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Teamwork Makes the "Therm" Work! Scaling District Geothermal Through Coalitions

Proposal Status
Ready for Committee Review
Username
Lauren Hildebrand
Proposer First Name
Lauren A
Proposer Email
lauren.hildebrand@brightcoreenergy.com
Proposer Last Name
Hildebrand
Proposer Phone
(973) 204-1158
Proposer Job Title
Vice President, Client Sustainability
Proposed Session Description
What does a pipe fitter have to do with a nonprofit? What does a turnkey solution provider have to do with a utility? The answer is EVERYTHING. With the roll out of new IRA renewable tax credits, state incentives and pilot opportunities, there is so much potential to scale piloted networked geothermal opportunities. Before we can figure out how to go beyond the pilot demonstrations, we need to effectively plan for integrative design through a variety of coalition strategies.
Why is this session important?
Too often we try to launch big ideas in silos. In order to take Thermal Energy Networks to scale, we need buy in across a broad range of skill sets. We need utilities, trades, private equity, government, non profit, turn key solution providers, owners, and community organizations. Quite literally, it takes a village to create an energy village. Hear real case studies on how we can help make this a reality behind the pilot projects.

Comments

Michaela Boren… Mon, 05/15/2023 - 12:15 pm

Round One: Maybe to Yes - Though I'm not an expert in this field and only know of some geothermal projects in NYC. Hence, I'm not sure how helpful this is to the conference audience. If NY City Government has a project and can join the panel or one of the case studies used is NYC-based, then it may be more relateable. It is a very positive and catchy proposal. I like how the the speakers represent different groups. The proposal says that it was presented at the BuildingEnergy Boston Conference so would like to know the feedback on the session. 

Xavier Williams Sun, 05/21/2023 - 4:31 pm

Maybe, this proposal provides an interesting perspective on geothermal technology for district and network application. This is an emerging technology and as Michaela has expressed there are a handful ofgeothermal projects that have been done in NYC. Marcus Garvey Village in Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY is a great example of a project that can provide some relvance to the content of this session. Any case study of NYC projects similar to this one would help as it aligns with the objective of the proposed session and would bring the relevance needed. An interview and panelist presentaion format is great for this topic. Agreed, feedback of past presentation for this session would help provide insight into ways we can addapt the content to be more relevant for a NYC audience.

Christina McPike Tue, 06/13/2023 - 1:01 pm

Round 2: Yes - This "yes" could become a no Thursday based on our overall results. I like it, but it doesn't *HAVE* to be in. It has several strengths, and the topic -- GSHPs -- is of great interest today given the ITC change. The session should focus more on the technical design nuances of networked vs. building geothermal, and a little less on the coalition building aspect, in my opinion.- BrightCore can add other panelists more relevant to NY -- including NYCHA, ConEd, NYPA or possibly a private developer working with NYCHA- Washington DC project, Barry Farms, is an awesome case study that is expected to begin by year end. It's a major affordable housing redevelopment being done by Preservation for Affordable Housing (POAH), who may also be available to join as a panelist to use that project as a case study.- HEET speaker is confirmed and offers a regional, if not national, perspective around advocacy and stakeholder engagement. They are working on a project in Framingham now, closely with Eversource, to basically retrofit a neighborhood from gas to geothermal, ILO replacing gas lines in kind. The community involvement/forums were crucial for project success, and transferrable to NY and beyond.- Lauren Hildebrand would moderate the panel, including another BrightCore colleague, GSHP consultant, HEET, and TBD utility provider and/or building owner/community developer.- The coalition building, working together theme carries through to the technology too -- and the benefits of networked, multi-building geothermal vs. single building geothermal (community vs. individual).

Ben Sachs-Hamilton Thu, 06/22/2023 - 1:52 pm

R2 meeting: Great MA case study, not as applicable in NYC. But: also working on a more applicable system in DC. Can talk about design complexities and construction. Category should be MEP/HVAC.

Diversity and Inclusiveness
Low to moderate income neighborhoods need education, workforce development, community outreach and education in order to understand the power and equity of networked community heat pumps. We need to make electrification accessible and affordable to everyone. The more we can pay for and take the decision out of the hands of those that suffer energy burden the most, we need to involve everyone from the beginning of the planning process through deployment
Learning Objectives
Understand the difference between ground source, geothermal, community heat pumps, networked geothermal, district geothermal, and Thermal Energy Networks
Recognize the challenges of crossing industry boundaries in order to create effective coalitions
Leverage funding opportunities to launch a pilot project near you
Utilize case studies to create your next coalition to scale district geo statewide
Has this session been presented before?
Yes
When and Where?
A hybrid of this presentation was given at NYS Green Building Conference (Syracuse, March 2023) & BuildingEnergy Boston Conference (April 2023)
Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 2 - Some prior knowledge helpful.
Session Format Details
Quick presentation followed by moderated panel discussion, Q&A, demonstration project

Strongest Content Connection - NYC 2023

Comments about your speaker roster
We will be adding a utility (Con Ed or NYPA) & state agency (NYSERDA) to the panel, confirming speaker shortly
Anything else you'd like to tell us about your session proposal?
happy to combine our presentation with any that are relevant / similar. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Reviewer 1
Brodsky, Stuart
Reviewer 2
McPike, Christina
Curator
Williams, Xavier
Proposal #
113
Session #
NYC23-314
Committee Decision
Accepted