Breakthrough Technologies Institute - Fuel Cells 2000

6. RD&D SUPPORT
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
www.nyserda.org
NYSERDA is a public benefit corporation created in 1975 by the New York State
Legislature. NYSERDA funds research into energy supply and efficiency, as well as
energy-related environmental issues. NYSERDA has been cited by DOE as being
among the best government research organizations in the North America.
NYSERDA derives its basic research revenues from an assessment on the intrastate
sales of New York State's investor-owned electric and gas utilities, and voluntary annual
contributions by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the Long Island Power
Authority (LIPA). Additional research dollars come from limited corporate funds.
NYSERDA also administers Systems Benefit Charge (SBC) funds and programs under
an agreement with the state’s Public Service Commission. SBC funds are collected
through a surcharge on customer bills of investor-owned electric utilities (about $150
million annually) for energy programs targeting efficiency measures, research and
development and the low-income sector. Federal funding is used to implement
NYSERDA’s Energy Efficiency Services program, which identifies existing technologies
and equipment to reduce energy costs at more than 540 businesses, schools, and
municipalities.
More than 400 NYSERDA research projects help the State's businesses and
municipalities with their energy and environmental problems. Since 1990, NYSERDA
has successfully developed and brought into use more than 125 innovative, energyefficient
and environmentally beneficial products, processes and services. These
contributions to the State's economic growth and environmental protection are made at a
cost of about $.70 per New York resident per year.
NYSERDA’s hydrogen and fuel cell-related activities include:
• Collaborating with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the Long Island
Power Authority (LIPA) to develop a state Hydrogen Roadmap.
• Administering New York’s “Green and Clean” program, which seeks to
increase the amount energy produced from fuel cells and other renewable
technologies for use in state buildings and vehicles.
• Developing hydrogen education and outreach activities and reviewing
national and New York State codes and standards governing the use of fuel
cells and hydrogen as a fuel.
NYSERDA also offers financial incentives to promote hydrogen and fuel cell
technologies, and supports research, development and demonstrations within the state.
NYSERDA Research, Development and Demonstration Support
In addition to work on fuel cell and hydrogen-related policy and education, and provision
of incentive funding, NYSERDA actively supports fuel cell research, development and
demonstrations. Programs and projects include:
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