NYSERDA Funding for Home Energy Installations and Energy Efficiency Job Training Increases

June 19, 2009

Albany, June 18, 2009--Francis J. Murray, Jr. President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority today lauded the advanced efforts and support of the state Public Service Commission to address Gov. David Paterson’s vision to improve the State’s energy efficiency. The PSC today set aside $37.3 million in funding for NYSERDA programs for residential alternative energy system installations and energy efficiency job training programs.

“We are at a critical crossroad of timing and technology, during a period of economic uncertainty. In our partnership with the Department of Public Service, NYSERDA has developed nationally recognized programs for alternative energy systems and training the state’s energy-efficiency workforce. Today, Chairman Garry Brown and the Public Service Commission helped NYSERDA negotiate this crossroad with significant funding and policy expansions to extend and improve these programs. The people of the State are now assured that we will have a well-trained workforce, diligently improving energy efficiency and installing alternative energy systems across the state.”

The PSC extended solar installation funding set aside by $15.6 million from its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program. This comes in response to increased demand and changing market needs. This is coupled with expansion of net metering, where a home or business owner is able to sell excess generated electricity back to the utility at its retail value, or bank its value for later use, thereby providing a benefit for the customer and the environment.

NYSERDA will collaborate with New York State Department of Labor’s One-Stop Workforce Development System in a $6.6 million effort that targets workers to participate in training and certification programs. These programs focus on training in skills necessary for entry-level employment in the energy efficiency sector and are directed toward individuals in economically and environmentally disadvantaged communities.

The PSC also approved two programs to serve the multifamily building market segment. The $2.3 million geothermal heat pump systems initiative is an additional element of the NYSERDA Multifamily Performance Program and a new $13.2 million electric reduction in master-metered multifamily buildings program is approved.

Murray noted that “These programs provide significant resources to the electric system, strengthening the grid, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating or retaining thousands of jobs across the state. The ratepayer funds used to implement these efforts are collected from electric customers of the investor-owned utilities.”

He added that: “These initiatives represent a significant investment in the clean-energy economy that Gov. Paterson outlined in his State of the State address. This renewed funding and emphasis on energy policy and alternative energy market penetration position us to reap the benefits of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).”

CONTACT:

Raymond Hull, NYSERDA
518-862-1090, ext 3356
rwh@nyserda.ny.gov