Just In! for March 25, 2023

The weekly newsletter of the New York Geothermal Energy Organization (NY-GEO)

Just In! is NY-GEO's weekly news feed for members. NY-GEO's calendar-year memberships are open to everyone and available for as little as $35. See more information on memberships here. If we send you a complementary copy and you're not a member of NY-GEO, it means we value your role in the transition to renewable heating, but without a membership, please don't count on getting Just In! weekly.

Beacon Adopts All-Electric Construction Law – Mid-Hudson News - “The Beacon City Council Monday (March 20^th) passed environmentally friendly legislation, which will require all electric construction beginning in 2024. ‘We think it’s the right thing to do, said City Councilman George Mansfield. We will be leading by example and hopefully others will follow suit…There will be no more gas hookups, no more oil heat,’ said Mansfield. ‘It will be all-electric, and then ultimately we hope all-electric will be generated in sustainable ways.’ Beacon becomes the third city in the state, after New York City and Ithaca, to pass bans on new building construction using fossil fuels as part of the design. “ Article link here.

Supporters from BeaCan celebrate All-Electric win. NY-GEO Director of Operations JR Rath (3^rd from right) was first to testify in a February 27^th hearing on the measure.



Canary Media Reviews The Future of Gas in New York State Report – Jeff St. John - Canary Media – We ran a brief on this very important report in last week’s Just In!..Canary Media has published a concise review of the report: “If New York wants to meet its climate goals, the state’s gas utilities can’t stick to business as usual. Nor can they keep investing billions of dollars in maintaining and expanding the nearly 50,000 miles of gas pipeline they’ve laid over the course of the past half-century. Instead, state regulators have to start acting now to force the nearly 150-year-old industry to undergo a ‘managed, phased transition’ to a new carbon-free path — or the consequences could be catastrophic. That’s the key takeaway of the Future of Gas in New York State report released last week by the nonprofit Building Decarbonization Coalition.” Article link here.

Budget Hearing with Strong Emphasis on Geothermal – On Tuesday, March 21^st , the NYS Senate and Assembly held joint hearings focused on the highlights of their recently release One-House budgets. The Environment/Agriculture/Housing Budget Subcommittee, headed by Environmental Conservation Committee chairs Pete Harckham (Senate) and Deborah Glick (Assembly) held a lively discussion with several references to geothermal heating and cooling. Republicans in the session mounted attacks on the NYS Climate Action Plan. Link to 30-minute video here

Environmental Conservation chairs Pete Harckham (middle) and Deborah Glick (right)

The Driller Newscast Features NY-GEO ED, Christine Hoffer –Host Brock Yordy talks to Christine Hoffer, executive director of NY-GEO, about the group’s April 26-27, 2023, conference in Albany, N.Y., and near-term plans to recruit more drillers into geothermal. Christine talks about taking on NY-GEO’s Executive Director position, the impacts of the federal IRA, NYS legislation energy/environmental legislation, drilling regulations, workforce development and growing NY-GEO’s membership. Nice job Christine! Also, the newscast starts out with a very interesting interview with Rachel Bourne, a driller from Hamilton, Ontario, who goes by BourneToDrill on Instagram. Check it out at Episode 51 – The Driller Newscast. (Christine’s interview starts at 21:30)

Renewables Shine in March and April – Jeff St. John – Canary Media - "Solar, wind and hydropower fluctuate seasonally. At some times of the year, they’re now providing as much as a third of electricity to the U.S. grid… the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis has…(tracked) utility-scale wind, solar and hydropower as a share of U.S. electricity generation from 2019 to 2022. Using data from the Energy Information Administration’s Hourly Grid Monitor…Spring is when relatively abundant sun, wind and water coincide with relatively low demand for electricity. Those are ideal conditions for the country’s fast-growing solar and wind resources to displace power generation from coal and fossil-gas power plants.” Article link here.

Where Does NY’s Electric System Rank? Inside Climate News has published a blog ranking US states on their performance in the transition to carbon free electricity. We’ve shown you 3 of their key graphics over the past few weeks. This week’s summary chart ranks states on their 2022 total carbon free electricity generation, adding up renewables and nuclear in each state. Texas is the leader, with New York ranked 6^th. Blog link here.

Heat Pumps Are Already Ubiquitous in Asia. When Will the US Catch Up? – Julian Spector - Canary Media – “A recent trip to East Asia prompted our correspondent to reframe his understanding of heat pumps, the crucial tool for cleaning up the heating and cooling of buildings…the heat pump is an up-and-coming entrant in the U.S. clean energy arena. The product just had a record year with 4.3 million unit sales, beating gas furnace purchases for 2022…. the same heat pumps that are deemed new and exciting in the U.S. are old news elsewhere, ubiquitous in the urban landscapes of places like Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City and Taipei."  Article link here.

Mapped: Biggest Sources of Electricity by State and Province - Selin Oğuz - Graphics/Design: Alejandra Dander and Clayton Wadsworth - Elements - “On a national scale, the United States and Canada rely on a very different makeup of sources to generate their electricity. The U.S. primarily uses natural gas, coal, and nuclear power, while Canada relies on both hydro and nuclear. That said, when zooming in on the province or state level, individual primary electricity sources can differ greatly. Here’s a look at the electricity generation in the states and provinces of these two countries using data from the Nuclear Energy Institute (2021) and the Canada Energy Regulator (2019). Since 2011, Visual Capitalist is committed to making the world’s information more accessible—simplifying an increasingly complex world through data-driven, visual storytelling. Thanks to George Fishler of Aztech Geothermal for this tip. Full article - click here or on the image.

North Carolina Approves First Wind Farm – John Engel – Renewable Energy World – North Carolina regulators have approved Apex Clean Energy’s request to build a 189 MW wind farm, the state’s first, in Chowan County.  The permit allows for up to 45 wind turbines and associated infrastructure to be built as part of the Timbermill Wind project. Full story here

A Danish Fossil Fuel Company Transitions To Wind Power – Renewable Energy World – Ørsted, formerly Danish Oil and Natural Gas, started aggressively building wind farms off the coast of Denmark, the U.K. and Germany in 2008. The company sold off its North Sea oil and gas assets to focus on clean energy. Currently, Ørsted is building offshore wind farms along the East Coast of the U.S., in Europe and in Taiwan, and aims to build 50 gigawatts of clean energy generation by 2030. Full story here

2023 RHN Legislative and Budget Agenda - The Renewable Heat Now Campaign (RHN) is organizing to win funding and policies that will move fossil fuels out of our buildings affordably and equitably. The legislative package includes the All-Electric New Building Act (S00562-A/A00920-A - Kavanaugh/Gallagher) that would sunset fossil fuels in new construction starting January 1, 2024. It also includes the NY Home Energy Equitable Transition (HEAT) Act – (S2016/A4592 – Krueger/Fahy) and the Energy Efficiency, Equity and Jobs Act (S3126c/A3996c – Parker/Hunter). In addition, RHN has also released an agenda for the NYS budget, which is currently being negotiated by the Governor and the Legislature. See more on the Renewable Heat Now Legislative Package here.

Contractors Corner:

Sullivan County Installation Opportunity - Isaac Gottlieb - Fallsburg Pediatrics - "Our project is a pediatric office with a two story apartment above and two rear buildings. It involves approximately 3,000 sf of indoor radiant heating, heat pumps, and around 3000 sf of exterior radiant snow melt. To the side of the building is a vacant lot where we wish to place boreholes for geothermal. We are looking for a consultant to help us tie this all together, design a workable plan, and be available for consulting as we progress." got4200@yahoo.com

Summer 2023 in 5 Images: What Contractors Can Expect - Cory Allyn – Energy Circle - “Every home services contractor would love to have a magic crystal ball that lets them peek into the future. Unfortunately, the best we can offer you are educated guesses… plus, a little data and statistics to back up our claims! If you’re an insulation, home performance, HVAC, or solar contractor looking for clues about what summer 2023 will be like for your contracting business, here are five of Energy Circle’s best takes” Article link here.

NY-GEO Member Map-Here's the map we refer folks to when we get requests for services or interest in a geothermal install.

Click here or on the image above to see the live version of the map

Climate Updates:

UN Report: Window for limiting Global Warming is Closing – Andrew Freedman – Axios – “A stark new U.N. climate change report warns that humanity stands at the precipice of a more dangerous world, but says it has the tools needed to pull back from the brink…By the time the next IPCC assessment report is issued in five to seven years, the report suggests that human actions may have rendered the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target, and possibly even its 2°C benchmark, infeasible… Current climate actions are taking place too slowly, the report shows. ‘We are walking when we should be sprinting,’ said IPCC chair Hoesung Lee at a Monday press conference. “ Full article link here.

The One UN Climate Report Graphic You Need to See - Andrew Freedman – Axios – A new graphic released Monday from the UN climate panel… illustrates how future warming depends on various emissions scenarios, and shows how climate change already affects — and is poised to alter — the lives of generations born in 1950, 1980, and 2020…It underscores the responsibility people currently have to alter course on greenhouse gas emissions in the decades and centuries ahead. Article link here

Cyclone Freddy Displaces Over 1,000,000 People in Africa - Democracy Now - “Cyclone Freddy, a world-record-breaking extreme storm, slammed Southern Africa not once but twice, wreaking devastation, killing over 500 people in Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar and displacing over one million people.” The article notes this happened as “the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, released its Sixth Synthesis Report, summarizing almost a decade of global scientific research on climate change and issuing its direst warnings yet on the urgency of immediate, concerted global climate action. Cyclone Freddy was the longest-lived and highest-energy tropical cyclone in recorded history. The storm was named on February 6th, as it developed off the northwest coast of Australia. Freddy headed west over the Pacific Ocean, building force from the historically high ocean surface temperatures, slamming into the island nation of Madagascar on February 21st. After then spending five days inundating Mozambique, Freddy retreated to the waters offshore, again building strength… Freddy arrived again, pummeling Mozambique and southern Malawi for four days before dissipating. The World Food Program and other aid agencies are scrambling to reach people cut off by the torrential rain, flooding and mudslides." Article link here. .

Frequent Sources for Just In! briefs:

Green Energy Times

City & State First Read

POLITICO Weekly NY & NJ Energy email)

Canary Media

National Building Electrification Network & Sunstone Strategies



Just in! thanks NY-GEO board member John Ciovacco of Aztech Geothermal for his frequent proofreading contributions to this publication and Paul Maliszewski for his work on the briefs.

EVENTS:

*Indicates a New Listing or Updated Information

2023 04 26-27 – Conference Registration Is OPEN - NY-GEO’s annual conference brings together the best of the best in the geothermal heat pump industry. The conference will be hosted at the Albany Marriott and will include dynamic Main Stage presenters, educational breakout sessions, dynamic exhibitors showcasing equipment and information, along with plenty of time to mix, mingle and connect. To register and learn more, click here. 

*2023 03 27 – IRA Implementation Series - 12:30-2:00 pm ET – Learn about “the latest tax credit guidance (25C/D, 45L, 179D, 48(e), and labor standards and prevailing wage requirements. We will also be joined by Kristina Costa from the White House, who will also share broader updates on IRA implementation! Register here. This briefing series is an opportunity to hear from Federal Electrification Policy Coalition (FEPC) experts about the latest updates on IRA implementation. If you missed the first three installments of this series, you can view the recordings here: Part 1 on buildings-related tax credits and affordable housing and Part 2 on DPA and GHGRF and Part

3 EPA Pollution Reduction Programs in Environmental Justice Communities.”

*2023 03 27 – Clean Energy Career – 6:00-7:30 pm ET – Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow (NEST)  Please join us for a Clean Energy Careers webinar where we will discuss tips and resources for conducting a job search in the clean energy field and holding a panel with current professionals. The panel are all former Nest Energy Corps interns (120 & counting) and my current team organized it! Feel free to share widely! Registration link is here.”

*2023 03 30 - Clean Green Schools: Opportunities for Engagement, Implementation and Learning – 6:00-7:00 pm EST – New Yorkers for Clean Power – “The teach-in will highlight a variety of climate initiatives in schools: from bringing hydroponic farming into our classrooms, to transitioning schools to modern HVAC systems, to advocating for our schools to commit to net zero emissions, to state investments that make our schools healthier and more productive learning environments. You can register for the Teach-In here”

2023 04 06 - Renewable Heat Now Power Hour – 7:00-8:00 pm ET – Renewable Heat Now (RHN) is organizing intensively for a package of NY legislature bills designed to aid NY’s transition to clean, fossil-fuel free heating. Join RHN for its monthly strategy meeting designed to inspire and inform. Register here.

2023 06 08 – Clean Heat Program Stakeholders Meeting – 9:00-10:00 am ET - The NYS Clean Heat Utility Joint Management Committee (JMC) will host the next quarterly meeting of the Working Group Series for Participating Contractors and Industry Partners. This series is billed as an ongoing platform for contractors and industry partners affiliated with NYS Clean Heat to discuss program improvements and address questions related to the program. Meeting link here.



Can You Find Your Picture from NY-GEO 2022? – Over 1,000 pictures from NY-GEO’s annual conference have made it to the web. See if you can find yourself among the 450 who took part in this groundbreaking event that annually celebrates and advances the most efficient and economical way to heat and cool our homes and places of work. Check out these pictures shot by Rachel Collett and John Ciovacco. Here’s Day 1 and here’s Day 2

List of Climate Tech Job Boards - Elaine Reddy – Ad Hoc Group – The Ad Hoc Group has put together a list of 27 climate tech related job boards.

Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE) seeks:

- an Outreach Manager to develop outreach strategies for the newly created Central New York Clean Energy Hub, which will connect people to the clean energy economy and its benefits, including clean energy careers, improved energy affordability, home improvements, and rebates for businesses and transportation. The Outreach Manager will be managing a 4-person outreach team and coordinating all aspects of outreach to community members throughout the Central New York Region.

- four Energy Advisors for the CNY Clean Energy Hub to reach diverse communities throughout CNY with Hub materials, workshops, and energy affordability/clean energy opportunities.

- a Regulatory Attorney/Regulatory Advocate to spearhead our work in utility rate cases and regulatory proceedings in New York State advancing building electrification, ending our dependence on methane gas, increasing energy efficiency, energy affordability, and renewable energy generation, and preventing false solutions from capturing public funding.

- a Communications Director to build a public face for AGREE in our local Central New York community as well as across the state in order to support ongoing campaigns, respond to real-time developments and policy emergencies, and strategically raise AGREE’s profile and increase our constituent base.

(listed January 14, 2023) The postings are available here.



PWGC Environmental Engineers, Bohemia, NY - Geothermal Engineer – PWGC, a multi-year award-winning environmental engineering firm seeks an experienced professional engineer for closed loop geothermal projects in the downstate New York area. Expert knowledge of commercial building sciences, mechanical system design, conventional HVAC, heat pump technologies, building automation and energy modeling applications. This position requires 5-10 years related experience, bachelor’s degree in civil, mechanical or chemical engineering and a PE License. Advanced knowledge of CAD 3D and 4D software and REVIT. Interested? Send your resume to hr@pwgrosser.com or apply on our website at pwgrosser.com/careers 

PUSH Policy Coordinator - People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH Buffalo) seeks a Policy Coordinator to support the work of the Policy & Strategy department, with a focus on local, state, and regional climate and environmental justice policies in the areas of transportation electrification, power generation, building decarbonization, and equitable investment. (listed 2022 08 27) The posting is available here



Sustainable Westchester - Clean Energy Associate, EnergySmart Homes. (Location: Mount Kisco, NY) - The Community Energy Advisor (CEA) is a full time position at Sustainable Westchester. This position will provide assistance, direction, organization, coordination of programs that work to inform residents, multifamily building owners, and small businesses, with an emphasis in low-to-moderate income and priority communities, of the options for adopting clean energy strategies in their homes and businesses. $50k-$60k/year. (listed 2022 08 06) The posting is available here

Sustainable Westchester - Marketing, Communications and Outreach Director. (Location: Mount Kisco, NY) The Director of Marketing, Communications and Outreach will be responsible for developing and implementing Sustainable Westchester’s marketing, communication and outreach plans & strategies including public relations, digital communications, key messaging, storytelling and brand experience. $75k-$80k/year.  (listed 2022 08 06) The posting is available here

Clean Energy Associate (PAID INTERNSHIP) - Sustainable Westchester aims to educate and train the next generation of leaders in sustainability in Westchester. We hire students and recent graduates who have the skills, passion, intelligence and maturity to take on significant responsibility to help bring clean energy solutions to our residents. Throughout the duration of the position, associates may work with elected officials, municipal leaders, community members, subject matter experts, and consultants to provide a one-of-a-kind experience. We are committed to providing these valuable work opportunities to people from communities that have been underrepresented in the environmental field. (listed 2022 08 06) See Sustainable Westchester website for more.

Rewiring America – Federal Senior Policy Manager – The FSPM will own and drive critical efforts to influence federal policy initiatives. This role will manage the Federal policy team and lobbyists, lead the strategy and execution of federal policy, oversee targeted research and the drafting of key content, and provide critical perspectives in support of the multi-pronged policy strategy for Rewiring. This important work will continue and grow Rewiring America’s ability to affect federal policy, removing key barriers for electrification. (listed 2022 07 09) The posting is available here.

Rewiring America – Local Policy Director - With a clear vision, smart strategies, and significant and sustained financial support, Rewiring America is growing rapidly. As the Local Policy Manager on the Policy team you will lead on efforts to influence local policy initiatives around the country, particularly in public schools. This role will drive policy strategy, targeted research, support the drafting of policy and campaign documents, and provide input into the policy team’s public school electrification work. (listed 2022 07 09) The posting is available here.

Sierra Club Campaign Representative - Building Electrification (Location: MA/CT) - The Sierra Club seeks a strategic, collaborative, and equity-focused Campaign Representative to advance initiatives to end fossil fuel use in homes and buildings across Massachusetts and Connecticut. In this newly created position, the Campaign Representative will join a regional team that is working to address the climate crisis by moving the Northeast from dirty to clean energy… They represent Sierra Club to government officials, the media, business and community leaders, allies and other organizations, and the public. (listed 2022 07 09) The posting is available here. 

 The Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee Finger Lakes Region – Is looking to hire two staff members: 

·    The Manager of Organizational Programs will lead our efforts to educate, inspire, and support businesses and nonprofits that want to take action on climate.

·    The Program Director will be in charge of developing an exciting new program that we're not allowed to talk about until our contract with the funder is fully executed (which makes the hiring process a bit complicated). (listed 2022 05 28). The posting is available here. 

Hudson Valley Climate Leadership Coordinator-The Hudson Valley Regional Council is hiring for a full-time Climate Leadership Coordinator. The successful applicant will carry out tasks related to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Climate Leadership Support Services Program for the seven-county Mid-Hudson Region. The Regional Council is looking forward to welcoming another collaborative, passionate, and motivated member to the team!  (listed 2022 05 14) The posting is available here.

Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE) – is excited to announce that our organization is growing, and we are looking to fill the key position of Research Fellow. We seek passionate, intelligent, and kind people who work well both independently and as part of a team, and who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get stuff done.” (listed 2022 04 09).

Acadia Center is Hiring - for an energy efficiency and building energy justice manager, a senior energy attorney and a climate and energy policy analyst (listed 2022 03 05)  Click here for more information.

“Energy Department Will Recruit 1,000 Additional Staffers For New Corps To Tackle The Climate Crisis • The DOE is starting up a Clean Energy Corps to help implement the bipartisan infrastructure law and develop clean-energy solutions to the climate crisis, the agency said. It will hire 1,000 new employees through a newly launched hiring portal.” (from 2022 01 14 Green Energy News) [CNN]

HVAC Project Manager – Aztech Geothermal, Ballston Spa, NY – Aztech Geothermal, a well-respected Geothermal Heat Pump design-build contractor, is seeking an experienced HVAC Project Manager responsible for estimating project costs, purchasing/sourcing materials & equipment, project planning including management of technicians and subcontractors. This position requires 3-5+ years' experience in Residential &/or Commercial HVAC, including AC/heat pump equipment, power and control wiring, HVAC plumbing, and sheetmetal/air distribution systems. Strong candidates must be comfortable with computers and common Microsoft programs with ability to learn industry specific analysis software. Interested? Send your resume to info@aztechgeo.com.

Mechanical Design Engineer – Geothermal Focus – CHA Consulting - CHA Consulting, Inc. is an innovative, full-service engineering consulting and construction management firm working to responsibly improve the world we live in. Currently seeking a PE mechanical engineer with experience in the design of geothermal systems to support building scale and district geothermal project development, feasibility, design and construction. CGD certification preferred. Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Northern NJ or Boston based. More here (Listed 2021 10 04)

UHAB is Hiring -UHAB (Urban Homesteading Assistance Board ) is hiring a Project Associate focusing on Energy Services, including Co-ops Go Solar, Clean Heat for Co-ops, and other energy efficiency and energy-reducing renewable technology partnerships... We also have a few other positions posted, for a part-time Affordable Housing Loan Officer, and a full-time Project Associate on the Co-op Improvement Program who’ll provide services to distressed affordable buildings. All of the job postings are viewable on our website here. I appreciate your help to get the word out within your networks!” From email from Emily Ng.

Aztech Geothermal is Hiring- Seeking an Experienced Heat Pump Technician in NY's Capital District - Aztech Geothermal is looking for an Experienced Residential HVAC Technician in the Capital Region to join our growing installation and service business based in Ballston Spa. Geothermal heat pump experience a plus. but not required; we are willing to train the right individual. Our company is based in Ballston Spa and principally serves the Capital District, Hudson Valley and Western Massachusetts. More Information

“Dandelion Energy is growing its Drilling Department and we are looking for Senior/Master Drillers to operate our new rigs and lead our on-site drilling efforts for residential geothermal projects.In this role, you will make a significant impact in redefining how residential ground heat exchangers are installed which will lay the groundwork for Dandelion’s future growth and success. The Senior Driller will be directly responsible for the production rate of geothermal boreholes, the operation, and maintenance of equipment, the safety of on-site workers, and delivering feedback to both the Operations and Engineering team on how to optimize the overall process. For more information about the Senior Driller opening please apply here: https://boards.greenhouse.io/dandelionenergy/jobs/4879245002

Not a Senior Driller? check out our other exciting opportunities on our career site: https://dandelionenergy.com/jobs”

 

Ongoing – NYSERDA is hiring! The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has ongoing recruitment opportunities. Join our email list or check this page periodically to learn about new career opportunities. All qualified individuals will be evaluated for each relevant position for which they apply. Opportunities include:

NYSERDA Career Opportunities

NY Green Bank Career Opportunities

Paid Fellowship Opportunities

Paid Internship Opportunities

To learn more about NYSERDA, please visit our social media channels.



NY-GEO is not necessarily notified when jobs are filled. If you find one of these jobs are no longer available, please let us know.