Just In! for July 20, 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.

$100M Will Initiate Project to Decarbonize State Capitol and Empire State Plaza - Molly Burke – Albany Times Union – “The Empire State Plaza and Capitol will receive $100 million in state funding to start the first phase of a plan to decarbonize state buildings. The 98-acre complex in Albany will implement a thermal energy network as the state moves to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to reach climate goals, according to the Office of General Services. (Currently) A steam generation plant heats and cools the cluster of government buildings that function as the seat of New York’s government that includes the Capitol, Corning Tower, and several other large office buildings, as well as The Egg performing arts venue… The four-phase plan is expected to take more than 15 years to complete, culminating with the cluster of state buildings having completely ceased their greenhouse gas emissions.” Article Link.

NGRID Temporarily Ups Geothermal Incentive – National Grid is offering geothermal projects with an installation date between August 1^st and September 30^th an increase in the Clean Heat rebate from $1,500 per ton to $2,200 per ton. The contractor incentive for geothermal projects is also increased from $500 to $1,000. NGrid notes that “the 25% Gas Kicker will still be added to qualifying National Grid applications during this period following the usual capping logic (50% of total project costs)”. Link.

PSC Seeks Comments on Limiting the Subsidy for Gas Hook Ups – The Department of Public Service (DPS) Staff have filed a 30 page “Straw Proposal” that recommends limiting the extent of ratepayer funded subsidies that pay for new gas infrastructure in the State. State law (which could have been fixed through adoption of the NY HEAT Act) requires free gas piping for those within 100 feet of a gas main if they request it. Because the Public Service Commission had long sought to increase gas use, in practice the interpretation of this legal requirement had gotten quite loose and has justified increasing amounts of free infrastructure to become available. The Straw Proposal recognizes, that in the context of New York’s Climate Plan, gas use needs to shrink considerably and proposes the 100-foot subsidies to be walked back toward the minimum level required by law. The Public Service Commission is seeking comments on the Straw Proposal by September 13^th. See items # 192 and 193, filed 2024 07 16 at this link.



PUSH Buffalo Opens Green Jobs Workforce Training Center – Sarah Russo – WGR TV – “The center's main purpose is to train residents in careers in clean energy and sustainability and help address the racial gap by providing more opportunities in historically underserved communities. The $2.5 million project was created from the Climate Act mandate for climate resiliency, economic equity, and a transition away from fossil fuels. It will provide a mix of flexible classroom, office, and meeting spaces. The building is designed to generate as much energy as it uses through an on-site PV solar system and a geothermal heating/cooling system, which will also serve as a learning laboratory for renewable energy training sessions.  The center will also be the new home of PUSH’s Community Hiring Hall, training low-income residents and placing them in construction, renewable energy, and energy efficiency sectors.” Link.

PSC Adopts Initial Thermal Energy Network Rules – PSC Press Release - “The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today (2024 07 18) adopted initial Utility Thermal Energy Networks (UTENs) rules as required by the Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act of 2022. The Commission’s action creates fair market access rules for utility-owned thermal energy networks to accept thermal energy; identifies small-scale thermal energy networks that will be exempt from Commission regulation at this time; promotes the training and transition of utility workers impacted by this act; and encourages third-party participation and competition where it will maximize benefits to customers.” NY-GEO’s comments on the matter strongly advocated for third-party participation and competition. Link.

Indoor Comfort in 100 Degree Weather – email from California GEO Executive Director Bill Martin - “We recently experienced 9-days straight of over 100°F with a high of 104.5F here in Quincy, CA. I’m sure it’s been hot where you live, too..We are still coasting along with our geo heat pump on only 1,750 watts of power. After first dumping 3,500 Btu/hr into hot water pre-heat, the rest of the heat extracted from inside space then heads underground. The differential toward 63.2°F dirt is an easy transition for this type of HVAC equipment. And as that underground temperature at 7-feet rises, we’ll milk it next fall as we start the heating season using the same 3,200 feet of buried horizontal pipe that our summer cooling uses. There’s 114 gallons of closed loop water circulating at 9 gpm when the heat pump runs.” 

IGSHPA and Grundfos “Great Installations” Challenge – The challenge sought installation pictures that showcased great workmanship. According to IGSHAP Executive Director Jeff Hammond, “All submissions were very impressive, but the Hill Country Hacienda in Kerrville, Texas, designed by Al Wallace of Energy Environmental Corp. took home the trophy, which was a free one-year IGSHPA Business membership. Congratulations to Al for his impressive design and installation!” The project claims a Co-Efficient of Performance (COP) of 50.0 ! for its “radiant floor cooling (which) utilizes passive GHEX fluids directly for in-floor cooling.” Go about 1/3 of the way down this page of the IGSHPA newsletter to find the Great Installations Challenge article.  Link.

Load side piping and pumping for the Hill Country Hacienda radiant floor distribution system

House Bill Has Geo Boosting Provisions - On July 9, the House Committee on Appropriations approved a report on the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2025. The proposed bill provides funding for a variety of geothermal programs as well as encouragement for the Department of Energy to use their funding to:

• Restart the Annual Geothermal Heat Pump Manufacturers Survey which, until 2009, provided reliable information on geothermal heat pump manufacturing volumes in the United States.
• Have NREL establish a Geothermal Heat Pump Access to Public Capital (GAPC) working group, similar to the NREL Solar Access to Public Capital working group that was responsible for defining many of the fundamentals for financing the solar energy industry.

The report passed by a 30 to 26 margin, and largely reflects the energy strategy of the Republican majority on the committee. Thanks to NY-GEO member Bob Wyman for this tip. The report’s geo provisions mentioned above are on pages 102 and 119 at this link.

Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Chairman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)

2/3rds of Low-Income NYC Residents Are Behind on Utility Bills as Heat Wave Continues – Gothamist – “A report from the Robin Hood Foundation and Columbia University examining energy insecurity in the five boroughs found that each year, roughly 700,000 New Yorkers lived in households whose utilities were cut at least once. Renters, Black and Latino New Yorkers, and Bronx residents face the hardest economic burden to keep their power running, according to the organization. The report comes as New Yorkers face another heat wave this week, with temperatures hovering in the mid- to high-90s and near-constant air quality advisories…” Link.

MA All-Electric Affordable Housing Project Prepared to Use Battery for Back Up in Case of a Blackout - Avery Bleichfeld – Bay State Banter – “Down the street from Nubian Square, in a little room on the outside of a new affordable housing building, two enormous cabinets hum away. These boxes — each about as large an industrial-sized refrigerator — mark a first for the city and state and make the Kenzi at Bartlett Station, a 50-unit development for older adults, the first building taller than four stories in the city that is all-electric — even when the power goes out. If the power goes out, residents can come to the community room to refrigerate medication and charge their phones and be in communication with the site staff as they need during an outage…Residents’ rooms in the building won’t get power from the battery during an outage, but because the building is designed with Passive House certifications — a set of building guidelines with a focus on energy efficiency and better thermal regulation to reduce energy needs — the spaces can maintain heating and cooling for days.”  Thanks to Allison McMunn at Sunstone Strategies for this tip. Link.

Hydrogen Makes Pipes Brittle - Michael Scholand – M₂S₂ Energy - Debunking the Hydrogen Hype - Why Europe should pursue electrification instead of Hydrogen for cooking and heating – “Hydrogen damages gas pipelines primarily through a process called ‘embrittlement’ whereby the very small hydrogen atoms diffuse into the metal of the pipeline and cause it to lose its strength and ductility. This process increases the risk of cracks and leaks throughout the network. ” Page 3 at this link.

NEEP Study on State Decarbonization Policies – NEEP (Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships) – With a focus on policies from California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C and Washington State this 28 page report seeks to identify the suite of strategies necessary to successfully decarbonize a state’s buildings. “Decarbonizing buildings is a difficult task, as it involves actions by thousands of building owners and market actors across thousands of geographically dispersed structures. In addition, the building stock turns over slowly, limiting touchpoints for intervention. No single policy will suffice—rather, a whole suite of actions will be required from government agencies, regulated entities, private companies, and building owners and occupants.” Thanks to Adam Flint of NEST (Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow) for this tip. Link.

Washington State Referendum Would Prevent Fossil Gas Bans – Akielly Hu – Canary Media – The ballot initiative (I-2066) primarily seeks to ensure that gas utilities can continue supplying the fossil fuel to Washington residents, in part by weakening existing clean energy laws. I-2066 would repeal portions of a law passed by Washington this year to accelerate the transition of the state’s largest utility from gas to clean energy. The new ballot initiative also could jeopardize other existing policies including building efficiency codes, state and local building performance standards, and even local control of climate and energy policies. Article here.

Comptroller’s Audit: Bad Data, Miscalculations Behind NY's Lagging Green Energy Goals – Molly Burke – Albany Times Union – “The audit of the PSC and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority focused on their roles in implementing the provisions of the 2019 legislation that set bold mandates that include having 70% renewable electricity sources by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2040 — goals that many business leaders and experts familiar with power production have long cautioned are unattainable. The searing audit by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's office said poor planning also has attributed to the missteps, including the commission not updating their calculations based on "new laws and directives, which may drive clean energy demand and supply up, like electric vehicles, new green buildings, or electric cooling and heating." Link.



Which US States Lead the Offshore Wind Parade? – Carrie Klein – Canary Media – The United States has ambitious offshore wind goals, but so far relatively little to show for them. In fact, the country is not on track for the Biden administration’s goal of installing 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, according to a new report from the American Clean Power Association. As of this year, just two states are receiving power from large-scale offshore wind installations: New York and Massachusetts. However, offshore wind capacity in the U.S. did more than quadruple over the last 12 months. Article here.



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

Utility Thermal Energy Networks (UTEN); Progressing through the stage gates

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

The NYS law known as the Utility Thermal Energy Networks and Jobs Act (UTEN) was signed into law in august of 2022. Since then, the 7 largest investor-owned utilities have been working to identify sites and develop pilot UTEN projects in their service territories. The NYS Dept. of Public Service has been busy establishing the foundations and criteria these pilots will need to meet, with the eye to establishing the regulatory structure for a new thermal utility someday. DPS has established a stage gate process with 5 stages for pilot projects to proceed once a set of criteria is met and reviewed before moving to the next stage.  In this session you’ll hear from a DPS representative and a panel of participating utilities about the risks and opportunities these UTEN pilots present.

Moderator:

• John Ciovacco / Aztech Geothermal

Panel:

• Joseph Hitt / NYS Dept. of Public Service

• Owen Brady-Traczyk / National Grid

• Katelyn Tsukada / Con Edison

• Cole Burgess / NYSEG / RG&E

Presentation Deck

Recording

Owen Brady-Traczyk of National Grid speaks at the UTEN Update Panel Presentation

NY-GEO 2024 Spring Conference - Albany Recordings Available

Access the conference recordings now to stay at the forefront of geothermal advances and drive sustainable change here.

Contractors Corner

Bond Act-Funded Program to Lower Emissions from State-Owned Buildings – NYS DEC – “The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)… released for public review and comment draft eligibility guidelines to implement funding under the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 (Bond Act). The proposed guidelines allocate funding for costs associated with green building projects that increase energy efficiency or the use or siting of renewable energy on State-owned buildings... Project may include…Installing renewable heating and cooling systems, including geothermal, air to air, air to water, and heat recovery heat pumps and associated distribution systems, and thermal energy networks…system conversion to natural gas or other fossil fuel and full system replacements to new fossil fuel-based systems are not eligible.” DEC is seeking comments on the guidelines by August 2^nd. Thanks to Marie J. French at POLITICO for this tip.  Link.

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

New York – Summer 2024 – The email below came through at 1:29 am on 2024 07 16.

Here’s What’s Coming… - Thanks to HEATMAP AM for this tip on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s monthly temperature and precipitation outlook graphic for August. Link.

NATO Report on Climate Risk to Global Security – Kiley Price – Inside Climate News - “Extreme weather is fueling global conflict—and hampering NATO’s ability to address it, according to a new analysis… Often some of the first on the scene after a disaster, NATO military personnel are uniquely at risk to climate extremes, the report finds. Last year, nearly 30 international military deployments responded to climate-related emergencies in 14 countries, including Slovenia and Greece." Link.

As States Recover from Climate-Related Disasters, They Also Must Prepare for Future Ones - Kiley Price – Inside Climate News – “This summer has brought a revolving door of climate-fueled disasters across the U.S.—from Hurricane Beryl in Houston to the wildfires tearing through California. But what happens in the aftermath of these extreme weather events?  For many states, recovery is no longer just about trying to return to normal, but rather rebuilding to prepare for future disasters as climate change accelerates. A recent string of federal policies and a growing push from the insurance industry has made climate-minded disaster recovery more urgent than ever before, experts say.” Link.

LA Times California Wildfire Map

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 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 23 – Massachusetts’ Building Decarbonization Policies – Win Climate Summer Discussion Series - 1:00 pm ET – “Larry Chretien, Executive Director of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance…provides an overview of the Bay State's climate policy landscape: what's working, what isn't, and what's left to do.” Register here.

*2024 07 24 – Using Building Science to Communicate with and Win Over Customers - 5:00 pm ET – “Demonstrating building science knowledge, and communicating it clearly to homeowners, has always been a staple of high-performance contractors. Now new tools and apps for contractors are hitting the market at an ever-increasing rate, and the companies embracing them are using them to close more and better jobs.” 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 07 26 – IGSHPA Dig Deeper with John Manning – 11:30 am ET - John Manning, owner of Earth Sensitive Solutions, LLC will focus on “adding balance valves in the circuits on a geothermal loop field manifold. This presentation will take a Deep Dive into the engineering details, the initial cost and operating costs associated with this design decision. This discussion is targeting the engineering design community with the goal of addressing this common practice in a quantitative manner. Register here.

*2024 07 26 – Michigan’s Building Decarbonization Policies – Win Climate Summer Discussion Series - 1:00 pm ET – “Michigan climate expert Eli Gold gives an inside look at how Michigan's climate and energy policy has evolved over the past two years, the narrow window of opportunity that made it possible, and what's left to do.” Register here.

*2024 07 30 – How Do We Describe a Future Without Gas? – 4:00-pm ET – “Multiple states around the country have entered new territory by engaging in Future of Gas proceedings. Such an endeavor is not just about passing policies and regulations like NY HEAT, but requires us to develop and share a clear vision for what healthy and climate resilient communities might look like in a future without gas. To bring these proceedings out of the weeds and into a reality we all want to be a part of, it’s critical that we lead with the language and frames that resonate with policymakers, regulators and the public alike. The Sunstone Strategies team is pleased to share that in partnership with Data For Progress we’ve completed and are ready to share the first phase of our Future of Gas message research results - which includes results for New York.” Register here.

*2024 07 30 – Renewable Heat Now HEAT WAVE Happy 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.

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 08 14 – IGSHPA Town Hall with Jeff Hammond – 11:30 am ET – “This will be a good time to learn about IGSHPA’s major projects, upcoming events, and a little bit of history since the organization became an independent non-profit in 2020, as well as have plenty of time to ask questions about the organization, the future, and to provide feedback on IGSHPA’s progress. Register here.

*2024 09 05 to 06 – Accredited Installer Training with ClimateMaster & NY Geothermal Supply – “Get your Accredited Installer certification with one of ClimateMaster’s certified IGSHPA trainers! To be the geothermal expert and be able to offer NYS Clean Heat incentives to your customers, you must have this certification. This is a 2 Day training held at Courtyard by Marriott- Middletown NY”. Class size is limited. 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 01 to 12 03 – 10-Week Hybrid Certified GeoExchange Designer (CGD) Course Online with Ed Lohrenz - Tuesday lunchtime for 10 weeks, 12:00 – 1:30 pm ET – “Live, online & interactive. Videos of each session are recorded and will be available to you on a Google Drive folder to view at your convenience. The instructor is available by phone, email of video call if you have questions or require any clarification for the duration of the course. You will also have access to the geothermal feasibility assessment tool (ProFease) at www.geofease.com for the duration of the course.” 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.

NY-GEO NYC Featured Keynotes:

Oct. 21^st Morning Plenary:

• Doreen Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA

 Oct. 21^st NY-GEO Annual Dinner:

• Sadie McKeown, President, Community Preservation Corporation

 Oct. 22^nd Morning Plenary + Developer Panel Moderator:

• 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.