Clean Energy Workforce Training Initiative and Proposed Wind Energy Research and Testing Center to be established in New York State

February 25, 2008

Efforts spurred by the recommendations of Lt. Governor Paterson’s Renewable Energy Task Force

Albany, NY - - The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced two major initiatives that will help strengthen the evolving renewable energy arena in New York State. These initiatives grew out of the efforts and recommendations of Lt. Governor Paterson’s Renewable Energy Task Force. The goal of the Task Force is to identify and recommend ways of expanding the state’s use of renewable energy and alternative fuels.  The Task Force is evaluating current renewable energy policies and recommending improvements.

With the world’s climate changing and traditional dirty energy sources causing geopolitical instability, these initiatives that begin to implement the Renewable Energy Task Force's recommendations put New York on the path to becoming part of a global solution,” said Lieutenant Governor Paterson.  “I thank President Tonko for his immediate action, and I thank Governor Spitzer for his leadership in empowering the Task Force and confidently facing the future with a vision that inspires our imagination as we embrace new technology.

Educating and training a workforce is vital to our state’s efforts to continually make investments in clean energy technologies,” stated NYSERDA President and CEO, Paul D. Tonko. “NYSERDA has been working to expand New York’s clean-energy workforce and attract an increasing amount of ‘green collar’ jobs.  As global demand for clean-energy technologies continues to grow, so do the opportunities to develop, educate, and train a workforce capable of sustaining increased use of renewable energy sources.

New York State is initiating a $6-million clean energy workforce training initiative. NYSERDA will invest more than $4 million in a range of clean energy sectors from PV, to small wind, to biogas energy systems.  An additional $2 million is included in the Governor's Executive Budget targeted at developing the solar workforce through programs at community colleges across New York State.   These efforts will help develop a workforce which can design, install and maintain renewable energy systems and ensure successful implementation and promotion of these technologies in New York State. 

"To serve as an example for other States across the nation, New York needs to do more than just promote clean energy technology, we need to seize opportunities to invent it,” said Tonko.  “These research assets will help spur the innovation economy in New York and move us toward a clean-energy economy - one that can serve our markets and encourage extensive growth markets abroad.

The second initiative is expected to be established through recommendations from the Renewable Energy Task Force, advising that New York should build on the competitive advantage of our scientific and academic research institutions and help expand their role in clean energy technology development.

To help fulfill these recommendations, NYSERDA is seeking to establish a Wind Energy Research and Testing Center in New York.  Still in the preliminary stages of discussion and planning, the Center would catalyze and support research for example, in advanced materials, power electronics, turbine design, wind forecasting, and environmental impact assessment.  The proposed Center would also provide resources to test new products and help provide a highly skilled workforce to meet the needs of this growing industry.

Tonko noted, “And wind energy is not the only area where we need to strategically build upon our intellectual capital.  As a follow on to the Renewable Energy Task Force, we will convene a summit of the leaders of our university and research institutions in New York State along with private sector partners in the clean energy sector, and together we will lay out a path to make the critical multi-year investments in our ability to discover and innovate in this vitally important sector.

For more information on NYSERDA’s renewable energy programs visit www.powernaturally.org.

Contact

Colleen Ryan, NYSERDA
518-862-1090, Ext. 3359
cqr@nyserda.ny.gov