Governor Cuomo Announces $1.5 Billion in Funding for Energy Efficiency Improvements at Government Facilities Across New York

Press Release

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State will be strengthening its commitment to improving energy efficiency at state and local government buildings throughout New York. The New York Power Authority Board of Trustees has approved $1.5 billion in additional program funding over the next seven years as part of the Governor's BuildSmartNY program. Today's announcement supports the targets in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the most aggressive climate and clean energy law in the nation, through improved energy efficiency in government buildings that will reduce electricity demand by three percent annually, the equivalent of 1.8 million New York households, by 2025.

"New York State is leading by example in the fight against climate change because there is no time to waste." said Governor Cuomo. "State and local government buildings must be at the front of our effort to reduce energy use and emissions. This investment in energy efficiency improvements at government facilities is critical in achieving New York's energy goals and reducing our carbon footprint."

The NYPA board authorized investing in a wide variety of energy technology and renewable energy services, including energy audits, project engineering, design, installation and construction management. This strategic support will ensure that NYPA continues to meets its goal of substantially reducing energy usage by investing $300 million annually on energy efficiency and renewable measures at public facilities.

NYPA Chairman John R. Koelmel said, "This additional funding will ensure that the steady pipeline of the Power Authority's energy efficiency projects can continue well into the next decade. NYPA completed $340 million in energy-saving projects with our government partners around the state in 2018 and we will continue to work to reduce energy-use at government facilities to help meet the Governor's ambitious energy goals."

NYPA president and CEO Gil C. Quiniones said, "For New York to achieve the goals laid out in the Governor's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, we must significantly reduce our energy use. NYPA will continue its partnerships under BuildSmartNY with state and local governments to complete energy efficiency projects throughout the state and move New York closer to a clean energy economy."

BuildSmartNY energy efficiency projects include high efficiency lighting retrofits, occupancy and daylighting lighting sensors, building and energy management systems, boilers, chillers, air-handling systems, thermal storage, micro-grids, solar photovoltaic systems, digester gas systems, and emerging energy technologies. NYPA provides upfront financing with full cost recovery by its customers.

Over the last 20 years, the NYPA board has approved nearly $4 billion in spending on energy efficiency projects with state and local governments across the state. That money has supported hundreds of energy-saving projects. Those projects are directly linked to the fulfillment of BuildSmart NY and Executive Order 88, which calls for an increase in energy efficiency in state buildings by 20 percent by 2020.

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