NEWS
Seward Delivers 2 Million for SUNY Cobleskill Energy Savings Project
ONEONTA, 06/27/14 – State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I-Oneonta) today announced that $2 million in capital funding he secured will be used for SUNY Cobleskill’s energy savings project.
“SUNY Cobleskill offers innovative student programs on a campus that is continually evolving to meet changing needs,” said Senator Seward. “This funding will help the school go even further by backing new green energy improvements that will lead to a more efficient, environmentally friendly campus – saving money and our natural resources.”
More than 26-percent of the support New York State currently provides to SUNY Cobleskill annually is consumed in utility costs. Both Executive Order 88 and Build Smart NY require the campus to reduce energy consumption and, create an energy master plan and operate more efficiently.
“Renewable energy, clean technology, and green jobs are our future. However, there are costs to start down the path and it is important that the State of New York help institutions like SUNY Cobleskill make this transition,” Seward added.
The capital funding obtained by Senator Seward, included in a 2014 senate resolution, will help the college meet the ‘green goals’ by supporting SUNY Cobleskill’s Energy Savings Project which will include:
- Campus Wide Metering – Metering will quickly alert campus personnel to systemic problems that drive up utility costs by providing diagnostic ability to find where energy is being wasted. ($525,000);
- Energy Master Plan – The plan will include comprehensive energy audits of campus facilities the will be used to establish baseline energy use, propose, measures for decreasing energy use, and serve as the basis to develop an energy master plan. ($125,000);
- Priority Energy Projects – To include alternative energy/natural gas solutions for existing buildings that operate with a mix of fuel oil and electricity, plus priority projects as indentified in the Energy Master Plan. ($1,340,000).
SUNY Cobleskill Acting President Dr. Debra H. Thatcher said, “SUNY Cobleskill is grateful to Senator Seward for his advocacy on behalf of the campus. These energy projects will allow SUNY Cobleskill to install cutting edge technologies and be better stewards of state funds by shifting expenditures from utility costs to academics and student support.”
“New York is a leader when it comes to green projects which is good news for our future sustainability. SUNY Cobleskill’s core academic programs are built on environmental excellence and this state funding will help advance the principles that are already part of the college’s foundation,” Seward concluded.