SUNY and NYSERDA Create Partnership to Accelerate Real-World Solutions to New York’s Energy Challenges
January 24, 2018
Memorandum of Understanding Will Encourage Deployment of Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency at Campuses Statewide and Prepare Future Clean Energy Workforce
Albany – The State University of New York (SUNY) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced today an agreement to accelerate Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s clean energy agenda by establishing a robust partnership to drive campus-wide sustainability, catalyze entrepreneurship and economic development opportunities, and ensure New York produces a pipeline of skilled clean energy workers to advance the clean energy economy.
"Through Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York State is in a strong position to take clean energy sustainability and energy efficiency to a new level, and it is for that reason SUNY and NYSERDA can combine our assets and expertise in this area to make a significant contribution toward New York State’s goals," said SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson. "With SUNY’s 2,346 buildings – 40 percent of state-owned buildings – and a world-class team of researchers and energy experts at both NYSERDA and SUNY, we can test cutting-edge solutions on SUNY campuses to see what works best to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy costs. When we find what works, we can help expand solutions to the communities we serve."
Alicia Barton, NYSERDA President and CEO said, "By strategically aligning our efforts, NYSERDA and SUNY will be able to create new models for driving comprehensive clean energy, education and workforce training opportunities on a system level. By leading by example, our state’s college campuses and research facilities can play a significant role in advancing Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading clean energy agenda and demonstrate that investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy are a smart financial decision and that these investments, when paired with the world class educational and training opportunities offered by the SUNY system, are fueling the creation of a new generation of clean energy workforce in New York."
The partnership is intended to catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship around clean energy enabling technologies, stimulate new university-industry partnerships, assist SUNY to become a model for the community in building energy efficiency, and educate the next generation of energy industry leaders. The Memorandum of Understanding between SUNY and NYSERDA includes:
- Investigating opportunities to expand the clean energy training capacity across the state through curriculum development and establishing training laboratories.
- Collaborating to create more hands-on learning opportunities for students through internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and capstone projects with clean energy businesses.
- Supporting the development of facility-wide plans to achieve New York State’s greenhouse gas reduction goal of 40 percent by 2030 from 1990 levels, highlighting opportunities where SUNY can lead by example.
- Providing SUNY campuses with tailored assistance to help meet and exceed Governor Cuomo’s energy directives.
For more information about this program, visit http://www.suny.edu/sotus.
About NYSERDA
NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA’s programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2022, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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