New Local Energy Partnership
for New York
RELEASE: Immediate, August 20, 2001
CONTACT: Colleen Quinn, NYSERDA
(518) 862-1090, ext. 3359.
Albany, NY – On July 2nd, 2001 the Environmental Business Association
of New York State Inc., (EBA/NYS) announced that it had made a strategic
partnership with Rebuild New York's Communities Program, a
community-based energy efficiency initiative administered by the New
York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) under
the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Rebuild America Program.
The sum of this agreement is the Rebuild Capital/Saratoga Partnership,
managed by Regional Coordinator Mark DeChiro.
Rebuild Capital/Saratoga is using energy efficiency and renewable
energy as a tool to increase economic and community viability, as
well as environmental stewardship, in the Capital Region. By organizing
a diverse network of stakeholders and contacts, Rebuild Capital/Saratoga
seeks to promote energy efficiency projects in five major categories
of buildings: commercial, State and local government, K-12 schools,
colleges and universities and housing. They will also focus on the
low-income community. The Partnership will link energy efficiency
and renewable energy projects with resources and customized assistance
to become a clearinghouse for energy efficiency services and technology
information.
The community partnership will determine its own priorities and set
the pace for meaningful change. From targeting buildings for redevelopment,
to setting energy savings goals, to arranging for financing, the activities
that take place under the Rebuild heading are led by local stakeholders.
- The Rebuild Capital/Saratoga Partnership is currently:Reaching
out to prospective businesses, consumer groups and other stakeholders
in the community to help promote the Rebuild Capital/Saratoga.
- Setting goals to involve itself in energy efficiency oriented
projects in approximately 2.1 million square feet in residential,
educational, commercial and industrial buildings.
As one of 375 local Rebuild partnerships across the country, Rebuild
Capital/Saratoga is already taking steps to improve environmental,
economic and community situations within the Region.
Rebuild Capital/Saratoga is setting an example by doing an
energy retrofit on the Environmental Business Association's office
building at 126 State Street in Albany. Similar partnerships around
the state are also working towards the same goal. Rebuild Buffalo/Niagara
has started to lay the foundations for the future of alternative energy
and energy efficiency by helping introduce and combine already existing
energy related programs to Erie County schools. This and other outstanding
efforts have netted Buffalo the U.S. Department of Energy's 2001 National
Energy Champion Award. Downstate, Rebuild Long Island is partnering
with hospitals to increase energy efficiency in the Island's healthcare
facilities. Soon you'll be seeing the same kind of dynamic, forward-looking
programs across the Capital District - it's time to Rebuild.
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