UPGRADENY CALLS FOR NEW YORK TO DECARBONIZE STATE-OWNED CAMPUSES IN STATE BUDGET
UpgradeNY, a collaboration of unions, climate justice advocates, building industry representatives and environmental groups is calling for New York to decarbonize State-owned campuses and facilities through a local, union-led workforce.
ALBANY, N.Y., March 7, 2024 - UpgradeNY submitted requests to both chambers of the New York State Legislature calling for the inclusion of union-led building decarbonization in this year’s budget. Specifically, they are pushing for funding to build thermal energy networks at the University at Buffalo, SUNY and Purchase College, SUNY, allowing these institutions to engineer and construct thermal energy networks to decarbonize heating and cooling on their campuses.
Thermal energy networks are emissions-free heating and cooling networks that connect multiple buildings using an underground network of liquid-filled pipes to transfer heat between buildings and energy sources, scaled to serve entire campuses or neighborhoods. Thermal energy networks enable buildings to exchange heat with a number of energy sources, including shallow geothermal boreholes, lakes and rivers, ice rinks, or wastewater systems. Utilizing thermal energy found in the local natural and built environment allows for energy-efficient renewable heating and cooling. By decarbonizing these state facilities, New York can lead by example and encourage other facilities and municipalities to follow suit.
A thermal energy network at the University at Buffalo’s South Campus would provide a 30% reduction in energy usage while providing heating within the existing electrical capacity. A thermal energy network at Purchase College would reduce over 65% of its greenhouse gas emissions. Both projects would provide increased resiliency, comfort, and energy efficiency for the campus communities.
By funding the work for these shovel-ready projects and utilizing project labor agreements, the legislature can show the highly trained and competent workforces represented by unions across New York that they will be included as part of our state's climate agenda.
UpgradeNY is urging both the Senate and Assembly to include $90 million to fund these projects in their one-house budgets, with the ultimate goal of seeing it included in the final state budget this year.
Read the Assembly letter here.
###
UpgradeNY is a collaboration of unions, climate justice advocates, building industry representatives and environmental groups calling for Gov. Hochul and New York policymakers to decarbonize state-owned buildings and schools through a local, union-led workforce. Learn more at https://www.upgradeny.org/.