NYS Seeks Development to Expand Clean Energy + Technology Park

December, 2007

Albany, NY--The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced today that it is seeking proposals from business entities for the construction of new buildings at the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park (STEP), located in the Town of Malta, Saratoga County, New York.

STEP is a 280-acre parcel of land located in the Town of Malta with easy access to I-87 (Adirondack Northway) and centrally located to Montreal, New York City, and Boston. STEP is already home to a number of research and development companies, attracting national attention as the country's premier clean-energy and environmental technologies park. Located within Saratoga County's Empire Development Zone, Empire Zone-eligible companies may qualify for significant State tax incentives.

Under the STEP development Program Opportunity Notice (PON) 1116, development is limited to owner-occupied buildings with a minimum of 70% of the space either leased or occupied, as well as developers willing to construct a building to lease to subtenants. Proposals must reflect operations or activities related to clean-energy or environmental technologies, such as research and development, light industry, assembly, or deployment. Site locations will be determined on a first-come first-served basis by NYSERDA and awarded at the time of the final execution of the ground lease. This opportunity is available until December 31, 2009.

“STEP is the first knowledge-based technology and business park in the nation devoted to clean-energy and environmental technologies. Since its inception in 2001, STEP has consistently attracted small companies with dreams of producing the next generation of technologies that have made the United States the leader in renewable energy research and development. Today, seven companies are fulfilling those dreams; making our environment cleaner, making our homes and offices more energy-efficient, and standardizing a certification process for residential photovoltaic installers.” Peter R. Smith, President and CEO of NYSERDA said.

There are currently two major construction projects underway at STEP. The first is on a six-acre parcel for a 105,000 square-foot multi-tenant building; construction is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2007. The second building, constructed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), is for a 60,200 square-foot state of the art vehicle emissions laboratory. The DEC's Alternative Fuel Vehicle Research Laboratory is expected to serve as an anchor tenant at STEP; it is anticipated that the lab will attract companies in the transportation sector. Construction is expected to begin in late 2007.

“Through this Program Opportunity Notice, NYSERDA hopes to build upon the successful technological advances made at STEP, and continue to make New York a leader in developing technologies that are cleaner for the environment, reduce our dependency on foreign oil, and sever our ties to fossil fuels,” Smith noted.

New building construction must be a minimum of 40,000 gross square feet, although exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis. Buildings must be designed in compliance with New York State Executive Order 111, which directs State Agencies to be more energy-efficient; must meet STEP's Conceptual Design Guidelines; and must achieve a minimum LEED^® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Potential developers are encouraged to visit STEP for more information about Program Opportunity Notice 1116 and to learn more about the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park and the companies located at STEP.

Contact: 
Colleen Ryan, NYSERDA,
518-862-1090, ext. 3359
cqr@nyserda.ny.gov