homes and places of work. Check out these pictures shot by Rachel Collett and John Ciovacco. Here’s Day 1 and here’s Day 2

List of Climate Tech Job Boards - Elaine Reddy – Ad Hoc Group – The Ad Hoc Group has put together a list of 27 climate tech related job boards.

Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE) seeks:

- an Outreach Manager to develop outreach strategies for the newly created Central New York Clean Energy Hub, which will connect people to the clean energy economy and its benefits, including clean energy careers, improved energy affordability, home improvements, and rebates for businesses and transportation. The Outreach Manager will be managing a 4-person outreach team and coordinating all aspects of outreach to community members throughout the Central New York Region.

- four Energy Advisors for the CNY Clean Energy Hub to reach diverse communities throughout CNY with Hub materials, workshops, and energy affordability/clean energy opportunities.

- a Regulatory Attorney/Regulatory Advocate to spearhead our work in utility rate cases and regulatory proceedings in New York State advancing building electrification, ending our dependence on methane gas, increasing energy efficiency, energy affordability, and renewable energy generation, and preventing false solutions from capturing public funding.

- a Communications Director to build a public face for AGREE in our local Central New York community as well as across the state in order to support ongoing campaigns, respond to real-time developments and policy emergencies, and strategically raise AGREE’s profile and increase our constituent base.

(listed January 14, 2023) The postings are available here.



PWGC Environmental Engineers, Bohemia, NY - Geothermal Engineer – PWGC, a multi-year award-winning environmental engineering firm seeks an experienced professional engineer for closed loop geothermal projects in the downstate New York area. Expert knowledge of commercial building sciences, mechanical system design, conventional HVAC, heat pump technologies, building automation and energy modeling applications. This position requires 5-10 years related experience, bachelor’s degree in civil, mechanical or chemical engineering and a PE License. Advanced knowledge of CAD 3D and 4D software and REVIT. Interested? Send your resume to hr@pwgrosser.com or apply on our website at pwgrosser.com/careers 

PUSH Policy Coordinator - People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH Buffalo) seeks a Policy Coordinator to support the work of the Policy & Strategy department, with a focus on local, state, and regional climate and environmental justice policies in the areas of transportation electrification, power generation, building decarbonization, and equitable investment. (listed 2022 08 27) The posting is available here



Sustainable Westchester - Clean Energy Associate, EnergySmart Homes. (Location: Mount Kisco, NY) - The Community Energy Advisor (CEA) is a full time position at Sustainable Westchester. This position will provide assistance, direction, organization, coordination of programs that work to inform residents, multifamily building owners, and small businesses, with an emphasis in low-to-moderate income and priority communities, of the options for adopting clean energy strategies in their homes and businesses. $50k-$60k/year. (listed 2022 08 06) The posting is available here

Sustainable Westchester - Marketing, Communications and Outreach Director. (Location: Mount Kisco, NY) The Director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach will be responsible for developing and implementing Sustainable Westchester’s marketing, communication and outreach plans & strategies including public relations, digital communications, key messaging, storytelling and brand experience. $75k-$80k/year.  (listed 2022 08 06) The posting is available here

Clean Energy Associate (PAID INTERNSHIP) - Sustainable Westchester aims to educate and train the next generation of leaders in sustainability in Westchester. We hire students and recent graduates who have the skills, passion, intelligence and maturity to take on significant responsibility to help bring clean energy solutions to our residents. Throughout the duration of the position, associates may work with elected officials, municipal leaders, community members, subject matter experts, and consultants to provide a one-of-a-kind experience. We are committed to providing these valuable work opportunities to people from communities that have been underrepresented in the environmental field. (listed 2022 08 06) See Sustainable Westchester website for more.

Rewiring America – Federal Senior Policy Manager – The FSPM will own and drive critical efforts to influence federal policy initiatives. This role will manage the Federal policy team and lobbyists, lead the strategy and execution of federal policy, oversee targeted research and the drafting of key content, and provide critical perspectives in support of the multi-pronged policy strategy for Rewiring. This important work will continue and grow Rewiring America’s ability to affect federal policy, removing key barriers for electrification. (listed 2022 07 09) The posting is available here.

Rewiring America – Local Policy Director - With a clear vision, smart strategies, and significant and sustained financial support, Rewiring America is growing rapidly. As the Local Policy Manager on the Policy team you will lead on efforts to influence local policy initiatives around the country, particularly in public schools. This role will drive policy strategy, targeted research, support the drafting of policy and campaign documents, and provide input into the policy team’s public school electrification work. (listed 2022 07 09) The posting is available here.

Sierra Club Campaign Representative - Building Electrification (Location: MA/CT) - The Sierra Club seeks a strategic, collaborative, and equity-focused Campaign Representative to advance initiatives to end fossil fuel use in homes and buildings across Massachusetts and Connecticut. In this newly created position, the Campaign Representative will join a regional team that is working to address the climate crisis by moving the Northeast from dirty to clean energy… They represent Sierra Club to government officials, the media, business and community leaders, allies and other organizations, and the public. (listed 2022 07 09) The posting is available here. 

 The Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee Finger Lakes Region – Is looking to hire two staff members: 

·    The Manager of Organizational Programs will lead our efforts to educate, inspire, and support businesses and nonprofits that want to take action on climate.

·    The Program Director will be in charge of developing an exciting new program that we're not allowed to talk about until our contract with the funder is fully executed (which makes the hiring process a bit complicated). (listed 2022 05 28). The posting is available here. 

Hudson Valley Climate Leadership Coordinator-The Hudson Valley Regional Council is hiring for a full-time Climate Leadership Coordinator. The successful applicant will carry out tasks related to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Climate Leadership Support Services Program for the seven-county Mid-Hudson Region. The Regional Council is looking forward to welcoming another collaborative, passionate, and motivated member to the team!  (listed 2022 05 14) The posting is available here.

Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE) – is excited to announce that our organization is growing, and we are looking to fill the key position of Research Fellow. We seek passionate, intelligent, and kind people who work well both independently and as part of a team, and who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get stuff done.” (listed 2022 04 09).

Acadia Center is Hiring - for an energy efficiency and building energy justice manager, a senior energy attorney and a climate and energy policy analyst (listed 2022 03 05)  Click here for more information.

“Energy Department Will Recruit 1,000 Additional Staffers For New Corps To Tackle The Climate Crisis • The DOE is starting up a Clean Energy Corps to help implement the bipartisan infrastructure law and develop clean-energy solutions to the climate crisis, the agency said. It will hire 1,000 new employees through a newly launched hiring portal.” (from 2022 01 14 Green Energy News) [CNN]

HVAC Project Manager – Aztech Geothermal, Ballston Spa, NY – Aztech Geothermal, a well-respected Geothermal Heat Pump design-build contractor, is seeking an experienced HVAC Project Manager responsible for estimating project costs, purchasing/sourcing materials & equipment, project planning including management of technicians and subcontractors. This position requires 3-5+ years' experience in Residential &/or Commercial HVAC, including AC/heat pump equipment, power and control wiring, HVAC plumbing, and sheetmetal/air distribution systems. Strong candidates must be comfortable with computers and common Microsoft programs with ability to learn industry specific analysis software. Interested? Send your resume to info@aztechgeo.com.

Mechanical Design Engineer – Geothermal Focus – CHA Consulting - CHA Consulting, Inc. is an innovative, full-service engineering consulting and construction management firm working to responsibly improve the world we live in. Currently seeking a PE mechanical engineer with experience in the design of geothermal systems to support building scale and district geothermal project development, feasibility, design and construction. CGD certification preferred. Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Northern NJ or Boston based. More here (Listed 2021 10 04)

UHAB is Hiring -UHAB (Urban Homesteading Assistance Board ) is hiring a Project Associate focusing on Energy Services, including Co-ops Go Solar, Clean Heat for Co-ops, and other energy efficiency and energy-reducing renewable technology partnerships... We also have a few other positions posted, for a part-time Affordable Housing Loan Officer, and a full-time Project Associate on the Co-op Improvement Program who’ll provide services to distressed affordable buildings. All of the job postings are viewable on our website here. I appreciate your help to get the word out within your networks!” From email from Emily Ng.

Aztech Geothermal is Hiring- Seeking an Experienced Heat Pump Technician in NY's Capital District - Aztech Geothermal is looking for an Experienced Residential HVAC Technician in the Capital Region to join our growing installation and service business based in Ballston Spa. Geothermal heat pump experience a plus. but not required; we are willing to train the right individual. Our company is based in Ballston Spa and principally serves the Capital District, Hudson Valley and Western Massachusetts. More Information

“Dandelion Energy is growing its Drilling Department and we are looking for Senior/Master Drillers to operate our new rigs and lead our on-site drilling efforts for residential geothermal projects.In this role, you will make a significant impact in redefining how residential ground heat exchangers are installed which will lay the groundwork for Dandelion’s future growth and success. The Senior Driller will be directly responsible for the production rate of geothermal boreholes, the operation, and maintenance of equipment, the safety of on-site workers, and delivering feedback to both the Operations and Engineering team on how to optimize the overall process. For more information about the Senior Driller opening please apply here: https://boards.greenhouse.io/dandelionenergy/jobs/4879245002

Not a Senior Driller? check out our other exciting opportunities on our career site: https://dandelionenergy.com/jobs”

 

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:

NYSERDA Career Opportunities

NY Green Bank Career Opportunities

Paid Fellowship Opportunities

Paid Internship Opportunities

To learn more about NYSERDA, please visit our social media channels.



NY-GEO is not necessarily notified when jobs are filled. If you find one of these jobs are no longer available, please let us know.