$2 Million in Funding for Universities, Research Centers and Businesses Pursuing Innovative Technologies Related to Plug-In Electric Cars and Trucks, Albany, NY (September 6, 2013)
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a new program under Charge NY to accelerate the market adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and to make EV infrastructure easier to use and more economically viable in New York State. The Electric Vehicle-Enabling Technology Demonstration Program offers a total of $2 million to help fund research and demonstration projects related to electric vehicles.
“Under Charge NY, New York State is making significant investments to improve the development and use of electric vehicles and the necessary technology and infrastructure,” Governor Cuomo said. “This program will focus on furthering research and innovation related to EVs, so that we can make these vehicles more affordable for New Yorkers, promote a cleaner transportation source, and make our infrastructure more efficient, while also creating jobs in the clean energy industry. As we move towards our goal of establishing a statewide network of up to 3,000 EV charging stations over the next five years, we are ensuring that New York State is prepared to welcome the next generation of environmentally-friendly vehicles on our roads.”
The new demonstration program seeks applications from entities such as universities, research centers, and technology-based businesses and manufacturers conducting research in and development of EV technology. The program is funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
The program seeks to advance technologies, strategies, business models, behavioral approaches and policy ideas that support the expansion of the EV market and EV industry in New York State. NYSERDA is interested in projects that will study and/or demonstrate existing technologies, or combinations of technologies, and strategies that have not been applied to the market or have not been demonstrated in New York.
Examples of relevant projects include demonstrating EV charging stations sited alongside battery energy storage that reduce the electric grid demands from charging, and feasibility studies of new electric rate structures or other utility incentives to help reduce the cost of EV ownership.
Areas of particular interest are technologies and strategies that can integrate EVs into the electric grid, enable long-distance EV travel, and ease financial and regulatory obstacles to EV adoption. Proposals should focus on research, results or strategies that can be transferred and implemented throughout the state in the near term to advance EV acceptance.
Today, there are approximately 640 public EV charging stations in New York State, with more than 5,000 electric vehicles operating across the state. Most are privately-owned, personal vehicles.
The Governor’s Charge NY initiative aims to create a statewide network of up to 3,000 public and workplace charging stations over the next five years to accommodate an anticipated 40,000 plug-in vehicles on the road. The initiative is being spearheaded by NYSERDA and the New York Power Authority.
NYSERDA has funded 600 charging stations in the past year, including through the Charge NY program. NYSERDA also recently launched the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program, which helps offset the extra cost of purchasing electric trucks and other alternative fuel and emission reduction technologies, when compared to the cost of diesel or gas trucks.
Proposals for the Electric Vehicle-Enabling Technology Demonstration Program are due October 22. For more information on the Electric Vehicle-Enabling Technology Demonstration Program, visit http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/PON2755.
This article is a repost, credit: State of New York, http://www.governor.ny.gov/.
NYC Regional Council Project to Create Jobs with Production of Highly Efficient, Low-Cost Batteries
Image courtesy of Urban Electric Power
Urban Electric Power (UEP), the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the City University of New York (CUNY) announced today (8-6-13) the grand opening of a new energy storage research and manufacturing facility in West Harlem for advanced zinc anode rechargeable battery systems. The project is part of the Manhattanville Factory District redevelopment effort and is expected to create 64 new jobs.
Through Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative (REDC), the New York City REDC awarded UEP more than $1.5 million in economic development resources, including $1 million from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for the project. Empire State Development’s (ESD) Excelsior Jobs Program is providing $522,000 in performance-based tax credits. The Excelsior tax credits are based on UEP’s investment and its commitment to create 64 new full-time jobs by 2017 in manufacturing, sales/marketing, operations, software development, engineering, and research and development.
The $6.1 million, 5,000-square-foot facility will provide research and development capabilities as well as testing and assembly of low-cost, lead-free zinc anode rechargeable batteries and battery systems. UEP has an exclusive license to this battery technology, which was developed at the CUNY Energy Institute.
The new facility will enable UEP to rapidly commercialize its products, which can be used to increase gas mileage in automobiles, reduce electric grid strain during peak usage, integrate electricity from renewable energy sources into the grid, and provide emergency power during outages.
“Energy innovation plays a critical role in the state’s economic development. Urban Electric Power’s facility is another important step in advancing the state’s energy storage industry and building resilience into its energy system infrastructure,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO, NYSERDA. “Through the commitment of private sector partners, academia and government, along with Governor Cuomo’s support, today’s grand opening demonstrates that we are establishing a cleaner, more energy-efficient energy sector that is creating jobs.”
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, “Advancing the clean energy industry is critical to our economic and energy future. Today’s opening of Urban Electric Power’s facility will help establish Harlem’s place in the innovation economy. Governor Cuomo and the New York City Regional Economic Development Council recognize the importance of bringing jobs and economic drivers to urban centers, and under the governor’s leadership we have seen extensive progress in the building of clean energy facilities across the state. Today’s grand opening proves what can be accomplished through public-private partnerships when business, government and academia work together in collaboration to ensure a sustainable economic future for our communities, city and state.”
Matthew Goldstein, Chair, NYCREDC and Chancellor Emeritus of the City University of New York said, “UEP’s energy storage solutions hold the promise for substantial economic development and job creation for the region. Building upon New York’s burgeoning energy technology industry, this project can serve as an effective model of innovation and sustainability and will be instrumental to the future of the state’s rapidly growing, clean-energy economy.”
“Urban Electric Power is lucky to call New York home. We have received generous and essential support from all across the state, especially the Regional Economic Development Council, NYSERDA, and NYPA,” said Eric McFarland, Chief Executive Officer of Urban Electric Power. “Our new pilot testing and manufacturing facility will allow us to quickly ramp up production to meet initial customer orders, while we look to grow through additional strategic partners and licensees to accelerate the wider marketing and sales of our batteries.”
UEP’s battery technologies have been optimized for multiple markets. The company intends to replace automotive lead acid batteries used for starting, lighting and ignition in traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. UEP is also developing batteries that can accommodate the regenerative braking and on-demand charging used in fuel-efficient micro-hybrid vehicles that can improve gas mileage by more than 10 percent and reduce air pollution in high-traffic areas.
In larger stationary applications, UEP batteries distribute electricity more efficiently, reducing costs for New York ratepayers. The batteries can be charged during off-peak hours when generation costs are low and used to supply energy during the day when costs are higher. UEP’s batteries can also be used to integrate electricity produced by renewable sources, such as solar and wind power, making it possible to use clean energy when and where it is needed.
As an electrode material, high energy density zinc is safe, reliable and 100 percent recyclable. In 2008, the CUNY Energy Institute at the City College of New York began researching ways to extend the lifetime of zinc anode batteries. The advancements developed at the CUNY Energy Institute resulted in zinc anode batteries that can recharge for ten times as many cycles as previous generations, making them more practical and cost-effective. UEP is rapidly moving their commercial prototypes to market with strategic partners.
“Over the past five years, New York State has supported the development of this transformational technology at every step, as our small experimental laboratory cells grew to 100 kilowatt-scale battery systems that will improve grid congestion and lower energy costs for all New Yorkers,” said Sanjoy Banerjee, Executive Director of the CUNY Energy Institute and Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at City College. “Moving forward, the CUNY Energy Institute will continue to drive growth through innovation and technology transfer. While Urban Electric Power may be the first company to spin out of the CUNY Energy Institute, it will not be the last.”
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) supported the scale-up and grid interconnection of Urban Electric Power’s battery technology at the CUNY Energy Institute of the City College of New York. NYPA managed the design, procurement and installation of the initial battery demonstration system, and obtained final approval from Consolidated Edison Company of New York for connection to the city’s electrical grid. “We are pleased to have played a role in the progression of this important energy management project and congratulate Urban Electric Power on the opening of its new energy storage research and manufacturing facility,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “There is a tremendous opportunity for efficient, low-cost batteries to lead to job growth throughout the state while supporting the Governor’s energy goals. Energy storage technologies like this one are a prime example of how we can move New York toward a sustainable energy future.”
The new facility is located in the three-acre Manhattanville Factory District currently under construction by The Janus Property Company in West Harlem. The Factory District’s abandoned industrial buildings had been vacant and deteriorated until Janus, with the support of New York State and the West Harlem community, began a multi-phase master-planned, mixed-use redevelopment that is creating a vibrant and growing home for technology, new media, arts and culture, retail, education, not-for-profit and other commercial enterprises.
“New York State and Urban Electric Power have been terrific partners in our ongoing effort to revitalize this important West Harlem neighborhood. We are extremely excited to work with creative companies like UEP that are producing the new jobs that will drive the economy of Harlem, New York City and New York State,” said Scott Metzner, Principal of The Janus Property Company. “The extraordinary growth of West Harlem into the most important education- and arts-driven district in New York is stunning. We are proud to be a part of this forward-looking community, and of the important contributions that we, UEP and New York State are making to its resurgence.”
The Regional Economic Development Council initiative (REDC) is a key component of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s transformative approach to State investment and economic development. The Councils are public-private partnerships composed 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. As a result of the first two rounds of awards, $1.5 billion in investments has been awarded to support more than 1,400 regionally significant economic development and community revitalization projects that are creating or helping to retain an estimated 75,000 jobs across the Empire State and generating investments to grow the economy. For more information on the regional councils, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov.
This article is a repost (press release 8-6-13), credit: http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/.
A.7844A/S.5725A HINDERS CONSUMER CHOICE, HURTS ECONOMY, AND WILL INCREASE NEW YORK’S CARBON FOOTPRINT
2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year Tesla Model S All-electric, Zero-emissions Image courtesy of Tesla
The bottom line for New York consumers and New York suppliers is that if this bill passes, special interests in Albany will once again have gotten their way while robbing New Yorkers of choices in the marketplace, and Tesla will be put out of business in New York. The result would be that all of Tesla’s New York employees will lose their jobs. It means that New York-based suppliers to Tesla will lose business and New York consumers cannot buy the most advanced electric car in the world today. Banning Tesla from selling its vehicles is also a step in the wrong direction for reducing carbon vehicle emissions and the green environmental movement in New York. With the State of New York pushing so hard to lead green innovation supporting entire agencies for energy efficiency like NYSERDA, it is absolutely defies logic to ban Tesla from selling electric cars in New York.
From the beginning, Tesla’s goal has been to catalyze the market for electric vehicles and selling through intermediaries at this stage of the company will not work. For Auto Dealer Associations to claim that restricting competition is in the best interests of the public is wrong and defies obvious common sense. If we are kept out of New York, it forestalls progress and defeats innovation.
Tesla has created jobs in New York at both its stores and service centers and the sales of its vehicles go into supporting the local economy. Tesla remains committed to bringing electric vehicle technology and its customer focused sales and ownership experience to New York consumers, while complying with all local and state laws.”
This article is a repost, credit: Tesla Motors, http://www.teslamotors.com/.
Homewood Suites in Colonie is One of First Upstate Sites Funded Through $1 Million Public/Private Partnership
Photo courtesy of ChargePoint
Albany, NY – May 22, 2013-ChargePoint and National Grid today unveiled the first of what will be many electric vehicle charging stations funded through a $1 million award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
The ChargePoint EV charging station, which can charge two cars at once, has been installed at the Homewood Suites on Wolf Road in Colonie. It was unveiled today at a ceremony featuring Pat Romano, president and CEO, ChargePoint; Bill Flaherty, regional executive, National Grid; Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO, NYSERDA; and Brian Straughter, vice president, Turf Hotels.
This public/private partnership, which supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Charge NY program, will provide more than 80 EV charging stations throughout New York State, of which 67 will be located in National Grid’s service area in upstate New York. ChargePoint and National Grid will be providing an additional $550,000 for the cost of this program.
New York has one of the highest growth rates of electric vehicles in the country. With nearly 4,000 vehicles registered today, according to New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, the number of EVs in the state has tripled in the past year.
“New York is laying the foundation to be the largest EV market for electric vehicles on the East Coast,” said Pat Romano, president and CEO of ChargePoint. “We are proud to be working closely with National Grid, the only East Coast investor-owned utility that has made this kind of commitment to EV infrastructure in the United States. NYSERDA continues to support Governor Cuomo’s visionary plan to ‘Charge NY,’ which calls for ramping up investment in EV charging stations around the state.”
“The collaboration among NYSERDA, ChargePoint, and National Grid is a model of a public-private partnership working for New York State and the environment,” said Bill Flaherty, regional executive of National Grid’s Eastern New York division. “Plug-in electric vehicles are more than just a new way to get around. They’re a major part of a cleaner, more efficient transportation future. At National Grid, we’re committed to making this new technology more viable and cost-effective for ourselves and our customers, and pleased to help make it happen in Eastern New York and across New York State.”
“Governor Cuomo’s ‘Charge NY’ program is developing an EV charging infrastructure across the state that will encourage and accommodate consumers in the purchase of electric vehicles,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO, NYSERDA. “The investment being made through this public-private partnership will not only lead to a reduction in emissions from the transportation sector but will help stimulate economic activity.”
Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo announced Charge NY, a new initiative to promote EVs through investing $50 million over five years. The program calls for installing 3,000 public and workplace charging stations by 2018, plus other steps meant to encourage the growth of electric vehicle ownership.
The state expects the number of EVs in the state to increase to as many as 40,000 by 2018, and a million by 2025.
NATIONAL GRID
National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society – to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it ‘joins everything up’.
In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country.
National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. It manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation, providing power to over one million LIPA customers. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com.
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About NYSERDA
NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect our environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York since 1975.
About ChargePoint, Inc.
ChargePoint is the largest online network of independently owned EV charging stations operating in 14 countries. ChargePoint provides everything an EV station owner needs to deliver turnkey electric vehicle charging services in their parking lots. For drivers, ChargePoint provides state-of-the-art features including the ability to locate, reserve and navigate to unoccupied charging stations with online tools and mobile applications. ChargePoint locations may be found online and are included on the free ChargePoint mobile applications for Android and iPhone mobile digital devices. The ChargePoint network is open to all charging station manufacturers. Visit www.chargepoint.com for more information. Follow ChargePoint on Twitter @chargepointnet.
This article is a repost, credit: ChargePoint, http://www.chargepoint.com/pr/news-press-releases-2013-0522.php.
