Just In! for July 13, 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.

Water Well Drillers Tune In to Geo – As Just In! goes to distribution, the Empire State Water Well Drillers Association (ESWWDA) is wrapping up its 2024 Summer Meeting at NY-GEO member Barney Moravec’s headquarters in Penn Yan. The meeting is simultaneously a two-day celebration of Barney Moravec’s 90^th year in business as a drilling company in NY State. The meeting happened in the context of geothermal’s spiraling importance in New York’s energy transition and served as a welcoming invitation for water well drillers to add geothermal boreholes to the services they provide. 

ESSWDA members watch as Barney Moravec workers demonstrate inserting a ground loop into a geothermal borehole.

At Friday’s lunch session, a rapt audience focused on NY-GEO board member Kevin Moravec as he explored what it takes to add geothermal to a water well driller’s business.

Sadie McKeown, President of the Community Preservation Corporation, to Keynote NY-GEO 2024 in Brooklyn – McKeown’s organization has become a major private player in financing and implementing New York’s clean energy agenda in the building sector.  She will be the featured dinner speaker on Tuesday October 22^nd as NY-GEO hosts its conference downstate for the first time from October 21^st to 23^rd. Learn more about the conference and register here.

Sadie McKeown

The Neighborhood Approach to Building Electrification – 6 Examples - Ysabelle Kempe – Smart Cities Dive – “For years, cities have pursued ways to get buildings off fossil fuels, one structure at a time. Now, some leaders and advocates are eyeing a newer approach: neighborhood-scale decarbonization.” This article provides links to 6 Smart Cities Dive articles written since November of 2023 on this approach. Link.

Energy Prices Across the U.S. – Atlas Buildings Hub – Stephen Naimoli – “The United States is a very large, very diverse country with varying needs for heating and cooling.  At the national level, the average price of electricity has stayed virtually the same over the last ten years.  However, regional trends reveal very different stories, ranging from an average of $0.14 per kWh in the South (19 percent below the national average) to $0.23 in the Northeast (31 percent above the national average).  National average prices for piped gas more accurately reflect the volatility of gas prices, but average prices from region to region can still be as much as 11 percent higher than the national average or as little as 16 percent lower.”  The price of various forms of energy is strongly linked to geographic trends in heating as illustrated in the chart below. Link.

Avoiding Electric Panel Upgrades – Alison F. Takemura – Canary Media “A growing body of research indicates that many households with at least 100 amps can skip…  expensive service upgrades, especially if they use proactive approaches that limit a home’s power needs. But these solutions aren’t widely known. Without guidance on how to avoid full electrical panel overhauls, electrification programs risk spending their limited funding on unnecessary upgrades instead of using those dollars for equipment that directly cuts carbon emissions…” Link.

Heat Pump Electric Rates Reviewed – Mark Kresowik – American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) – This article looks at rate structures designed to make heat pump use more affordable in Massachusetts and Minnesota. Link.



Hydrogen is a Weak Source of Energy - Michael Scholand – M₂S₂ Energy - Debunking the Hydrogen Hype - Why Europe should pursue electrification instead of Hydrogen for cooking and heating – “Compared to gas, hydrogen has approximately one-third the energy per unit volume – meaning, if you want the same heat delivered to your gas boiler or stove, either the pressure has to increase (exacerbating leaks) or a significant investment needs to be made to replace the existing gas network with larger diameter pipes to allow for a greater volume of hydrogen at pressures equal to gas today.” Page 3 at this link.



NY-GEO Conference Presentation:

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

Heat Pump Design Innovations to Make Domestic Hot Water

**Presented on April 9th at NY-GEO 2024 in Albany, NY**

Domestic hot water is a major use of energy in a home, so making sure it’s produced with the most efficient electrification technologies will become increasingly important. While geothermal heat pump hot water will be the most efficient method, there are relatively few heat pumps that are able to meet both the whole heating and cooling requirements of a home, while also providing 100% geothermal hot water.  This session will highlight three manufacturers which have innovative ways to make 100% of the domestic hot water from the home’s main heat pump system

Moderator:

• Jens Ponikau / Buffalo Geothermal

Panel:

• Alberto Ferradas / Ecoforest

• Mike Hammond / ClimateMaster

• Justin Jobe / Enertech Global

Presentation Deck

Recording

Alberto Ferradas of Ecoforest speaks at the Innovative Domestic Hot Water Systems @ NY-GEO 2024 Spring Conference 

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.

Climate Updates:

"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

Global Temp Increase Has Been 1.5c+ for 12 Months Straight - Bob Berwyn – Canary News - “New data shows the planet’s fever stayed above a crucial target for a full year” The article notes that the Paris Agreement limit would technically need to be sustained for decades in order to become “official”, but also it quotes leading Climate Scientist James Hansen, saying “If IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) doodles for another 10 years before it admits that we have reached more than 1.5 degrees of warming, we will be far above that level by that time.”  Link.

Or shown another way...

Tourist Climate Tax In Hawaii? – Jeremy Yurow – USA Today – Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and lawmakers are calling for action to address the damaging environmental impact of tourism, particularly in the wake of the devastating wildfires in Maui which killed 100 people and is projected to cost $6 billion to rebuild. A proposed bill would impose a $25 climate tax on tourists in order to protect Hawaii's natural resources from an influx of visitors (9.5 million last year). Green estimates that the revenue generated by the tax would bring in about $68 million annually. Article here.

Hurricane Beryl Was a Warning Shot for Houston - Dylan Baddour – Inside Climate News – “The category one storm dealt the city disastrous damage. Houston’s first direct hit from a hurricane in decades showed how vulnerable the nation’s energy capital remains.” Link.

You've Got to Be Kidding:

"I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not quite sure."

— Tommy Cooper

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 07 17 - Online Conference: Applications of Geothermal Heat Pumps - 9:45 am - 5:30 pm ET - EUCI (Electric Utility Consultants Inc.) - Join the U.S. Department of Energy GTO’s (Geothermal Technologies Office ) Alexis McKittrick as she highlights the efficacy of geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), and the importance of GTO's mission, presents analytics, and provides insight into GTO’s project portfolio. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with experts from across the energy sector (including NY-GEO members Jay Egg, Brian Urlaub, Colin Rojas and Dave Hatherton) to discuss innovative techniques from design to installation during this one-day, virtual intensive event. Register here. 

 2024 07 17 – Drilling: Horror Stories from the Mud Pit: How to be a part of the solution and not the problem. – California GEO UNDERGROUND – 3:00 pm ET - “Our panel of experienced practitioners will share some of the difficulties they've encountered on a drilling site—both anticipated and those that were surprises. Even with good advance design and logistical planning, drilling sites can be messy, unstable underfoot, and noisy, leading to hasty decisions, mistakes, possible injuries and delays..” Register here. 

2024 07 18 - How To Launch And Scale More Decarbonization Projects - Decarb NY, Companies for NET ZERO – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm ET – “A summit for senior corporate executives who will benefit from learning, networking, and engaging to accelerate decarbonization.” This in-person event will take place at 555 Greenwich St, NYC. The 9:00 am workshop on geothermal and thermal energy networks includes NY-GEO member Jay Egg as a panelist.  Register here. 

2024 07 22 – Heat Pump Sales Training with Amply – 9:00 am ET - Clean Heat Program and NYSERDA - This webinar is designed to show how to create accurate and fast Manual J compliant load calcs with Amply software. Register here.

*2024 07 25 – Workshop on New Efficiency: New York (NENY) 2026-2030 – 12:00 noon ET - Did you know that New York has five BILLION dollars to spend on building energy efficiency and electrification over the next five years? Join us for a Teach-In with a deep dive into the New Efficiency New York Proceeding which will determine how this money will be spent.  Register here.

2024 08 01 – Updates and Chance to Provide Feedback on the Statewide Low- to Moderate-Income (LMI) Portfolio - 1:00 to 3:00 pm ET – “This webinar is the first of two stakeholder meetings in 2024. At the stakeholder webinar, the New York Utilities and NYSERDA will provide an update on progress made to date and seek input from stakeholders and market partners. Preliminary topics include:

·      Statewide LMI Portfolio Overview

·      1-4 Family Homes Programs Update

·      Affordable Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program (AMEEP) Update”

Register here.

2024 09 12 – 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. Register here.

2024 10 09 & 10 – 4^th Annual LIUNA Builds Renewables Summit – Laborers International Union of North America – Turning Stone Casino – NY-GEO member NYS Laborers Organizing Fund (NYSLOF) is an organizer of this event. “Join industry leaders, developers, contractors, state officials, and community advocates to discuss how to build renewable energy responsibly across New York State.”  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.

Keynotes include:

Doreen Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA

Matthew Ketschke, President, Con Edison of New York

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.

The NY-GEO 2024 Spring Conference Pictures Are Out!!!

Can you find your picture? Click here to see all 618 photos!

2025 03 11 - 13 – 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.

JOBS !                                                                    

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 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.