More than $29 Million Awarded For Innovative Projects To Reduce Carbon Emissions Through Round XIV Of The Regional Economic Development Council Initiative

Projects Selected Will Advance Community and Economic Development Across the State, Including in Disadvantaged Communities

December 23, 2024

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced more than $29 million has been awarded through Round XIV of the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Initiative to 15 innovative projects that will reduce statewide carbon emissions. The projects, seven which are located in disadvantaged communities, were selected by NYSERDA to participate in the Building Cleaner Communities Competition or Commercial and Industrial Carbon Challenge program and will advance community and economic development across New York State.

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Innovative solutions like those awarded today are transforming how we design, operate and power buildings across New York State. Retrofitting existing structures and processes with carbon reducing strategies and breaking ground on cutting-edge new construction is how the State will stay at the forefront as we move toward a clean energy economy.”

Commercial and Industrial Carbon Challenge Awards
The Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Carbon Challenge is a competitive program that provides funding to large energy users such as manufacturers, colleges, universities, health care facilities, and office building owners in New York State to implement clean energy projects that reduce carbon emissions. Projects may utilize a combination of energy or manufacturing process efficiency strategies, carbon capture technology, low-carbon fuel utilization, renewable generation or energy storage.
NYSERDA awarded $14.1 million for five projects located in the Finger Lakes, North Country, New York City and Western New York including:

North Country

• Kraft Heinz Company will reduce emissions facility-wide by 92% through equipment electrification, more efficient heating, and installation of on-site thermal storage technology in Lowville, NY.

Finger Lakes

• American Rock Salt Co. will shift to using an electric continuous miner as an alternative method of extraction, replacing one third of the mine’s diesel-powered production, which will decrease fossil fuel consumption and reduce emissions in Mount Morris, NY.
• RED-Rochester* will reduce emissions by eliminating vented waste steam, installing three solar PV arrays, and replacing centrifugal air compressors with state-of-the-art machines, in Rochester, NY.

New York City

• The EME Consulting Engineering and Architecture Group will design and develop the largest geothermal heating and cooling system in the Northeast for Fordham University at their Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx, NY.

Western New York

• Skyven Technologies, an expert industrial decarbonization firm, will work with Lactalis to install an efficient, electrified heat system capable of reaching high temperatures at their plant in Buffalo, NY.

*Located in a disadvantaged community , as defined by New York’s Climate Justice Working Group.

Building Cleaner Communities Competition

The Building Cleaner Communities Competition, administered by NYSERDA in partnership with Empire State Development and the New York Department of State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, provides focused incentives to support new construction and existing building renovation projects at commercial and mixed-use facilities that are regionally significant, including those located in disadvantaged communities, to reduce emissions and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. NYSERDA also prioritizes investments in projects that result in jobs that provide family-sustaining wages and benefits for New Yorkers.

NYSERDA awarded more than $15 million for 10 projects located in the Capital District, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, New York City and Western New York including:

Capital District

• Hawthorne Valley will rehabilitate four education buildings to become carbon neutral and include features like ground-source heat pumps, a heat pump dairy pasteurization system and new 85kW solar array.
• The Schenectady Environmental Education Center (SEEC) will adaptively reuse a long-vacant building to be a net-zero facility and include features like air-source heat pumps, high efficiency envelopes, and solar PV arrays.

Mid-Hudson

• The Tunnel*, a new high-performance mixed-use project in Port Jervis, will feature ground-source heat pumps, solar and battery storage, as well as a green roof and electric vehicle charging stations.
• Ulster County’s Public Safety will construct a new communications building that will incorporate ground-source heat pumps and a roof mounted solar that will supply 25% of the building's electrical needs.
• Chester Agricultural Center Farmwork Housing* will construct a new mixed-use, affordable all-electric housing development that is Passive House certified and feature ground- and air-source heat pumps, storm water management techniques, and an energy recovery ventilation system.

Mohawk Valley

• Hamilton College will construct a new state-of-the-art 41,000 square foot computer and data science facility as an all-electric project that will use ground-source heat pumps, solar, a high efficiency building envelope and on-site electric vehicle chargers.

New York City

• The Brownsville Arts Center* will be a new all-electric, high-performance 28,000 square foot building and be Passive House certified, ensuring a comfortable environment for guests and staff.
• The HEArts Community Center* will adaptively reuse a vacant, 23,577 square foot historic building to include a green roof and ground-source heat pumps.
• The Beacon MultiService Center* adaptive reuse expansion project will be a Passive House certified building and feature air-sealed envelope, solar, energy recovery ventilators for improved indoor air quality, and flood resiliency strategies.

Western New York

• The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens* modernization project will demonstrate high efficiency design and will minimize emissions during the new construction process.

*Located in a disadvantaged community , as defined by New York’s Climate Justice Working Group.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Investing in regional projects that offer innovative, long-term solutions is vital to addressing statewide challenges and creating opportunities that benefit all New Yorkers. The Regional Economic Development Councils know their communities' needs best, and their track record of fostering collaboration and forward-thinking ideas at the local level are essential towards strengthening our state's future."

Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “Innovative solutions require strategic investments like this to strengthen community resiliency, combat climate change and develop green jobs that will help create environmentally, economically and socially sustainable communities throughout New York State. This $28.5 million investment is pivotal to the State’s myriad efforts to reduce carbon emissions and advance economic development, particularly in communities that have been identified as disadvantaged.”

Manufacturers Alliance of New York State (MACNY) President and CEO Randy Wolken said, “NYSERDA’s Carbon Challenge program provides an opportunity for companies to plan and execute a strategic long-term approach to reducing their carbon footprint. It is designed to encourage forward thinking, not just one and done projects. Ambitious goals have been laid out for New York State. It will take hard work, an appropriately trained workforce, new technologies and incentives like the Carbon Challenge if we are going to be successful. I applaud the support NYSERDA is providing to meet the CLCPA goals of New York State.”

Today’s announcement builds on the success of these two programs. Since 2018, NYSERDA has made awards through C&I Carbon Challenge that will cumulatively reduce 4.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of removing more than 1 million cars from the road annually. Through the Building Cleaner Communities Competition, 60 projects have leveraged nearly $900 million in public and private investment since 2018 to implement carbon neutral or net zero energy performance solutions. Combined, the projects awarded through these programs to date will support nearly 2,400 full- and part-time clean energy workers across the state.

Funding for this program was included in Round XIV of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. The REDC process continues to support and empower regional stakeholders in developing strategic plans and funding priorities that meet local economic needs. Regional Councils reviewed projects from this program and provided scores that reflect how well a project aligns with a region’s goals and strategies. Applicants utilized the New York’s Consolidated Funding Application, the state’s single application for state resources, which includes programs for numerous agencies. It is designed to provide expedited and streamlined access to a combined pool of grant funds and tax credits from dozens of existing programs. A full list of Round XIV awards that have been made can be found here .

New York State's Climate Agenda

New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.

About the Consolidated Funding Application

The Consolidated Funding Application was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single-entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple state funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. Learn more about the CFA here .

About the Regional Economic Development Councils

The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State’s approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Learn more at regionalcouncils.ny.gov .