November 20 summit will address New York’s future energy needs 

BEACON, NY —Transitioning to a Green Energy Economy: How Municipalities Can Benefit, a sustainable energy summit set to take place on Thursday, November 20 will explore how New York can ensure energy reliability and economic sustainability for its future. Municipal officials, board and commission members, mayors, supervisors, and those interested in understanding New York’s energy system will have an opportunity to learn what opportunities are available and how to finance this much needed transition.

New York State and the Mid-Hudson Region are actively working to transition to a Green Energy Economy that is based increasingly on renewables and energy efficiency. Elected officials can play a key role in this transition and can make the decision to support a variety of initiatives, such as Community Choice Aggregation, (CCA), Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Smart Feed-in Tariffs (FITs), standardized solar permitting, and other green energy initiatives.

Actively transitioning to a green energy economy holds great potential for the region by creating a foundation for many thousands of good jobs, while providing environmental benefits. However, how can a municipality reduce energy costs while ensuring more solar, wind, and hydroelectric generation? How will this transition be financed? This summit will address these questions and more.

WHAT: Transitioning to a Green Energy Economy: How Municipalities Can Benefit.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 20; 9:00AM – 1:30PM. Coffee & networking from 9:00 to 9:20AM. Program will start promptly at 9:20AM

WHERE: Kaplan Hall, One Washington Center, on the SUNY/Orange Newburgh Campus (map)

WHO:  In order to make wise energy decisions, municipal leaders need a solid foundation of understanding about how New York’s energy system works, our future energy needs, what municipalities can do, and what incentives and opportunities are available to them, and to their residential and business constituents.

This summit is free and open to the public. Mid-Hudson elected officials and municipal leaders are encouraged to attend.

Participants are asked to pre-register online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/TGEE.

For more information, contact Manna Jo Greene, Environmental Action Director, at MannaJo@Clearwater.org, or (845) 265-8080, x7113.

AGENDA
Click here to download the agenda

Welcoming Remarks & Keynote by Mark Z. Jacobson, Stanford University

•Understanding New York’s Electric Grid and Natural Gas Infrastructure:
Existing and Proposed Infrastructure
Thomas Rumsey, New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)

•Beyond the Grid:  Decentralized Power Generation and Utilization – the Way of Future;
Balancing loads for a more robust energy portfolio using batteries, hydrogen fuel cells and pump storage
Tim Corrigan, New York Power Authority (MYPA)

•Mid-Hudson Regional Energy Plan Energy
Leo Wiegman, Mayor of Croton

•Fuel Diversity in New York
Panel Discussion with Q&A

•Energy Efficiency:  Energize Case Study in Innovative Financing
Mark Thielking, EnergizeNY/Energy Improvement Corporation (EIC)

•How Municipalities Can Lead the Way and How NYSERDA Can Help
Priscilla Richards, NYSERDA

•Funding the Transition to a Green Energy Economy
Panel Discussion with Q&A 

This Summit is co-sponsored by: Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE), Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach (CRREO), Central Hudson, Citizens for Local Power (CLP), Courtney-Strong, Croton Energy Group (CEG), CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities (CISC), EnergizeNY/EIC, Green Guru, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Hudson Valley Regional Council, Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance, IBEW Local 363, Joule Assets, Mid-Atlantic Transition Hub (MATH), Mid-Hudson League of Women Voters, NY Solar Energy Society, Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium (NWEAC), NYS Builders Association (NYSBA) Research & Education Foundation, Orange County Planning Department, Re>Think Local, Riverkeeper, RUPCO, Sierra Club, Southern Westchester Energy Consortium (SWEAC), Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development (SASD), Sullivan County Sustainability Department, Sunrise Solar, Sustainable Hudson Valley (SHV), Sustainable Warwick, US Green Building Council/NYS Upstate Chapter.