Solar One » Cleantech http://solar1.org NYC's Green Energy, Arts and Education Center Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:33:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 No Money No Problems? Financing Cleantech in the Post-ARRA Era http://solar1.org/2012/01/27/no-money-no-problems-financing-cleantech-in-the-post-arra-era/ http://solar1.org/2012/01/27/no-money-no-problems-financing-cleantech-in-the-post-arra-era/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:49:20 +0000 Jeff http://solar1.org/?p=10620 January 31, 20127:00 pmto9:00 pm

Join us Tuesday, January 31, for the first 2012 event in Solar One’s and NYC ACRE’s cleantech discussion series Clean Energy Connections: No Money No Problems? Financing Cleantech in the Post-ARRA Era.

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2011 7:00pm-9:00pm (doors open at 6:30p)
The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC
44 Charlton Street, New York, NY 10014
General Admission: $25, Students: $10

Register for your advanced tickets here
A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

The beginning of 2012 ushers in a new era in renewable energy funding. Section 1603 Treasury Program is dead in the water thanks to a gridlocked Congress, and low tax appetites have hamstrung potential investors. As we move into an uncertain financial landscape, where will today’s renewable energy upstarts find funding for their projects and companies? Will private financing step in to sustain the industry’s momentum? How can the considerable financial power of New York City take a leadership role? Financial experts will examine these issues and offer a realistic assessment of where cleantech is headed now that the federal buck has stopped.

A networking reception will follow the panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Opening Speaker:
- Nathanael Greene, Director of Renewable Energy Policy, Natural Resources Defense Council

Panelists:
- Izzet Bensusan, President and CEO, Karbone
- Ann Davlin, Director of Development, Carbon War Room
- Jason Scott, Partner, EKO Asset Management Partners

Moderator:
- Michael Molnar, Partner, Greentech Capital Advisors

Can’t make it? Greentech Media is the media sponsor for this series and will host a free live web stream of this event at www.greentechmedia.com. Questions for the panelists and comments can be submitted via Twitter@CleanECNYC, #CleanNRGx.

No Money No Problems? is the first event of the second season of the cleantech discussion series Clean Energy Connections. Clean Energy Connections is a program of Solar One and NYC ACRE at NYU-Poly that brings together professionals, policymakers, investors and academia to explore major topics shaping NYC’s blossoming cleantech industry, and provides an expert forum to share best practices and new inspirations.

]]> http://solar1.org/2012/01/27/no-money-no-problems-financing-cleantech-in-the-post-arra-era/feed/ 0 NYC Gets SunShot Award to Make It Easier to Install Solar http://solar1.org/2012/01/19/nyc-gets-3-4-million-to-make-it-easier-to-install-solar/ http://solar1.org/2012/01/19/nyc-gets-3-4-million-to-make-it-easier-to-install-solar/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:29:23 +0000 Jeff http://solar1.org/?p=10566 The City University of New York (CUNY), on behalf of New York City, won a grant award in mid-December from the Rooftop Solar Challenge, a program of the US Department of Energy (DOE) to support cutting the red tape involved with installing solar. The Rooftop Solar Challenge is part of SunShot, an ambitious initiative of the DOE to make solar cost competitive with other energy technologies without subsidies by the end of the decade. New York City was one of 22 state and municipal recipients of the award. Over the next two years, these 22 teams will implement step-by-step actions to standardize solar permitting processes, update planning and zoning codes, improve standards for connecting solar power to the electric grid, and increase access to financing.

The money awarded by the DOE is for SunShot NY, a two-phase $3.4 million dollar plan that aims to increase the accessibility and affordability of solar for New York City residents by driving down administrative costs.

Phase 1 will shorten NYC’s approval process for solar installations by creating an online multi-agency permit tracking portal. Development of the portal will involve the support and collaboration of 30 organizations that are part of the solar industry, including utility companies, installers, government agencies, and industry leaders. Once completed, it will remove delays in city installations, cutting down the permitting processes from one year to 100 days. These changes will significantly increase the rate of new solar installations in NYC.

For more information on the award, you can read the press release here. You can also check out the DOE’s page about the Rooftop Solar Challenge, where you can see info about the other 22 award winners.

]]> http://solar1.org/2012/01/19/nyc-gets-3-4-million-to-make-it-easier-to-install-solar/feed/ 0 New York’s Grid is Getting Smarter http://solar1.org/2011/09/27/new-yorks-grid-is-getting-smarter/ http://solar1.org/2011/09/27/new-yorks-grid-is-getting-smarter/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:50:25 +0000 Jeff http://solar1.org/?p=10289 For many New Yorkers, thoughts about the electricity grid don’t extend much further than their light switches. This may change soon, however, as major upgrades to the grid are planned that will lower electricity bills and improve reliability.

Taken together, these upgraded technologies are known as the smart grid. In August, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), the non-profit organization that manages New York’s electricity grid and administers the state’s wholesale electricity markets, unveiled a $74 million initiative to upgrade New York’s electricity grid with new smart grid technologies.

Backed by more than $37 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, these technologies will improve the efficiency of the state’s bulk transmission system and improve grid operators’ visualization capabilities and situational awareness. NYISO also held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $35.5 million primary power control center in Rensselaer County.

What does it all mean?

New Yorkers will save money. New capacitor banks will reduce electricity costs in New York State approximately $9 million per year by reducing the amount of electricity that is lost when carried over long distances on the bulk transmission system. All told, the upgrades will provide New York with approximately $190 million in annual savings.

Power reliability will improve. New phaser measurement units will improve NYISO’s ability to receive, process and monitor changing conditions, which it does on a moment-to-moment basis, 24 hours per day. Ultimately, NYISO hopes to integrate its smart grid with others across the Northeast and Canada, which could help avoid potential outages, such as the 2003 blackout.

Renewable energy will get a boost. The smart grid upgrades and new power control center will aid the integration of renewable energy supplies, such as solar and wind, into the power supply.

To learn more, visit the NYISO website, read its press release or check out the NYS Smart Grid Consortium overview.

]]> http://solar1.org/2011/09/27/new-yorks-grid-is-getting-smarter/feed/ 0 TONIGHT – Can NYC Have a Wind Industry? http://solar1.org/2011/04/14/tonight-can-nyc-have-a-wind-industry/ http://solar1.org/2011/04/14/tonight-can-nyc-have-a-wind-industry/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:25:17 +0000 Jamie http://solar1.org/?p=8945 Tickets are going fast for tonight’s panel discussion: “Can NYC Have a Wind Industry?” This is the first in the new Clean Energy Connections series created by Solar One and the New York City Accelerator for a Clean and Renewable Economy (NYC ACRE).

April 14, 2011 from 7-9pm

Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, 44 Charlton Street (at Varick Street), New York, NY, 10014.

A networking reception will follow the event.

General admission is $25, and student admission is $10. Advanced registration is required at www.cleanecnyc.org.

Panelists:

  • David Bragdon, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability
  • KC Sahl, NY Project Director for NRG Bluewater Wind
  • Jacob Susman, CEO of OWN Wind Energy
  • Russell Tencer, CEO of Wind Products, Inc., a recent graduate of the NYC ACRE incubator

Clean Energy Connections is sponsored by NYSERDA and Con Edison’s Commercial & Industrial Energy Efficiency Programs; Greentech Media is the media sponsor for this series.

]]> http://solar1.org/2011/04/14/tonight-can-nyc-have-a-wind-industry/feed/ 0 Solar One announces a brand new event series: Clean Energy Connections! http://solar1.org/2011/04/06/solar-one-announces-a-brand-new-event-series-clean-energy-connections/ http://solar1.org/2011/04/06/solar-one-announces-a-brand-new-event-series-clean-energy-connections/#comments Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:05:48 +0000 Sara http://solar1.org/?p=8844 April 14, 20117:00 pmto9:00 pm

Is NYC on the brink of a cleantech revolution?

We at Solar One think so. New York City, with abundant human, financial, and institutional capital, is well positioned to become a global center in clean technology.  However, with all this potential, New York still ranks behind Boston, San Franciso, and Austin as a leader in cleantech.  New York has all the right pieces to create a successful industry but there needs to be an underlying network that can connect those pieces, engage the community, and spark a movement that can surpass the current frontrunners. Solar One and the New York City Accelerator for a Clean and Renewable Economy (NYC ACRE) are partnering to create that catalyst with Clean Energy Connections.

Clean Energy Connections is a new year-long discussion series and online platform intended to stimulate dialogue on NYC’s clean energy economy, highlight its innovators and visionaries, and provide a forum for the industry to meet, collaborate and grow. This series will bring together professionals, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and students to explore major topics related to cleantech, and debate how New York can play a bigger role.

For our first event, we ask a simple question that could result in many complicated answers: Can NYC Have a Wind Industry? With a 27.8% increase in installed capacity annually for the past five years, wind is fastest growing energy technology in the world (BTM Consult 2010). The United States is only getting 1.3% of its energy from wind power, a measly number compared to the 20% that the US DOE says is possible. With these numbers demonstrating current success and potential for growth, how does the NYC cleantech community capitalize on this opportunity.

To answer these questions, we hear from the experts;  industry leaders and innovators who are already making strides in wind, and can give us the best view of where wind power stands, where it is going, and how NYC as a cleantech community can be apart of it.

Our panel consists of:
-        David Bragdon, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability
-        Jonathan Milley, Vice President, Northeast Region, NRG Energy
-        Jacob Susman, CEO of OWN Wind Energy
-        Russell Tencer, CEO of Wind Products, Inc., a recent graduate of the NYC ACRE incubator

The first Clean Energy Connections event, Can NYC Have a Wind Industry? will be held on April 14, 2011 from 7:00-9:00pm at the Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, 44 Charlton Street (at Varick Street), New York, NY, 10014. Doors open at 6:30pm, and a networking reception will follow the event.

General admission is $25, and student admission is $10.  Advanced registration is required at www.cleanecnyc.org.

]]> http://solar1.org/2011/04/06/solar-one-announces-a-brand-new-event-series-clean-energy-connections/feed/ 0 New Energy Code Changes are in Effect July 1, 2010: Is Your Building Prepared? http://solar1.org/2010/05/25/new-energy-code-changes-are-in-effect-july-1-2010-is-your-building-prepared/ http://solar1.org/2010/05/25/new-energy-code-changes-are-in-effect-july-1-2010-is-your-building-prepared/#comments Tue, 25 May 2010 16:31:53 +0000 Jamie http://solar1.org/?p=5859 June 17, 20106:00 pmto8:00 pm

New energy efficiency legislation that will drastically impact your building is fast approaching and you don’t want to be caught unprepared.  Join us for an interactive session with leaders in the field of energy efficiency.  Learn how you can take advantage of these required changes, and benefit from cost saving measures.  You will also hear about all of the potential funding and financing opportunities available to help with project costs.

June 17, 2010, 6:00-8:00pm,

followed by networking a reception

Sony Wonder Technology Lab Auditorium

550 Madison Ave (at 56th St.)


PANELISTS

Representative from the City of New York:  NYC Green Building Codes

Kate Grossman, Greenwich Energy Solutions:  Energy Audits and Qualifying Buildings

Brett Greenberg, Bovis Lend Lease:  Implementing Energy Efficiency Measures

David Gibson, Lutron:  Advanced Lighting Technologies

Cliff Schorer, Greenwich Energy Solutions: Financing Options

Diana Pangestu, Solar One:  NYSERDA Incentives and Case Study

Seminar Cost:  $25

To register, click on the following link:
Online donation system by ClickandPledge

]]> http://solar1.org/2010/05/25/new-energy-code-changes-are-in-effect-july-1-2010-is-your-building-prepared/feed/ 0 New York City the Future Metropolis http://solar1.org/2010/05/06/new-york-city-the-future-metropolis/ http://solar1.org/2010/05/06/new-york-city-the-future-metropolis/#comments Thu, 06 May 2010 21:29:00 +0000 Jamie http://solar1.org/?p=5724 June 10, 20106:00 pmto9:00 pm

If you were not one of the 300 people who attended our recent event, “New York City the Future Metropolis,” you can see the speakers’ presentations on the event’s website.  Also, feel free to contact them with any follow up questions.

www.solar1.org/nycfuturemetropolis

If you were there, thank you for coming! Because of your overwhelming response and support, we are planning to do this event again next year! Check back on our website to see who will be in next year’s lineup of some of the most creative minds in New York’s building industry.

]]> http://solar1.org/2010/05/06/new-york-city-the-future-metropolis/feed/ 0 Engineering a Sustainable Reconstruction in Iraq http://solar1.org/2010/04/12/engineering-a-sustainable-reconstruction-in-iraq/ http://solar1.org/2010/04/12/engineering-a-sustainable-reconstruction-in-iraq/#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:11:37 +0000 Jamie http://solar1.org/?p=5428 April 19, 20106:00 pmto8:00 pm

NYU-Poly Panel w Engineer Kareem 4.19.10

Join Solar One, McKissack & McKissack, CRDF, and the New York Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders as we host a discussion on the success and challenges of the U.S. Department of State’s Iraq Engineer Enhancement Program (IEEP) at NYU-Poly. The panel will explore the challenges of rebuilding Iraq’s scientific and technological infrastructure, and the urgency of embracing sustainable technologies.

Date: Monday, April 19, 2010, 6:00-8:00pm

Location: NYU-Poly, 160 Varick St. 19th Floor, New York, NY

Register:  Email Diana Pangestu at diana@solar1.org, or call (212) 785-0734

Listen as an Iraqi executive and engineer charged with reconstruction of Iraq’s damaged infrastructure describes the technical, professional and societal challenges facing Iraq today.

Learn more about “science diplomacy” as embodied in the Iraq Engineer Enhancement Program (IEEP), a U.S State Department program managed by the Civilian Research and Development Foundation that is designed to connect Iraqi engineers and professionals with the knowledge they need to rebuild their country.

Connect with a growing network of friends and supporters.

Panelists:

Engineer Kareem, CRDF Fellow at the Iraq Engineers Enhancement Program

Micah Kotch, Director, NYC ACRE Incubator at NYU-Poly

Lex Heslin, President and CEO, Beautiful Earth Group / renewable energy development

Jonathan McClelland, MJ Beck / financing renewable energy projects

Woody Crouch, PE, AECOM / solar power infrastructure, emerging markets

Andrew McNamara, Vice President of New Construction & Renewables at Bright Power Inc.

Moderated by:

Alaa Majeed, Iraqi-American journalist

Andrew Daquesian, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Chair, Green Design & Construction Committee

]]> http://solar1.org/2010/04/12/engineering-a-sustainable-reconstruction-in-iraq/feed/ 0 Cleantech from the Frontlines Workshop http://solar1.org/2010/02/10/cleantech-from-the-frontlines-workshop/ http://solar1.org/2010/02/10/cleantech-from-the-frontlines-workshop/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:54:43 +0000 SolarOne http://solar1.org/?p=4972 web_header

NYC-ACRE and Solar One come together to showcase some of the newest wind and energy projects in NYC, while providing invaluable and practical discussion on how to further establish a cleantech market in NYC.

SPEAKERS:
Micah Kotch, Director of Operations at NYC-ACRE at NYU-Poly
John Humphrey, Co-Founder of Sollega Inc.
James Gallagher, NYCEDC Senior VP for Energy Policy
Russell M. Tencer, CEO of Wind Products LLC
Diana Pangestu, Energy $mart Communities Coordinator at Solar One

Wine & Cheese networking reception to follow!

LOCATION:
NYC-ACRE at NYU-Poly, 160 Varick Street, aka 10 Hudson Square,
12th Floor, New York City

FREE EVENT!
Please RSVP by March 15 as space is limited: www.solar1.com/acre-cleantech

]]> http://solar1.org/2010/02/10/cleantech-from-the-frontlines-workshop/feed/ 0 Cleantech from the Frontlines Workshop http://solar1.org/2010/02/10/cleantech-from-the-frontlines-event/ http://solar1.org/2010/02/10/cleantech-from-the-frontlines-event/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:40:38 +0000 SolarOne http://solar1.org/?p=4921 March 17, 20106:00 pmto8:00 pm



web_header_large

NYC-ACRE and Solar One come together to showcase some of the newest wind and energy projects in NYC, while providing invaluable and practical discussion on how to further establish a cleantech market in NYC.

SPEAKERS:
Micah Kotch, Director of Operations at NYC-ACRE at NYU-Poly
John Humphrey, Co-Founder of Sollega Inc.
James Gallagher, NYCEDC Senior VP for Energy Policy
Russell M. Tencer, CEO of Wind Products LLC
Diana Pangestu, Energy $mart Communities Coordinator at Solar One

Wine & Cheese networking reception to follow!

LOCATION:
NYC-ACRE at NYU-Poly, 160 Varick Street, aka 10 Hudson Square,
12th Floor, New York City

FREE EVENT!
Please RSVP by March 15 as space is limited: www.solar1.com/acre-cleantech

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