New Program Supports Decarbonizing Heating, Cooling & Hot Water Systems in Large New York Buildings
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $10 million is now available for large-scale thermal projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating, cooling and hot water in buildings.
The new Large-Scale Thermal Program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, competitively awards funding to colleges and universities, multi-family complexes, medical campuses and communities for projects that use heat pumps and low carbon thermal resources such as geothermal, wastewater, waste heat, surface water and thermal energy storage to effectively integrate different clean heating and cooling systems and equipment into their buildings. Project sites may consist of a single large building or multiple co-located buildings (e.g., multiple buildings served by a shared thermal system and/or resource), either existing or new construction.
As part of this competitive solicitation, NYSERDA will prioritize projects located in disadvantaged communities, as defined by the Climate Justice Working Group, or that serve low-income residents, consistent with the Climate Act requirement for at least 35%, with a goal of 40%, of benefits from clean energy investments are directed to DACs. Designs for projects serving residential buildings will be required to prepare and deliver a Customer Engagement and Protection Plan, which will demonstrate how customers will be educated about and recruited to connect to the system, as well as their rights and responsibilities for connection, including protection from significant energy cost increases. A prerequisite to apply for design cost share is a completed feasibility study whether through the Community Heat Pump Systems program, FlexTech program, or another funding source.
The deadline for proposals is 3 p.m. Sept. 26. This program is funded through NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Fund and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. For more information, visit nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Large-Scale-Thermal.
