Regulatory and financial hurdles to be addressed
enroute to nationwide goal of 100% increase by end of decade 

Fuel cells, microturbines and clean generators 

White Plains, NY, November 19, 2003 – Generating electric power right at the sites of businesses and institutions while using otherwise wasted heat for purposes like heating interiors or water is likely to become an increasingly desirable option for managers in the Northeast U.S. over the next decade.

One reason is that the summer’s blackout has highlighted the advantages of Combined Heat and Power generation, or CHP. Another reason is that the Northeast will soon have a significant center working to encourage CHP.

The U.S. Department of Energy and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority have selected Pace Law School’s Energy Project, in White Plains, and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, to share $450,000 in combined state and federal grants for establishing a Northeast Regional Applications Center (NERAC). The Center is to promote clean, efficient, and reliable on-site power systems throughout the seven-state Northeast region.

"Through targeted research and project assistance, we hope to catalyze interest in and usage of CHP in a range of commercial, institutional and industrial settings," said DOE’s Boston Regional Office Energy Technology Customer Specialist, Scott Hutchins. "NERAC will be a major force in meeting the Department of Energy’s goal of doubling the amount of new CHP installed in the U.S. by the end of the decade."

Hurdles. "The Northeast has high energy costs, and the recent regional blackout heightened concern over the reliability of the electric grid," said the Pace Energy Project’s Executive Director, Fred Zalcman. "By providing low-cost power at or near the point of consumption, CHP clearly can be part of the solution -- but we must move aggressively to address the regulatory and financial hurdles that prevent businesses in our region from fully exploiting this resource."

The new center commenced operation in November 2003. People seeking more information can contact the Pace Energy Project at (914) 422-4013 or by visiting the Center’s web site at http://www.northeastchp.org/nac/home.html. 

The two educational institutions will work jointly to provide "one-stop" engineering and policy support to potential end users, regulators, CHP project developers and others. The Pace Law School Energy Project will co-direct the center and be primarily responsible for the center’s education, outreach and policy research objectives. The University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will direct NERAC’s application assistance function.

"NERAC will cement New York State’s well deserved-reputation as a national leader in promoting combined heat and power systems that use advanced technologies such as fuel cells, microturbines and clean generators", added Peter Smith, NYSERDA’s Acting President. "We are pleased to help bring the economic development, energy security, consumer choice and environmental benefits of CHP to the entire region."

The Pace Energy Project, in White Plains, NY, is an initiative of the Pace University School of Law’s environmental law program, ranked third in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report annual ranking of colleges and universities. The project’s mission is to reduce the environmental, social and human health burdens of today's predominant forms of electricity production and consumption. Its multi-disciplinary team of lawyers, economists, planners and marketing specialists aims to accelerate the world's transition to clean, efficient and renewable energy alternatives. The Energy Project has used New York State as a primary laboratory for policy innovation for over 15 years.

The Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, at the University Massachusetts-Amherst in Amherst, MA, provides technological and economic solutions to environmental problems resulting from energy production, industrial, manufacturing, and commercial activities, and land use practices. Its University based research program is built on four sub groups with unique abilities to service energy and environmental problems. CEERE offers research, training and educational experiences for graduate and undergraduate engineers and scientists. 

Founded in 1976, Pace Law School is a New York Law School with a suburban campus in White Plains, N.Y., 20 miles north of New York City. Part of Pace University, the school offers the J.D. program for full-time and part-time day and evening students. Its postgraduate program includes the LL.M. and S.J.D. degrees in Environmental Law and an LL.M. in Comparative Legal Studies. Pace has one of the nation's top-rated Environmental Law programs and its Clinical Education program also is nationally ranked, offering clinics in domestic violence prosecution, environmental law, securities arbitration, criminal justice and disability rights. www.law.pace.edu 

Pace is a comprehensive, independent university with campuses in New York City, Pleasantville and White Plains, NY and a Hudson Valley Center at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, NY. More than 14,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Lubin School of Business, School of Computer Science and Information Systems, School of Education, Lienhard School of Nursing and Pace Law School. www.pace.edu