To address the lack of a major green technology R&D center, the City will partner with an academic institution or non-profit to develop an Urban Technology Innovation Center. The Center will drive the creation of new smart building technologies, promote the City as a testing platform for these technologies, and create an inventory of building technology deployment projects to share benchmarking data and best practices among members. In November, NYCEDC will release a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a partner to develop the Center, which is expected to be operational in 2010.

Update

If you are interested in the UTIC RFP, please email us at greenRFPs@nycedc.com and specify "UTIC RFP". We will notify you as soon as it is available.

In August 2008, New York City launched a solar property tax abatement program that provides a property tax abatement, applied over a four-year period, equal to 35% of the total installed cost of a solar PV system. The maximum property tax abatement over four years is $250,000.

This property tax abatement also applies to green roof installations. Under this program, eligible green roof installations will receive a one-time property tax abatement equal to $4.50 per square foot up to $100,000.

Update

The deadline for the next round of applications (for both programs) is March 15, 2010.

• Download the Solar and Green Roof Property Tax Abatement Guide (compiled by the Department of Buildings)
• Download the Green Roof Property Tax Abatement Application
• Download the Solar PV Property Tax Abatement Application

For more details, please visit the Department of Buildings Frequently Asked Questions or email GreenRoofandSolar@buildings.nyc.gov.

As a member city of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar America Cities  partnership, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory conducted a technical study for New York City on the Con Edison grid. This study addresses current interconnection practices and potential limitations for solar PV deployment in New York City. The results of the study will be used to help streamline the application process for solar PV and will include recommendations on how to increase the amount of solar energy connected to the grid. This study will available to the public in November 2009.

Update

If you are interested in this program, please visit Solar Thermal Grant Pilot Program or email us at solarthermalpilot@nycedc.com.

In order to demonstrate the viability of solar photovoltaic installation to the private sector, the City will install a 500 kilowatt solar system at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park. The system is estimated to generate up to 750,000 kilowatt hours of energy – enough to supply the power needs of 150 City households annually – and offset 400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Additionally, the system could save the City up to $120,000 in annual electricity costs. NYCEDC will issue an RFP for this project in December 2009.

Update

If you are interested in the Brooklyn Army Terminal Solar RFP, please email us at energyopportunities@nycedc.com and specify "BAT Solar RFP". We will notify you as soon as it is available.

Of the 64 submissions to the Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) on renewable energy projects in the City released last year, nearly one-third were for building-sited wind projects. The City has responding to this interest by establishing a permitting process that will allow for the installation of small wind turbines and by launching an Urban Wind Demonstration, which will provide nominal funding and permitting assistance and help identify building sites to qualified small wind turbine manufacturers. The Demonstration will test the performance and safety of small wind turbine systems installed in a dense urban setting and is expected to launch in Fall 2009. Several wind turbine manufacturers foresee a market for 5,000 to 10,000 installations in New York City over the next decade. 

Update

If you are a wind turbine manufacturer or a New York City building owner interested in installing a wind turbine, please email urbanwinddemo@nycedc.com for more information.

To address the market gap in qualified talent to fill carbon trading, carbon project financing, risk management, and project development roles across the green sector, the City will launch Green JumpStart NYC to assist displaced or entrepreneurial junior to mid-level employees in exploring opportunities in carbon trading and related green finance jobs. The program consists of a training “boot camp,” after which participants will be offered a 10-week unpaid fellowship with a green financial services company with the potential of converting to full-time employment. The pilot class of fifty students is expected to begin in Q1 2010. 

Update 

For more information, please visit the JumpStart NYC website.

To help foster the growth of the NYC carbon market, EDC will investigate specific actions that the City can take to influence market activity in its favor. This initiative addresses the lack of a vibrant carbon market cluster in NYC and the competition NYC faces from other cities to become the US and global carbon market hub. Planned activities include convening a series of stakeholder consultations and exploring the creation of an NYC carbon industry trade association.

Update

If you have additional questions please contact NYCEDC. 

To help increase the number of national and international cleantech companies active in NYC and strengthen the segment, EDC plans to launch and operate a targeted business development program. This is meant to address the related issues of NYC not currently being a major destination for cleantech companies and that these companies lack information on the specific business opportunity that NYC offers. 

Update

If you have additional questions please contact NYCEDC. 

Nimble Bonds for Green Companies

NYCEDC has created the Nimble Bonds to help companies purchase new manufacturing, research or production facilities, retrofit existing buildings to accommodate high-tech equipment, or make large IT purchases. The tax-exempt bond program was made possible by a recent change in Federal law that now allows tax-exempt financing for facilities that are used in the creation or production of intangible property, including patents, copyrights, formulas, processes, designs and other similar items. Nimble Bonds may be utilized to finance projects in the range of $1 million to $10 million.

For more information please visit the Nimble: Small Issuance Bond Program page.

Green Incentives Guide

Sources of funding available to green businesses are diverse and not easily identifiable, making it difficult for companies to understand all the opportunities available to them. To assist businesses, the City has assembled information on more than 75 potential sources of funding and incentives available for green businesses in the form of a guide. A print version of the guide can be requested and an electronic version can be downloaded below.