New York Governor Paterson Announces Creation Of The New York Battery And Energy Storage Technology Consortium

Research Initiative Will Create Jobs, Spur Investment in New York’s Clean Energy Economy, and Begin to Transform Our Transportation Systems

May 5, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the creation the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (known as NY BEST), implementing a key goal identified in his State of the State address and helping to position New York as the global leader in energy storage technology. The research and development initiative is one of the first of its kind in the nation and is a critical component in advancing the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) industry in New York.

Under the guidance of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), NY BEST will capitalize on the State’s existing technical and industrial capabilities and help bring together scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to advance New York’s clean energy and storage technology industries. The State will invest more than $25 million to finance the Consortium, using funding from New York’s participation in the federal Clean Air Interstate Rule. A portion of that funding will also go toward the development of a battery-testing laboratory to be located in New York.

One of the goals of the NY BEST Consortium is to develop and manufacture the batteries that will be used in plug-in hybrid electric cars and medium and heavy-duty transportation applications. The battery research will also include the development of systems that can be used with wind and solar energy generators to enable them to provide electricity to customers 24 hours a day, even when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining.

“There is no question that the automobile industry is looking at plug-in vehicles as the 21st century automobile. The state that positions itself as a leader in that technology will establish an independent economy that will create thousands of jobs. This commitment to battery and energy storage technology sets us apart not only from other states, but the rest of the world,” said Governor Paterson. “Energy is the new currency in the world economy, and New York is positioned to be the national leader in developing new technology and creating the clean-energy economy that will put New Yorkers back to work. NY BEST will showcase our intellectual capital in energy technology, bringing together the best minds in the State to develop critical technology that will attract business.”

Governor Paterson also announced that two of the State’s energy public authorities – NYSERDA and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) – have each received a prototype Ford Escape PHEV from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Ford Motor Company. NYSERDA and NYPA will test drive these two vehicles over the next three years, and Ford will use data from that real-life test to help prepare the PHEV design for mass production.

Governor Paterson has made clean and renewable energy a priority of his Administration and called for the creation of a battery and energy storage consortium in his State of the State address in January, saying “The future of America’s energy and transportation policies rest on the development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The state that positions itself in this market will revitalize its economy for years to come.”

Senator Kevin Parker, Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications, said: “The future of New York’s economy will be in clean energy innovations and highly skilled clean energy jobs. The New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium, which brings together New York’s world class universities, scientists, industry and entrepreneurs, and leverages our State’s existing strengths in new and exciting ways, is one of the first building blocks of that cleaner, greener, better future.”

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, Chair of the Assembly Energy Committee, said: “The development of energy storage technologies is the key to achieving energy independence. Advancements in this area will help to end our addiction to fossil fuels while finally allowing intermittent renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, to become a reliable, base for our power grid. By harnessing the best and brightest minds in academia and industry we can make it happen right here in New York.”

NYSERDA President and CEO Francis J. Murray, Jr. said: “Positioning our academic institutions and businesses to develop energy storage technologies will catalyze new economic activity in New York State. By building a consortium of academic and industrial strength, this research and development investment will fulfill the Governor’s vision of an economy based upon innovation and clean energy technologies. It will help transform how we transport our people and deliver our electricity well into the 21st century.”

EPRI Vice President of Power Delivery and Utilization Arshad Mansoor said: “Our analysis will develop the definitive assessment of the impact of both introducing and the widespread use of PHEVs onto the transmission and distribution systems. This grid assessment is another crucial step that will lead to commercialization of PHEVs, and Governor Paterson and NYSERDA deserve a lot of credit for taking this important initiative.”

Additional information on the NY BEST Consortium is available on the NYSERDA website at http://www.nyserda.org/cair/nybest/.

Source: New York Governor