The report on the study, released by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, noted that,”Great Lakes Wind currently does not offer a unique, critical or cost-effective contribution toward the achievement of New York State’s Climate Act goals beyond what more cost-competitive programs are expected to deliver.”

This report said the conclusion is based on, “a fulsome analysis of the resource development costs, ratepayer impacts, expected State benefits, transmission and interconnection limitations, infrastructure and supply chain constraints, visual impacts, and potential environmental impacts of Great Lakes Wind.”

State Senator George Borrello heralded the report, saying, “I am encouraged that after nearly two years of intense study and stakeholder engagement on the environmental, economic and social issues surrounding the potential siting of wind turbines in Lakes Erie and Ontario, the commission members came to essentially the same assessment that opponents of this effort have advanced all along: the risks, costs and uncertainties are too great and the possible benefits too little to make a compelling case for these projects.

Borrello added that the study proves that, “Not all forms of renewable energy are worthwhile or make sense.”

To read the report, visit https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/great-lakes-wind-feasibility-study

BPU Business Development Coordinator Ellen Ditonto said the conference is one part of a $750,000 NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) grant the BPU received to help rebuild and retool Western New York.

She said the conference is designed for manufacturers, public sector employees, and businesses, “And this is to help us decide how can we become part of the climate tech, or clean tech, sector. As you know, there are federal and state legislation laws that have been passed now that require changes to reduce greenhouse gases and to move into alternative energy sources.”

Ditonto said they’re looking for manufacturers to move into clean technologies like making parts for electric vehicles (EVs), solar manufacturing, and wind power.

The conference will take place October 17 through 19.

Ditonto said a final webinar ahead of the conference will be held on Tuesday, September 13 featuring Empire State Development (ESD) Director of Industry Development David Whipple and Launch NY President and CEO Dr. Marnie LaVigne. The link to register is available here: https://whova.com/web/QI@22lQwk6A87Aa@hPTaGntUwUVryQuGtn7QxZ5vPZA=/%20%20Webinars/

FUZEHUB, which is a consortium of 11 not-for-profit agencies that provides resources to manufacturers in New York State, talked with Jamestown Board of Public Utilities‘ Kris Sellstrom about economic development opportunities available in the climate tech/clean tech supply chain. They also discussed how regional manufacturers can take advantage of financing opportunities from public and private sources to help transition their businesses.

Sellstrom also outlined the highlights of the conference that will take place October 17 through 19 in Jamestown.

The Jamestown BPU received a multi-year grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to facilitate a program with numerous economic development partners about the potential for climate tech manufacturing in our region. The Retool’22 Conference is one part of this initiative, which also includes manufacturing studies and marketing of our region to attract entrepreneurs and manufacturers.

The link to the podcast is available on the FUZEHUB website at https://fuzehub.com/podcasts/episode-52-revolutionizing-climate-tech-with-retool22/

Registration and agenda information for the Retool’22 Conference is available at: https://bit.ly/Retool22

The conference will be held October 17 through 19 at the Northwest Arena in downtown Jamestown.

It will feature keynote speakers and panelists on a wide variety of climate technology manufacturing topics, including representatives from companies that have successfully navigated this market through new ventures or collaborations with larger manufacturers to address supply chain needs. This premier event will be preceded by a series of webinars that will target specific resource opportunities at the state and federal levels in the climate technology sector.

The conference is supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), through a multi-year grant to the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities.

New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, approved in 2019, sets aggressive targets for decarbonization and reduction of greenhouse gases by 2050 with ambitious clean energy goals, including 100% zero-emissions electricity by 2040. The conference will focus on the wide variety of opportunities that are available to manufacturers and suppliers in the Western Southern Tier for access to climate technology experts, innovators and investors who believe that the region can be a successful contributor in this emerging sector.

The conference link to register is: www.jamestownbpu.com/350/Business-Development.

New York State’s Climate Action Council, Department of Environmental Conservation, and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the release of the plan which describes recommended policies and actions to help New York meet its ambitious climate directives as part of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act).

The Draft Scoping Plan, found at https://climate.ny.gov/, is available for a 120-day public comment period that started January 1. Residents may submit comments online, by email at scopingplan@nyserda.ny.gov, and via U.S. mail to Attention: Draft Scoping Plan Comments, NYSERDA, 17 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203-6399.

The public comment period will also include at least six public hearings across the State. Details and information about how to participate in the public hearings will be announced in early 2022.

The Climate Action Council’s seven advisory panels – Transportation, Agriculture and Forestry, Land Use and Local Government, Power Generation, Energy Efficiency and Housing, Energy Intensive and Trade Exposed Industries, and Waste – along with the Climate Justice Working Group and Just Transition Working Group, submitted recommendations for the Climate Action Council to consider in the development of the Draft Scoping Plan that will help guide the State in achieving its statutory obligations under the Climate Act to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase renewable energy development, ensure climate justice, and advance the State’s commitment to carbon neutrality economy-wide by 2050.

The recommendations from the advisory panels, along with feedback from the Climate Justice Working Group, helped to advance an integration analysis process, which provided a cost-benefit assessment of the strategies under consideration accounting for emissions reductions and health benefits.

The Draft Scoping Plan has now been submitted to the Governor and the Legislature. Public input received on the plan will be used by the Climate Action Council to help develop the Final Scoping Plan, which will be posted online and delivered to the Governor and the Legislature by January 1, 2023. The DEC will release regulations based on the plan by January 1, 2024.

In addition, the Governor directed the Department of Environmental Conservation to release a proposed regulation that would significantly reduce air pollution from trucks. If adopted, the regulation would accelerate zero-emission truck sales, with the intent of improving air quality statewide. The actions announced Wednesday in advance of Climate Week 2021 support New York’s ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050, as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, or CLCPA.

Under the new law, new off-road vehicles and equipment sold in New York are targeted to be zero-emissions by 2035, and new medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles by 2045. The law also requires the development of a zero-emissions vehicle development strategy by 2023, which will be led by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to expedite the implementation of the State policies and programs necessary to achieve the law’s new goals.

According to a media release from the BPU,  the program is designed to facilitate innovation focusing on climate technology company formation, enhance regional workforce development, create jobs in the growing clean energy sector, and strengthen connections among manufacturers across the Western Southern Tier counties of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany.

The funding was awarded under NYSERDA’s “Accelerate the Southern Tier” program opportunity, which seeks to boost the formation and growth of early-stage innovation in the Southern Tier to help New York State advance its climate and clean energy goals and continues development of the region to help foster growth of climate technology businesses.

“We are very pleased that New York State leadership recognizes that significant investment in climate technology manufacturing will benefit existing Jamestown-area companies as well as to help attract new companies to the region,” says BPU General Manager David Leathers. “This BPU-led program supports our western New York legacy as a manufacturing powerhouse in the State and speaks to our potential as a climate technology manufacturing resource for decades to come.”

The Manufacturing Clean Energy in the Southern Tier project will encompass four initiatives:

• Climate Technology Studies designed to evaluate the regional and individual manufacturer’s potential to enter the climate technology manufacturing market in the Western Southern Tier.
• Climate Technology Workforce Development which will augment training and educational programming at Jamestown Community College.
• Climate Technology Manufacturing Conference and Tradeshow held in Jamestown and designed to attract manufacturing interests from across the country.
• Climate Technology Marketing Campaign promoting the Western Southern Tier’s status as a climate technology manufacturing hub for the expanding domestic supply chain.

“Climate technology businesses provide a bright future for innovative manufacturers and, in the Western Southern Tier, we’re poised to capitalize on that future,” adds Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist. “The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities stands as one of the most important economic development assets in our region. With our partners, this award will help us identify our shared potential to augment climate technology manufacturing, promote the region as a climate technology ‘hub’ and contribute locally to a 21st Century workforce.”

“Jamestown and Chautauqua County businesses can only benefit from a program designed to augment our successful local companies and attract new partners, new ideas and new investment,” states Todd Tranum, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer. “Doing so now, at a time of critical need for our region, exemplifies our relentless determination to build a better future.”

“The Gebbie Foundation looks forward to being a part of bringing a Climate Technology Conference and Tradeshow to the Jamestown area as soon as it is safe and prudent to do so,” says Greg Edwards, Chief Executive Officer at the Gebbie Foundation. “In keeping with the Foundation’s strategic focus of revitalizing downtown Jamestown, we invest in community and economic development projects such as this, that draw further investment from public and private partners. By becoming known as an ideal conference and convention location, we can attract people to our region to experience all the area has to offer.”

This effort complements New York State’s national-leading climate and clean energy goals as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to lower greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050. The Accelerate Southern Tier Awards complements other State innovation and economic development initiatives such as the 76West Clean Energy Business Competition and Southern Tier Soaring.

76West recently awarded $2.5 million to four companies, to expand operations in the region, and previous competition finalists and semifinalists have successfully integrated themselves, raising $51 million in private capital, making multimillion-dollar investments in property and equipment in the region while spending more than $1.7 million on key suppliers.

Workforce training through Jamestown Community College (JCC) will increase the number of available skilled workers with knowledge of clean energy-specific technologies.

“Jamestown Community College is pleased to be part of the Manufacturing the Climate Technology Future in the Southern Tier consortium in partnership with the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, which calls for a four-pronged initiative designed to facilitate climate technology company formation, growth, recruitment, and job creation across the Western Southern Tier counties,” says JCC President Daniel DeMarte.

“JCC’s specific role in this initiative,” continues DeMarte, “is to develop a Climate Technology program comprised of fundamental courses in residential and commercial electricity as well as more advanced offerings in Building Automation Systems focusing on the installation, repair, and maintenance of computer-based systems designed to control a building’s mechanical and electrical equipment including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and energy management systems. Courses will be available beginning fall 2021.”

Students in JCC’s program can also benefit from scholarship support from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (CRCF).

“The CRCF is proud of its heritage administering over 300 scholarship funds to local students,” explains the Foundation’s Executive Director, Tory Irgang. “This partnership will offer our local students access to unique training and education for good paying jobs in this growing sector of our economy.”

The intended impact from the program will extend beyond Jamestown’s borders across Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties.
“With more Americans working in climate technology-related industries than ever before, job growth in this sector continues to exceed expectations,” notes Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CEO of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA). “The CCIDA and our counterparts in the Western Southern Tier—a region with more than 330 manufacturers responsible for more than $7.5 billion dollars of commerce—see tremendous value in making smart investments in climate technology manufacturing.”

Boosting manufacturers across the three counties is a significant goal of the program. Through individual manufacturing studies evaluating value-added investments in climate technology to a conference and tradeshow event meant to connect local firms with national investors and potential partners, new ideas and new jobs are on the agenda.

“Emerging climate technologies and the long-term trend toward sustainable climate technology solutions presents myriad opportunities for manufacturers across the Western Southern Tier,” says Tim Piazza, talent pipeline and apprenticeship coordinator at the Manufacturing Association of the Southern Tier (MAST). “From individual studies analyzing a manufacturer’s potential to efficiently enter the climate technology supply chain, to conferences and shared marketing designed to draw attention to the region, the program’s benefits are substantial.”

“I’m so proud of the JBPU and City of Jamestown team members who led the successful application process, along with a long list of local and regional community partners,” says Leathers. “This grant award outcome is recognition of a tremendous example of preparedness, teamwork and collaboration.”

Supporters of the proposal include: the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, Chautauqua County Visitors’ Bureau, Chautauqua County Education Coalition, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, the City of Jamestown Department of Development, the Gebbie Foundation, Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, the Manufacturer’s Association of the Southern Tier, and the Small Business Development Center.

76West is a $20 million business competition and business support program geared toward identifying innovative, clean-energy businesses to locate or create jobs in New York’s 11-county Southern Tier.

According to the governor, the competition will create jobs, attract entrepreneurs and support the Governor’s Reforming the Energy Vision strategy to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers. Cuomo also said it’s one of the largest clean-energy business competitions in the nation.

The competition consists of $10 million in dedicated prize money, and $10 million for business support, marketing and administration. Each year, 76West will distribute a total of $2.5 million in prizes, consisting of a $1 million grand prize, one $500,000 award and four $250,000 awards. Additional support and services may also be available, including mentorship and incubator space.

The name 76West refers to a longitudinal line that passes through the Southern Tier. The competition will run once a year from 2016 to 2019 and will be administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

The program is now accepting applications from developers throughout the Southern Tier, including Chautauqua County. An application and contest information is available at nyserda.ny.gov/76west.