Room M2A
Room Proctor: John Rath / NY-GEO, Director of Operations
10:30 am
Project Scenario Planning During a Period of Uncertainty
This session will help large building electrification projects think productively about how to hold it together with the high degree of incentive uncertainty. We will hear from key industry consultants and stakeholders who will look to broaden your sense of what’s possible. Bring your worries about Plan A and get ready to develop Plans B & C.
Moderator:
- Derek Dwyer / Enertech USA
Panel:
- Jacob Goldman / Energy Tax Savers
- Christina McPike / WinnCompanies
- Victor Braciszewski / SmithGroup
11:45 am
Lead By Example! Geothermal Projects for NYS Facilities
The concept of “Lead by Example” is an initiative by NYS and municipally owned buildings to electrify first, essentially to take a lead in building decarbonization. This session will showcase some of those buildings with geothermal heat pumps or advanced plans for large scale decarbonizations.
Moderator:
- Jack Dienna / GEO NII
Panel:
- Indu Lnu / University at Albany
- James Morier / NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
- Lachlan Squair / SUNY Oneonta
1:45 pm
Meeting Labor Requirements on UTEN & Large Projects
The Federal Inflation Reduction Act included labor wage and apprenticeship requirements for any project over One Megawatt (1 MW) of thermal energy. At about the same time the NYS law called the Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act (UTEN) also made reference to wage and apprenticeship requirements, albeit in a somewhat different way. As a result, larger geothermal heat pump projects and all UTEN projects advancing with the 7 largest utilities, are doing their best to understand and meet the requirements of these labor provisions.
Moderator:
- Christine Hoffer / NY-GEO
Panel:
- Emily Engman / Eide Bailly
- Tom Carrigan / Local 7
- Harrison Watkins / LiUNA
- Michael Lyons / IUOE 158
3:00 pm
Non-Pipeline Alternatives: Bringing Together Utilities & the Heat Pump Industry
Natural gas pipeline expansions are being evaluated carefully and alternatives are being explored. Natural gas supplies are also constrained in some existing service areas, and again utilities are looking for non-pipeline alternatives. In this session we will hear from investor-owned utilities about what NPA activities have occurred to date and their desire to continue collaboration with the heat pump industry in the search for sustainable solutions.
Moderator:
- Will Lange / WaterFurnace International
Panel:
- Larry Russ / NYSEG & RGE
- Owen Brady-Traczyk / National Grid
- Marwa Chowdhury / Central Hudson