Makes $15 million available for clean-energy projects The fourth annual Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Carbon Challenge seeks to help to reduce carbon emissions at commercial and industrial businesses and institutions. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on May 13 launched the latest round of the C&I Carbon […]
Makes $15 million available for clean-energy projects
The fourth annual Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Carbon Challenge seeks to help to reduce carbon emissions at commercial and industrial businesses and institutions.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on May 13 launched the latest round of the C&I Carbon Challenge, making $15 million available as part of Round XII of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative, which was announced on May 2.
The announcement supports New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050, NYSERDA said.
“The launch of this round of the C&I Carbon Challenge demonstrates the state’s commitment to investing in private-public partnerships that advance cleaner and more efficient building facilities and functions for New York’s largest energy users,” Doreen Harris, president and CEO of NYSERDA said in a release. “This funding will allow more energy intensive business owners across the state to take action to implement clean energy measures that will help them to realize cost-savings while reducing harmful emissions from their operations, in support of the state’s nation-leading climate and clean energy goals.”
The C&I Carbon Challenge is a competitive program that provides funding to large energy users to implement various cost-effective, clean-energy projects that reduce carbon emissions. The funding is available to eligible businesses and institutions including, but not limited to, manufacturers, colleges, universities, health-care facilities, and office-building owners in New York State.
Project proposals may involve a combination of energy or manufacturing-process efficiency strategies, carbon-capture technology, renewable generation, or energy storage.
“It is critical that we help the New York State manufacturing community source and use energy in a responsible way,” Randy Wolken, president and CEO of DeWitt–based MACNY, the Manufacturers Association, said. “NYSERDA’s Carbon Challenge continues to provide the means and guidance that larger consumers will need to drive carbon reduction, maintaining the leadership position that New York is known for.”
Funding is available through the state’s 10-year, $6 billion Clean Energy Fund, NYSERDA said.
Funding categories and applying
The state is providing funding under two categories. Category A has $10 million for proposals that incorporate key solutions such as beneficial electrification and reduced emissions related to manufacturing processes, to lower the applicant’s carbon footprint.
Category B has $5 million for proposals that employ energy efficiency, on-site clean energy generation, or any other greenhouse-gas reducing solution not identified in Category A.
The Challenge will provide awards ranging from $500,000 to $5 million to partially offset clean-energy project costs for the largest energy users in the state, with an aggregate 12-month average demand of 3-megawatts or greater.
The deadline to apply through the state’s consolidated funding application is July 29 at 4 p.m. The Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) guidebook and a list of additional resources available to REDC members are accessible at the state’s REDC website (https://regionalcouncils.ny.gov).
The state will select competition winners based on their plans for project implementation; institutional commitment to sustainability; overall level of greenhouse-gas emissions reduced; and their potential to “beneficially impact disadvantaged communities,” NYSERDA said.
NYSERDA’s scoring criteria for this solicitation provides points for greenhouse-gas emission reductions that occur in designated disadvantaged communities and deliver benefits in such communities. In addition, each application is reviewed and scored by members of each applicant’s respective REDC as part of the consolidated-funding application process, per the announcement.
NYSERDA expects to announce the fourth-round awards in late 2022.