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STEM

New York鈥檚 New Energy Leaders Debut at 黑料不打烊CoE Symposium

Monday, November 4, 2013, By Kathleen Haley
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The 黑料不打烊CoE Annual Symposium features the best and latest innovations in energy efficiency and indoor environmental air quality, among other topics.

The 黑料不打烊CoE is New York State鈥檚 Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems. Its 2013 Annual Symposium, held Oct. 21-22, attracted more than 400 attendees鈥攊ncluding industry practitioners, state and local officials, university faculty and students, and citizens鈥攆rom throughout New York, more than 30 communities across the United States, and internationally.

The three newest leaders of Governor Andrew Cuomo鈥檚 energy team appeared together during this year鈥檚 黑料不打烊CoE Symposium in a discussion moderated by Sherburne B. Abbott, vice president for sustainability initiatives at SU. From left are Richard Kauffman, chairman of energy and finance for New York and chairman of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); John Rhodes, president and CEO of NYSERDA; Abbott; and Audrey Zibelman, chair of the New York State Public Service Commission.

The three newest leaders of Governor Andrew Cuomo鈥檚 energy team appeared together during this year鈥檚 黑料不打烊CoE Symposium in a discussion moderated by Sherburne B. Abbott, vice president for sustainability initiatives at SU. From left are Richard Kauffman, chairman of energy and finance for New York and chairman of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); John Rhodes, president and CEO of NYSERDA; Abbott; and Audrey Zibelman, chair of the New York State Public Service Commission.

This year鈥檚 symposium addressed 鈥淯rban Reinvention and Resilience,鈥 including presentations on innovations to improve energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality in buildings, construction materials management, urban stormwater management using green infrastructure and community resilience through district energy systems.

This year, symposium highlights included a statewide first: the three newest leaders of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo鈥檚 energy team appeared together for a discussion of the state鈥檚 emerging clean energy economy. Symposium attendees left with renewed optimism for collaboration and progress in key financial, regulatory and programmatic areas.

The trio鈥擱ichard Kauffman, chairman of energy and finance for New York and chairman of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); John Rhodes, president and CEO of NYSERDA; and Audrey Zibelman, chair of the New York State Public Service Commission鈥攚as appointed over the past year by Cuomo to lead his ambitious plans to scale up clean energy and enhance New York鈥檚 competitiveness.

The three are working together and with the rest of the NYS energy leadership team, on strategies and policies to expand innovation in energy to boost the state鈥檚 clean energy economy and stimulate economic activity, while ensuring an affordable and reliable energy system.

鈥淕overnor Cuomo is committed to clean energy and New York has long been a leader in clean energy, but we want to do more,鈥 Kauffman told the symposium participants.

He encouraged the stakeholders to communicate with the state regarding existing market barriers, so they can determine what government tools may alleviate challenges and allow for private-sector forces to play a more significant role in the clean energy marketplace. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to hear from market participants,鈥 Kauffman said. 鈥淲e want to hear what鈥檚 going on in the market鈥攚hat鈥檚 working, what鈥檚 not.鈥

Louis Schick, a partner with NewWorld Capital Group, valued the invitation to offer ideas and help accelerate adoption of energy efficiency measures.

鈥淚t has been easy to become jaded and cynical about change and progress generally. Specifically, the gap between promise and progress in New York has traditionally been wide,鈥 Schick said. 鈥淭he state鈥檚 new top energy leaders have shown the will, courage and creativity in getting together, breaking traditional 鈥榝ief鈥 boundaries and addressing stubborn challenges.聽I am grateful for their time, consideration and optimism.鈥

Another industry leader at the event, Kevin LaMontagne, chief financial officer at Fulton Companies, also found the discussion encouraging for increased collaboration between government and business leaders.

鈥淚t was wonderful to hear the team鈥檚 commitment to working together to transform energy policy in New York,鈥 said LaMontagne. 鈥淚 was happy to see the team鈥檚 receptiveness to feedback and input from Central New York鈥檚 vibrant clean tech sector.鈥

Propel research

The dialogue and perspectives will also help inform the work of the 黑料不打烊CoE, as it seeks to propel research, development and education in environmental and energy innovations with its partners.

鈥淚t was a great privilege to hear from Gov. Cuomo鈥檚 newest energy leaders at the 黑料不打烊CoE Symposium this year,鈥 said Sherburne B. Abbott, vice president for Sustainability Initiatives and University Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at 黑料不打烊. 鈥淲e appreciated their candor and openness, and we look forward to working together to engage our partners in emerging statewide priorities and opportunities.鈥

During the symposium, Kauffman, Rhodes and Zibelman participated in a plenary panel moderated by Abbott at the Oncenter in downtown 黑料不打烊. The session was sponsored by the New York Power Authority.

鈥淲orking in policy in New York is especially rewarding because it鈥檚 so quick that we鈥檙e able to turn policy ideas into real actions,鈥 said Jill Anderson, NYPA chief of staff and director of energy policy. 鈥淵ou can actually see changes in our industry.鈥

Vision for clean energy economy

Kauffman, Rhodes and Zibelman discussed Gov. Cuomo鈥檚 vision for a new clean energy economy and such initiatives as the proposed 鈥淕reen Bank鈥 that will help attract private capital to accelerate clean energy projects.

鈥淭his state has all of the key ingredients to seize the opportunity: smart energy and environmental policies, outstanding academic institutions, tremendous R &D assets, a robust capital marketplace, big Fortune 500 companies in the market and smaller entrepreneurs entering the market,鈥 said Rhodes, adding that the governor is committed to seizing this opportunity.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also clear more needs to be done to create an environment where commercialization of clean energy technology can flourish in this state,鈥 Rhodes said.

The establishment of the Green Bank is helping in that area. 鈥淭he most important metric for the Green Bank will be the investments that it enables in clean energy projects,鈥 Rhodes said. 鈥淭he purpose of the Green Bank is to take Green Bank funds and leverage them with funds from other entities, principally the private sector, so you get a multiplier there. And because the monies go out of the Green Bank and come back, they then can go out again.鈥

Rethinking the system

As chair of the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates the state鈥檚 electric, gas, steam, telecommunications and water utilities, Zibelman addressed how she sees the role of the PSC in driving innovation and meeting demand. She noted how, as with any system, the electricity system will only work at its best when it works together and works efficiently and is aligned throughout the system.

鈥淲e鈥檙e at a point in time where we鈥檙e actually changing and fundamentally rethinking this system,鈥 Zibelman said. That includes thinking about the customer鈥檚 needs as an active part of the system, identifying and removing barriers in market entry and investing in infrastructure.

鈥淣ew York is in a fabulous position to have both national and international leadership. We certainly have the brains and we certainly have the energy鈥攚hat you鈥檙e seeing is an opportunity to turn this into a true benefit to the state,鈥 Zibelman said.

Kauffman also spoke about several principles that are driving changes in the state鈥檚 overall strategy in rethinking energy policies, including making change happen faster, encouraging innovation to achieve better value and choice for customers, leveraging ratepayer funds beyond grants and subsidies to maximize the benefit and enabling markets to work better. 鈥淲e know that market forces are powerful and by harnessing them we can do more,鈥 he said.

Fresh ideas

The 黑料不打烊 CoE building

The 黑料不打烊 CoE building

Ed Bogucz, executive director of 黑料不打烊CoE, welcomed the participation of Governor Cuomo鈥檚 new energy leaders at the symposium for their first joint appearance. 鈥淲e applaud their fresh ideas and their keen interest in connecting with New York firms and institutions that are creating innovations in clean energy and environmental systems,鈥 Bogucz said.

The energy leaders brought insights that will help shape the vision for New York鈥檚 energy future. 鈥淭he state is clearly on a path that is leading policy and programs nationally,鈥 said Jim Fox, CEO and chairman of the board of directors of O鈥橞rien & Gere. 鈥淐entral New York鈥檚 cluster of manufacturing, design and construction firms is extremely well positioned to develop innovative enabling technologies and deploy integrated solutions here and across the country.”

A transcript and video of the plenary session can be found at .

  • Author

Kathleen Haley

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