FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 5 , 2009
GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW YORK ENERGY POLICY INSTITUTE
Existing Colleges, Universities and Research Centers in New York Will Coordinate Efforts for Energy Policy Development Funding Offered to Structure Research Centers into Energy Policy Resource for State Policymakers
Governor David A. Paterson today announced the creation of the New York Energy Policy Institute (NYEPI), a key initiative from the Governor's State of the State address. NYEPI will coordinate the work of New York's leading energy research centers, using their established expertise in the field to provide a resource for the state's energy policymakers. To facilitate this coordination, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released a request for proposals to establish the policy institute.
"New York already has some of the brightest minds in the world and extensive academic expertise in the clean energy economy. For the first time, they will work together to provide analysis and strategies to inform State policy makers, and the beneficiaries will be the everyday New Yorkers who will get cheaper and cleaner energy," said Governor Paterson. "We are transforming New York State into the global leader in renewable energy resources and energy efficiency, and by doing so creating a self-sustaining economy that will put people to work and can export technology around the world."
Funding of up to $200,000 per year for up to three years has been allocated for this effort. Initially, NYEPI will concentrate on strategies that will introduce more energy efficiency and further reduce energy-derived pollution, while also providing for economic development and increased employment. Electric power generation, transmission and use and heating fuel use are expected to be core issues, then, further effort will work toward new and efficient transportation use within the State.
Francis J. Murray, Jr. NYSERDA president and CEO, said: "This effort will concentrate on three fields: policy, technology and education/training. Governor Paterson's aim is to structure the NYEPI so that it provides easy, collegial exchange and access to all parties. NYSERDA's background and established process for seeking research and development proposals will be able to fast-track the NYEPI groundwork. We would hope to see an organizational project contracted by the end of the year."
Senator Darrel J. Aubertine, Chair of the Senate Energy Committee, said: "Of these 18 top research centers, more than half can be found from the Capital Region to Western New York and from the Southern Tier up to the North Country. The establishment of the New York Energy Policy Institute will bring our top notch academic institutions to the table to set in motion policies that will help us foster economic growth, create good jobs, lure new investment and develop new technologies in Upstate New York. In combination with the state's energy plan, the formation of a permanent energy planning board, Green Jobs/Green NY, and the NY-BEST consortium, New York State is positioned to be a leader in the emerging green economy. I want to thank the Governor for his support and leadership."
Following the Governor's State of the State address, NYSERDA took the first step in establishing the NYEPI by commissioning a preliminary study to catalog the State's academic resources. It found 18 top research centers with more than 170 faculty members whose knowledge of the State's resources and needs, along with research expertise, could provide a strategic framework for future Empire State policy on energy recovery, generation, regulation and use.
The preliminary report also recommended that NYEPI be based in an academic institution, include both private and public academic institutions, allow for addressing multiple issues as they emerge, strive for funding and support from multiple institutions, and maintain objectivity in its activities.
Additional information on the NYSERDA Request for Proposals (RFP 1310) are available at http://www.nyserda.org/funding/1310rfp.asp
The list of 18 institutions, and their expertise, include:
Clarkson University Center for Sustainable Energy Systems: Activities include research in wind energy, biomass, solar energy, energy efficiency, fuel cell and hydrogen storage, energy harvesting and storage, environmental impacts, and energy education. The Center also has two main subset groups, the Wind Energy Group and the Clarkson Biomass Group.
Columbia University Center for Energy Marine Transportation and Public Policy:
Albert Bressand, PhD, Executive Director. The research goals of this Center are to facilitate change in pursuing policy objectives such as energy efficiency, lower carbon technologies and energy sources, promote economic development, and abolish "fuel poverty." Recent research projects include: barriers to deployment of small-scale combined heat and power systems and integrated microgrid systems in New York City; benefits of demand response programs in New York cities; and public perceptions of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The Cornell Fuel Cell Institute (CFCI): Hector Abruña and Frank DiSalvo, Co-Directors. CFCI is a collaborative center including Materials Science & Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Chemistry and Chemical Biology departments at Cornell. Research focuses on developing materials to enable advanced fuel cell technologies in automobiles, stationary applications, and portable power.
CUNY Bronx Community College Center for Sustainable Energy: Tria Case, Esq, Executive Director. This Center has a mission to promote efficient and alternative energy technologies in urban areas through education, training and research. Activities include educating the public on energy issues, providing a clearinghouse of information, and coordinating conferences and meetings with government and industry stakeholders and consumers.
Hudson Valley Community College Center for Energy Efficiency and Building Science: This Center provides training to identify areas for improved energy efficiency and to make necessary repairs to increase efficiency of buildings. Courses/certificate programs include: building analyst; envelope professional; heating professional; and photovoltaic system installation and knowledge. The HVCC School of Engineering and Industrial Technologies also provides training and certification in photovoltaic installation and maintenance.
New York Institute of Technology Center for Energy, Environment, and Economics: Sarah Meyland, Director. This Center's activities include conducting research, evaluating policy options, and advancing the use of sustainable energy technologies for electricity and transportation. Personnel conduct research and perform analyses for the public and private sectors. Activities also include public education, conferences, and sustainable energy technology demonstration.
New York University Rudin Center for Transportation & Policy Management: Allison L. C. de Cerreño, Director. Center activities include research, training, education, promotion, and support of policy networks for transportation policy and management. Research projects have included: freight transportation planning and transportation operations.
Pace Law School Pace Energy and Climate Center: James M. Van Nostrand, Executive Director. Activities of this Center include research, negotiation, education, and participation in regulatory proceedings related to energy efficiency, renewable energy and distributed generation with a focus on energy for electricity generation.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Center for Future Energy Systems: Ganapathiraman Ramanath, Director. Center activities include research and development, technology transfer, and workforce development/training. Research focuses on renewable energy, fuel cells and hydrogen and energy efficiency--specifically smart lighting and smart displays.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Lighting Research Center. Mark Rea, Director. This Center performs research on lighting technologies and applications, including solid-state lighting, LED, lighting design, human factor issues, and energy efficiency and environmental issues in lighting. Center activities also include demonstration and evaluation of lighting technologies, and training programs for government agencies, utilities, and lighting professionals.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Center for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research. Glenn A. Eisman, Director. This Center includes RPI faculty members in materials science, physics, chemistry, and engineering departments performing research related to fuel cells and hydrogen. Current research includes high and low temperature membranes, electrodes for PEM fuel cells, advanced instrumentation, fuel cell testing, porous media, nano-catalysts, electrochemical hydrogen pumps, and bio-catalysis.
Rochester Institute of Technology Center for Environmental Computing and Decision-Making: James J. Winebrake and J. Scott Hawker, Co-Directors. This Center has the purpose of applying computing and information sciences to inform energy and environmental decision-making. Research projects include: life-cycle analyses of alternative fuels and vehicles; evaluation of greenhouse gas reduction policies; environmental impacts of freight transport; and health impacts of pollution.
Rochester Institute of Technology Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Center for Sustainable Energy Systems: Nabil Nasr, Director. This Center is aimed at evaluating the technical and manufacturing aspects of alternative fuel and propulsion technologies, including: biodiesel, ethanol, fuel cells, and hydrogen.
Syracuse University Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems. Edward A. Bogucz Jr., Executive Director. This Center partners with industry, academics, and organizations to conduct research related to environmental and sustainable energy technologies. Activities include research, product development, commercialization assistance, and education.
SUNY University at Albany Energy and Environmental Technology Applications Center (E2TAC): Pradeep Haldar, Director. This Center's activities include research and development focused on alternative energy and environmental technologies, microelectronics, and nanotechnology for energy and environmental applications. The Center also provides training and education.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Center for Sustainable and Renewable Energy: Edwin H. White, Director. SUNY ESF is the host campus of the Center, a 64-campus research and development clearinghouse for renewable energy and energy efficiency. The Center has conducted research on: fuel cells, photovoltaics, solar-fueled hydrogen production, biomass energy, biomass feedstock production from New York's forest-products industry, biomass CHP, and hydrogen production from biomass.
SUNY Farmingdale State College Solar Energy Center: Yelleshpur Dathatri, Director. This Center's activities involve applied research on solar products and systems. The Solar Energy Center is accredited as a "Training Institution" and "Continuing Education Institution" by the Institute of Sustainable Power.
SUNY Stony Brook Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC): AERTC, to be housed at Stony Brook University, is a partnership of academic institutions, research institutions, energy providers, and industry, with the mission of "innovative energy research, education and technology deployment with a focus on efficiency, conservation, renewable energy and nanotechnology applications for new and novel sources of energy."