NY Governor Paterson Launches $25 Million Research Commitment For New York’s Clean Energy Future

Governor Delivers on State of the State Promise to Create Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium

October 5 , 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the first round of requests for proposals under the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium, known as NY-BEST. Governor Paterson called for the consortium in his State of the State address earlier this year, and announced the creation of NY-BEST and $25 million in dedicated funding in May.

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This effort will position New York as a leader in the development of energy storage technology and bolster New York’s clean energy economy. Today’s announcement takes the next step in accelerating the development of energy storage technology, providing additional opportunities for economic growth and job creation in the State.

“New York is home to some of the country’s finest academic institutions and industries that are already making advances in energy storage,” said Governor Paterson. “Innovation in this field will allow us to dramatically improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles and make plug-in hybrid vehicles a cost-effective reality. Large-scale energy storage technologies can be used to improve electric grid reliability and harness more power from renewable resources like wind and solar. The creation of NY-BEST and the injection of these funds will capitalize on our existing resources to propel the State to the forefront of clean energy storage technology development. These efforts are crucial as we move the State and the nation to a clean energy economy of the future.”

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is making $6 million in State funding available during this first round of proposals. Funds will be used to support development, demonstration, and commercialization of battery and energy storage technology components, products and systems. In addition, the State is looking for ways to leverage this seed funding with other federal and private funding.

NY-BEST is a consortium of academia, industry and government that will capitalize on the State’s existing technical and industrial capabilities to advance battery and energy storage technology for transportation and power generation. New York’s universities and industry already hold leading positions in research and production of heavy-duty batteries used in transportation, such as subways and railroads, providing a solid base for growth. Additional storage applications exist for stabilizing output from variable generation sources, such as wind and solar. Developments in smaller but potentially more widespread battery applications for plug-in hybrid vehicles can also be bolstered for future growth and development.

More than 150 representatives, already involved in advanced-energy storage, will combine efforts over the next five years to develop advanced battery and energy storage technology in New York. The State will invest more than $25 million garnered through its implementation and sale of federal Clean Air Interstate Rule allowances for nitrogen oxide emissions.

Senator Darrel J. Aubertine, Chair of the Senate Energy Committee, said: “The future of alternative energy and zero emission transportation technology depends on new technologies for energy storage. The NY-BEST consortium will put New York in a position to lead in this industry and put New Yorkers to work in a new economy. This investment in energy research will help create the types of jobs that will keep our young people and our best minds here, to be a part of our communities and help this state grow as a center for industry. I applaud the Governor for his commitment to this important consortium to help foster new economic growth in the energy industry.”

Francis J. Murray, Jr., NYSERDA President and CEO, said: “The BEST consortium capitalizes upon one of New York’s strongest economic resources -- our intellectual capital -- and will position New York’s academic institutions and businesses to lead the revolution in energy storage technology. Working with such respected institutions as NYSERDA, the consortium will catalyze new investment and economic activity in New York’s emerging growth markets, including the commercialization of new products.”

State Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis said: “The development of battery technologies for the storage of renewable energy is essential to freeing us from our addiction to fossil fuels and reducing the carbon pollution that causes global warming. With this and other initiatives, Governor Paterson is positioning New York to be a leader in the move to a clean energy economy.”

Energy storage technologies eligible under this round of funding include technologies that store electric energy directly such as batteries or ultra-capacitors, components of these technologies, and systems or products that incorporate these technologies. Funding of up to $200,000 per project is available for projects that address a specific technology development need or improvement identified by a New York manufacturer, or those that develop technologies, manufacturing process improvements, and concepts that, if successful, could ultimately lead to development of a successful commercial product, or benefit and add value to a number of NY-BEST collaborators, or develop ‘transformational’ or ‘disruptive’ technologies that could enable major leaps forward in the technology base, technology components, and/or integrated systems.

Funding of up to $3 million per project is available for projects that are industry-led partnerships of organizations, including universities, that focus on commercializing a specific technology or product within five years and include a number of participants along the value chain.

Background and details of the NY BEST Plan may be found on the NYSERDA website, http://www.nyserda.org/cair/nybest/. The Program Opportunity Notice materials are available at http://www.nyserda.org/funding/1704summary.pdf.

Source: New York Governor