Geothermal Renewable Energy Credit (GREC) program

Geothermal Renewable Energy Credit (GREC) program is sponsored by New York State. This program establishes a statewide geothermal renewable energy credit program to accelerate the adoption of high-efficiency geothermal heating and cooling systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help manage New York's shifting winter peak electricity demand.

Policy and Legislative Priorities - NY-GEO Policy and Legislative Priorities Changes to drilling regulations for closed-loop geothermal boreholes deeper than 500 feet Established tax credit for purchase and installation of geothermal energy systems Support Local Law 97 to reduce carbon emissions in NYC Testimony in rate payer cases to advance GHP.

POLICY INITIATIVES & PRIORITIES Below is an overview of the initiatives and bills that NY-GEO supports in advancing our mission to 2026-2027/2028 Initiatives Rate Design Advocacy (The PSC Petition, Steady Use Rate Expansion, Defaulting Heat Pump Customers) Cap-and-Invest Positioning for Geothermal (Critical Before 2028) G-REC — Legislative Priority Federal Tax Policy (Section 48, Split Ownership, IRA Provisions) Thermal Energy Networks as a Distinct Market Category Data Center Legislation and Building Code Standards Grid of the Future Regulatory Reform Proceedings 2026 Legislative Priorities NY-GEO's Policy Committee has developed an exciting 2026 legislative agenda.

Mapping of Leak Prone Pipe in NYS Add Your organization to the NY-GEO Memo of Support - HERE Geothermal Renewable Energy Credits (GREC) Renewable Energy Created by Geothermal Installations.

Expanding Geothermal to Ensure a Reliable and Affordable Grid Installation and operation of a geothermal system would generate a Geothermal Renewable Energy Credit (GREC) Feb 17 Teach In Presentation HERE GREC and Bonding Authority Slide Decks HERE | Mapping of Leak Prone Pipe HERE NY-GEO Files Member’s Data Center Letter In response to the Community Investment Framework (CIF) Policy Outline issued under Executive Order No. 62, NY-GEO submitted formal comments.

The submission recommends utilizing geothermal systems for building heating and cooling to maximize local community benefits from hosting data centers.

NY-GEO Opposes Governor Hochul's Proposal to Gut NYS Landmark Climate Law May 1, 2026 - As the leading voice of the geothermal heating and cooling industry in New York State, NY-GEO, on behalf of our members, finds there is no need at this time to temporarily suspend or modify any obligations to the very comprehensive and well thought out CLCPA and subsequent scoping plan.

Ground source heat pumps are a key, currently underappreciated, technology included, in the law’s renewable energy program, that can go a long way toward meeting the goals of the CLCPA. We strongly oppose the April 28 proposal and all previous proposals in the budget that would reverse existing CLCPA goals.

NY-GEO filed comments HERE NY-GEO submits comments CASE 15-E-0302: Proceeding on Motion of the Commission to Implement a Large-Scale Renewable Energy Program and Clean Energy Standard.

April 23, 2026 - In response to The Coalition for Safe and Reliable Energy’s petition, NY-GEO, on behalf of our members, finds there is no need at this time to hold a hearing pursuant to Public Service Law (“PSL”) § 66-p (4) to evaluate whether to temporarily suspend or modify the obligations under the Renewable Energy Program established as part of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (“CLCPA”).

Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHP) are a key, currently under-appreciated technology that can go a long way toward solving the reliability issues raised by the Coalition's petition. NY-GEO filed comments HERE NY-GEO requests Governor Hochul to sign the 100-Foot Repeal Bill December 11, 2025 - NY-GEO submitted a letter encouraging the Governor Hochul to sign the 100-Foot repeal bill (A8888/S8417).

The 100-foot rule costs New York ratepayers $500 million per year and continues to unevenly subsidize a system that is unhealthy and unsafe. Under the existing 100-foot rule, ratepayers are responsible for sharing the costs of new connections to natural gas pipelines within 100 feet of the property line. The original premise for this rule was to encourage switching from more polluting heating fuels, like oil and coal, to natural gas.

We now have cleaner and more efficient ways to heat, cool, and power our homes, particularly geothermal heating and cooling, which performs consistently throughout the year, reduces home energy bills, and stabilizes an already fragile grid. By signing the 100-foot repeal bill, customers will not return to coal and oil.

They will, however, be more incentivized to adopt better solutions for their homes, for their pocketbooks, and for the state of New York. Read the Full Letter HERE NY-GEO Comments UTEN Phase 2 Filings October 27 - NY-GEO submitted general comments on the seven UTEN projects outlined in case 22-M-0429 .

Our comments were made on the Final Utility Thermal Energy Network (UTEN) Pilot Project Engineering Design and Customer Protection Plans (Stage 2 Filings). The projects are listed below. The Chelsea Pilot Project, filed by Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) on July 9, 2025, and supplemented on July 25, 2025.

The Mount Vernon Pilot Project, filed by Con Edison on July 10, 2025, and supplemented on July 25, 2025. The Rockefeller Center Pilot Project, filed by Con Edison on July 9, 10, 11, and 15, 2025, and supplemented on July 25, 2025. The Haverstraw Pilot Project, filed by Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. on July 9, 2025.

The Syracuse Pilot Project, filed by Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid (Niagara Mohawk) on July 9, 2025. The Brooklyn Pilot Project, filed by The Brooklyn Union Gas Company d/b/a National Grid NY on July 9 and 10, 2025. The Ithaca Pilot Project, Customer Protection Plan section only, filed by New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) on July 9, 2025.

Review NY-GEO Comments HERE Draft New York State Energy Plan October 6 - NY-GEO submitted comments to the State Energy Planning Board. The board will use public input to finalize the State Energy Plan by year end, ensuring New York State has an actionable and objective framework to guide progress toward an abundant, reliable, affordable, and clean energy system for all New Yorkers.

Review NY-GEO Comments HERE Review Draft State Energy Plan HERE NY-GEO Invited to Participate in Virtual Legislative Roundtable on NY's Climate Goals On Friday September 26 th , Senators Krueger and Harckham held a Legislative Roundtable on Meeting New York's Climate Targets. NY-GEO board member Keith Hayes was a panelist.

He laid out NY-GEO’s current legislative agenda and noted “Both the state's 2022 Climate Action Scoping Plan and the draft 2025 State Energy Plan identified geothermal as a cornerstone of New York's clean energy future. And here's why. Geothermal is affordable.

It lowers energy bills today and protects households as the grid shifts to winter peaking. It's also highly efficient, three to five times more efficient than burning fossil fuels. It's reliable in all weather, summer or winter.

It's durable. The subsurface loop is protected and can last for more than fifty years. It's also scalable.

Serving single homes or entire neighborhoods, as we just heard. It's also equitable. It reduces long-term costs for low and moderate-income households.

And lastly, it's grid friendly. Geothermal draws sixty percent to eighty percent of its energy directly from the Earth, reducing the need for costly electric grid build outs.

” Review NY-GEO Comments HERE Review Roundtable Recording HERE Review the list of attendees HERE Energy Efficiency and Building Electrification (EE/BE) In the Matter of the 2026-2030 Non-Low- to Moderate-Income Energy Efficiency and Building Electrification Portfolios. In the Matter of a Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Initiative.

Weatherization Technical Conference To help inform the regional residential weatherization program, joint proposals Weatherization Technical Conference NY GEO EE/BE Comments DPS CASE 18-M-0084 and 14-M-0094 -Reduced Peak Demand and Grid Resiliency -Lower Energy Use and Operating Costs -Maintain New Construction Incentives Using Non-LMI EE/BE Ratepayer Funds -Support Utility Administration of Geothermal Rebates for Affordable and LMI Housing Cap-and-invest is New York’s bold initiative to invest in infrastructure that reduces pollution, improves public health, and powers our clean energy future.

By setting enforceable limits on emissions and funding renewable energy, modern infrastructure, and energy affordability programs, this initiative will create jobs, lower energy bills, build stronger communities, and secure cleaner air for generations to come. Cap pollution, hold corporations accountable, and protect our future. Support in requesting that Governor Hochul to not delay any further.

NY-GEO Cap n Invest letter of support 6. 30. 25 NYCA_Public Comment Directions and TP New Yorkers for Clean Air - Press Release INCREASE GEOTHERMAL TAX CREDIT ( S4882/A1591 ) NY Geothermal Tax Credit Expansion Is Included in State Budget and Signed into Law !

NY-GEO salutes Governor Hochul, lead bill sponsors Senator Ryan and Assemblymember Rivera, the 33 bill cosponsors and the clean energy ally organizations whose vision and support make this step forward possible !

NY-GEO Executive Director Christine Hoffer notes, "We are excited that the budget includes an increase in the cap on NY’s Geothermal tax credit from $5,000 to $10,000, as well as a provision that makes the credit refundable for many New Yorkers. Geothermal provides an efficient heating and cooling option for buildings in New York, without stressing the electric grid.

This measure cuts the upfront costs of geothermal heat pump systems in a way that will stimulate the market and create jobs. We ask the legislature to now turn their attention to passing the NY HEAT Act, which will allow utilities to cut spending on unneeded gas infrastructure and protect ratepayers from ever-rising utility bills." Link to the budget bill – the tax credit is “part UU”.

-------------------------------------------------------------- An act to amend the tax law, in relation to geothermal energy systems tax credits Heating and cooling our New York State buildings using our current methods account for about 34% of our greenhouse gases. To transition to a carbon-free form of heating and cooling we need to encourage building owners to replace fossil fuel geothermal technology.

To support this transition this bill will increase the allowed tax credit from $5,000 to $10,000 and expedite the adoption of geothermal technology to help more building owners manage this transition. Importantly, these bills support taxpayers who meet the definition of low-to-moderate income or reside in a disadvantaged community, the excess shall be treated as an overpayment of tax to be credited or refunded.

NY-GEO Memo of Support Geo Tax Credit and NY HEAT 4. 28. 25 Public Service Commission (Commission) is considering a White Paper filed by Department of Public Service (Department) Staff on February 27, 2025, proposing a reasonableness standard needed to implement Section 11-104(7)(e) of the Energy Conservation Construction Code (Energy Code) as revised by the All-Electric Buildings Act (Part RR of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2023).

2025 05 29 NY-GEO on Capacity Exemptions NY HEAT ACT ( S4158/A4870A) Cleaner Heat - Lower Bills The NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act (S. 4158/A4870A), known as NY HEAT, is urgently needed to tackle the energy affordability and climate crises.

The bill will free New York to pursue cost effective alternatives to costly gas infrastructure, end outdated subsidies for gas infrastructure expansion, and protect New Yorkers from unaffordable energy bills. S. 4158 Krueger A.

4870A Simon Senator Krueger Announces Reintroduction of NY HEAT Act NY-GEO - NY HEAT Act Memo of Support NON PIPELINE ALTERNATIVES 20-G-0131 Please CLICK HERE to review NY-GEO submitted comments to the DPS on September 26, 2024. DPS 100-foot rule Straw Proposal Please CLICK HERE to review NY-GEO submitted comments. 2024 DRAFT BUILDING CODE RELEASED Included in the Notice of Rule Development issued on July 25, 2024 10.

11. 24 CLICK HERE to review organizations and elected officials support the following electrification and energy efficiency provisions being included in the 2024 Draft Building Code released at the July 26, 2024 council meeting and included in the Notice of Rule Development issued on July 25, CLICK HERE to review previous NY-GEO submitted comments.

The New York Geothermal Energy Organization (NY-GEO) supports this legislation that would authorize the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to administer a program that provides grants, loans, and other services for costs related to fuel-switching, via clean energy measures, energy-efficiency measures, resiliency measures, and more.

Such a program would enable residents stuck with expensive propane or fuel-oil heating systems to upgrade to energy efficient heat pumps, save money on energy bills, and improve home comfort and reliability.

NYGEO Memo of Support S8504 A8595 RELATES to the GREEN JOBS-GREEN NEW YORK PROGRAM and on BILL RECOVERY LOAN AGREEMENT The New York Geothermal Energy Organization (NY-GEO) supports this legislation that would authorize the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to enhance the Green Jobs-Green New York (GJGNY) program by: Increase the loan amount from $25,000 to $50,000 NY-GEO Memo of Support S9744 NY-GEO suggests changing the NYSERDA GJGNY loan program to make it more helpful and accessible to customers and contractors: The current maximum loan amount of $25k is too low.

We want to match neighboring states Massachusetts, MassSave Clean Heat loan and Connecticut, CT Smart-e loan who have a maximum loan amount of $50k. Currently, many geothermal installers do not recommend the GJGNY loan product to their customers, and if they do, their customers often end up with two loans (a public loan and a private sector loan), which adds cost and inconvenience.

We recommend that NYSERDA change its GJGNY loan disbursement policy to provide installment payments to customers/contractors during a geothermal heat pump installation.

NEW EFFICIENCY: NEW YORK (NENY) CASE 18-M-0084 and 14-M-0094 The New York Geothermal Energy Organization (NY-GEO) submits feedback to the Public Service Commission regarding case 18-M-0084; In the Matter of a Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Initiative and 14-M-0094; Proceeding on Motion of the Commission to Consider a Clean Energy Fund.

This feedback is from a series of NY-GEO member discussions based on PSC questions, a review of utility working group conference summaries, and previous NENY-related historical documents. Our comments relate to the Non-LMI Income questions .

2024 05 15 NY-GEO NENY response UTILITY THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK and JOBS ACT (UTENJA) In general, NY-GEO is supportive of Staff’s work to date and would like to submit the comments below to reinforce, question or add to the current discussion. A key issue for NY-GEO is that the definition of “networks” includes more than a “district concept” where the thermal resource is shared via a single conduit (i.e. pipe).

Individual boreholes for each building in a neighborhood, community, geographically designed system, etc. should also be considered a network if ownership is a utility, thermal network business, campus, etc. NY-GEO UTENS comment letter to PSC 042624 (2) Notice of Rule in Development: Part 1229 and Part 1240 of Title 19 The New York Geothermal Energy Organization (NY-GEO) appreciates the opportunity to comment on rules currently in development that would amend Part 1229 and Part 1240 of Title 19 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations.

NY-GEO members include many independently owned small businesses, comprised of geothermal heat pump (GHP)installers, manufacturers, distributors, drillers, consultants and industry stakeholders from across NY State serving urban, suburban and rural areas. These rules would establish requirements for the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (Uniform Code) and State Energy Conservation Construction Code (Energy Code).

Specifically, we would like consideration given toward two aspects of requirements which foster the accelerated implementation of prohibiting the installation of fossil-fuel equipment and building systems in new buildings, including any future repair, alteration, addition, relocation, or change of occupancy or use of such new buildings, and any building for which a substantially complete building permit application is submitted after December 31, 2028.

NY-GEO Codes Council Comments Bill Nowak, NY-GEO BOD Member Comments