NEW YORK — The New York Geothermal Energy Organization (NY-GEO) held its second conference April 19-20 and nearly doubled the attendance of last year’s event. The event featured presentations from Audrey Zibelman, chair of the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC); John Rhodes, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA); and Donovan Gordon, director of renewable heating and cooling at NYSERDA.

Rhodes shared his passion in NYSERDA’s efforts of spurring innovation in clean energy and discussed the vision of New York’s 80x50 plan, which calls for an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. He detailed the ways New York is funding NYSERDA’s efforts in addressing barriers to geothermal heat pumpls (GHPs) as the only road toward the elimination of combustion heating. Elimination of combustion heating is a necessity to achieve GHG reductions and can only be attained through wide spread implementation of GHPs, he said.

In addition, Zibelman noted PSC’s efforts to engage gas utilities to convert their natural gas pipelines to geothermal pipelines that could supply geothermal condenser water to customers all over the state.

The two-day event allowed attendees to discover the latest information on standards, tax credits, legislative efforts, and geothermal utilities or third-party ownership.

Publication date: 5/30/2016 

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