No Money No Problems? Financing Cleantech in the Post-ARRA Era
Friday, January 27th, 2012| January 31, 2012 | ||
| 7:00 pm | to | 9:00 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.
Posted in Clean Energy Connections Blog, Cleantech, Economy, New York City, Photovoltaics, Solar One Events, Sustainability, Technology | Permalink
Federal Renewable Energy Tax Grant has been extended!!
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010As 2010 comes to a close, great news comes in from DC! With the passage of the Federal Tax bill, President Obama also signed an extension of Section 1603, the renewable energy Tax Grant Program. 
This extension is a boon for businesses that want to put up renewable energy on their property. Currently, a commercial entity interested in installing a renewable energy system is eligible for a 30% federal tax credit on all expenditures related to the installation. This tax credit, by the way, is called the Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Section 1603 is super cool because it allows the entity to receive that 30% federal tax credit as a cash grant. Since its launch in 2009, this program has been incredibly successful and, to date, has helped encourage more than 4,000 clean energy projects.
Section 1603 is only available to businesses who install one of the qualified renewable energy sources, which include solar, small wind, fuel cells, microturbines, and Combined Heat and Power. There are size and financial caps for each technology, so read the IRS’s literature about the program before you start your renewable energy project.
If you have a company in New York and are interested in installing renewable energy, now is the time to do it! In addition to the federal tax program, NY state also has a host of financial incentives for renewables available through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
For more information about Section 1603, check out the IRS website.
There is also a really great write-up about the program from Green Tech Media.
For more information about NYSERDA’s programs, you can contact one of the Energy $mart Communities Coordinators, whose contact info is here.
You can also check out NYSERDA’s Renewable Energy website: PowerNaturally.org.
Posted in Clean Energy Connections Blog, Energy, Energy $mart Communities, NYSERDA, Photovoltaics, Photovoltaics, Renewables, Solar One, Solar Power, Technology | Permalink
Film Crew Travels Cross Country Showing How Solar Is Working for America and Putting America Back to Work
Monday, November 29th, 2010
Award-winning director and producer Alan Blake traveled cross-country, from Massachusetts to California, visiting the people that use solar power or work in the industry. The Solar Generation USA Road Trip campaign chronicles his three-week trip as a three-part online webisode series to educate the public on the benefits of solar energy.
Webisode No. 1 focuses on the Northeast capturing smaller residential and commercial applications, from a boat marina, fire station and horse farm, to a New York City rooftop and the Crayola Crayon manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania. Webisode No. 2 captures installations in the Midwest including a zoo (with ‘solar bears’), a gas station converted to a solar charging station for electric vehicles, the Ohio Governor’s mansion and a solar manufacturing facility. The last webisode (Webisode No. 3) covers larger scale solar in the West including Denver International Airport, a Garbett Homes community with both solar water heating and solar electric as standard features, Colorado State University, the ballpark of the 2010 World Series champions, the San Francisco Giants, and a Napa Valley vineyard.
Check it out and pass it on: www.solargenerationusa.org
Posted in Education, Energy, Energy $mart Communities, Energy Efficiency, New York City, Photovoltaics, Photovoltaics, Solar Power | Permalink
BUGBOT! A Gadget Building Workshop- SOLD OUT
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
example of a vibro-bot a.k.a. bugbot!
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone for their interest in Bugbot! THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT!
In this workshop, participants will learn how to construct a circuit that gathers solar energy and releases it in bursts, and then use it in the creation of a small, light-powered, vibro-bot. These Bugbots will respond directly to the intensity of the light that they are exposed to, using solar energy to power two vibrating pager motors. On a sunny day they will skitter about frantically… On cloudy days they will move intermittently as they build up energy.
During the course of this workshop, participants will be introduced the basics of solar electronics and circuit construction. Each participant will solder their own circuit board and build a Bugbot of their own to take home. Participants need no prior experience in this field. Just come with a willingness to learn!
Date: Saturday, March 13
Time: 1pm-5pm
Cost: $35 (covers materials and other workshop costs)
Taught by Christian Cerrito, Resident Researcher Interactive Telecommunications Program, NYU. Visit his website here!
Posted in Photovoltaics | Permalink
Green from the Inside Out March 27
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010| March 27, 2010 | ||
| 12:00 pm | to | 3:00 pm |
Green Your Home from the Inside Out!
Saturday, March 27th, 12pm – 3pm
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, Building P
1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island
Solar One, New York City’s green energy, arts & education center, in partnership with the NYC Compost Project and the NYC Department of Sanitation, presents Green From the Inside Out on Saturday, March 27 at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden.
Green From the Inside Out gives Staten Island homeowners the knowledge and resources they need to make their homes more environmentally friendly by saving energy (and money!), reducing waste, and recycling correctly. Come test your recycling knowledge, find out about composting, learn what incentives are available for your home improvements, find out if solar power and green roofs are right for you, and talk to vendors of green products and services. Featuring presentations by Solar One, the NYC Compost Project, the NYC Department of Sanitation, and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Energy $mart Communities.
Please RSVP to Celia Salgado at 212-505-6050 or celia@solar1.org.
Presentation Details:
Composting 101
The NYC Compost Project on Staten Island will discuss the simple steps involved in creating rich compost from household food scraps. Learn about the different ways to compost at home, how to effectively maintain a compost bin, troubleshoot common issues, and utilize the finished product in your garden.
Recycling and Beyond
Learn the basics and the fine print of New York City’s curbside recycling program. Best practices in waste prevention and reuse, as well as legislative updates on materials not collected curbside, such as plastic bags and rechargeable batteries, will be discussed.
Reducing Energy Costs Through Energy Efficiency
Find out how to save money, help the environment, and make your home even more comfortable. Learn easy tips for energy savings, as well as cost-effective ways to make a big difference in your home energy bills. Government and utility incentives for homeowners to make energy-efficiency improvements will be discussed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Energy $mart Communities Coordinator for Staten Island.
A Survey of Rooftop Solar Applications in NYC: Solar Thermal and Photovoltaics
Learn the difference between the two most common kinds of solar power used in New York City homes, and how to determine which application is right for you. Solar One’s Chris Neidl will review the generous government incentives currently available for solar and discuss how homeowners can find a solar installer. “White roofs” and “green roofs” will also be discussed.
Free event! Refreshments will be provided!
Posted in Energy, Energy $mart Communities, Energy Efficiency, Housing, New York City, NYSERDA, Photovoltaics, Photovoltaics, Recycling, Renewables, Solar One, Solar One Events, Solar Power, Sustainability, Waste | Permalink
