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SAVE THE DATE: Alternative Fuel Vehicles Conference to be Convened Oct. 28 

Bronx Community College will host “Road to Energy Independence: New York City’s Alternative Transportation Future,” a conference on alternative fuel vehicle technology, fuels, finance, and training organized by the College's Center for Sustainable Energy. The keynote speaker, Dr. Michael MacCracken, will address global climate change as a compelling motive for developing alternatives to conventional internal combustion technologies that are implicated in the loading of atmospheric CO2 that is a precursor to climate disruption. Electric hybrids, biofuels and hydrogen propulsion systems will be reviewed and oil depletion will also be addressed. Training opportunities for advancing the College's automotive technician program within the alternative fuel fleets are also a prominent feature of the conference. For program details and registration, please see: http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/events.cfm?page=88

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CUNY is Awarded Million Solar Roofs Grant

 The City University of New York recently joined the US Department of Energy’s Million Solar Roofs (MSR) partnership and committed to a goal of installing solar energy systems on 500 rooftops in New York City by 2010. The Center for Sustainable Energy at Bronx Community College will be managing this partnership on behalf of CUNY and is conducting outreach and education about the benefits of solar energy, preparing comparative analyses of urban solar energy programs, and facilitating solar electric and solar heating installations. Please feel free to contact CSE staff at mail@csebcc.org or 718-289-5458 if you have questions about solar energy projects in New York City.

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CSE/CUNY Pilot Project to Assess Energy Conservation Potential 

This Fall, the Center for Sustainable Energy will conduct an energy conservation study on behalf of the City University of New York. CSE will work with CUNY's three Bronx campuses-- Lehman College, Bronx Community College, and Hostos Community College-- to examine facilities management practices and to identify opportunities for energy conservation and operations cost reductions on their campuses. The results of the findings could serve as the basis for an expansion of the program to other campuses.

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CUNY to Launch Photovoltaic Training Certification Project 

The City University of New York has been awarded a grant from the New York State Energy Research Development Authority to deliver training to instructors who wish to teach the installation of solar electric (photovoltaic) technologies. Several campuses have expressed interest in acquiring the credentials to offer PV training. The grant will help cover the costs of equipment, curricula, instructors and scholarships toward the ultimate goal of certification by the Institute for Sustainable Power. Bronx Community College, has provided PV installer training over the past five years for more than one hundred students and is offering the training again in November 2005 (contact mail@csebcc.org or call the Center at 718-289-5332 for details). As solar technologies become more competitive with conventional utility delivered electricity, opportunities for installers will grow.

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Korea’s Largest Environmental Justice Group Tours New York and the Bronx

 An 11-person delegation from Korea's largest environmental justice organization, the Citizens' Movement for Environmental Justice (CMEJ), visited New York City at the end of August as part of a week-long exploration of environmental justice in the US. The two-day New York itinerary, coordinated by the Center for Sustainable Energy, focused on a broad range of issues relating to air quality, water pollution, land use, children’s health, and corporate social responsibility. CMEJ and CSE staff met with representatives of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, For a Better Bronx, Green Worker Cooperatives, Health People, Nos Quedamos, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, and Congressman José Serrano's office. The delegation then proceeded onto meetings in Boston coordinated by the University of Delaware’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy. 

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CUNY Gets Energy Program for Computers

 The New York Power Authority is teaming up with the City University of New York (CUNY) in a program to reduce energy consumption by the 28,000 personal computers (PCs) in use across the 12 campuses of CUNY's Senior College Group. PCs are voracious consumers of electricity that waste up to 400 kilowatt-hours yearly when running at full power while no one is present. A new computer software that measures and manages energy consumption will be installed in the computers, allowing network administrators to customize power settings across thousands of PCs. For example, one department's computer usage might require putting an individual PC into 'sleep mode' after five minutes of inactivity, while 20 minutes might be necessary in another area. CUNY will save more than $200,000 annually in electricity costs after installation is completed in the fall, with savings passed along to taxpayers. The reduced need for power production also will eliminate 3,150 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. The $600,000 installation cost of the project will be repaid to the Power Authority through the energy savings. (NYPA)

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Bronx Community College Installs Solar-Powered Emergency Phones

 Bronx Community College recently installed five new solar-powered emergency telephones around campus in order to maintain student safety. Each of the cellular phone stations is equipped with a 40 watt Kyocera photovoltaic panel and a battery pack to ensure continuous service overnight. The solar panels not only demonstrate BCC’s commitment to advanced energy technology, but they were also the most cost-effective option for the campus. The free-standing stations require no grid connection and were quicker and less costly to install than competing options.

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New Incentives Make Clean Energy an Attractive Investment

 While the recently signed Energy Policy Act of 2005 has been condemned by both environmental and consumer groups, the bill included a few incentives for clean energy that are worth noting. First, the Act extended the wind energy production tax credit for two years. This measure, on which the US wind energy market depends, will guarantee continued short-term domestic market growth and will helpful to New York in its efforts to meet it 25% renewable portfolio standard target by 2013. Second, the Act expands the current 10% corporate solar tax credit to 30%, starting in 2006. Third, the Act created a new 30% tax credit for residential solar energy installations. 

 New York State also passed two laws easing the tax burden of residences investing in solar energy. Senate Bill 4962-a, which goes into effect in September of this year, exempts the sale and installation of solar heat and photovoltaic systems from state sales and compensating use taxes. Senate Bill 5252, meanwhile, raises the cap on the existing 25% state tax credit for PV systems from $3,750 to $5,000 in September 2006. This cap increase, in combination with the new federal tax credit, makes solar systems an attractive investment for New York homeowners. For questions on how to take advantage of these and other incentives contact CSE staff at 718.289.5458, or check the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy at www.dsireusa.org

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EVENTS OF INTEREST IN THE AREA:

Sunday, September 11, 2005, New York, NY NYC Century Bike Tour sponsored by Transportation Alternatives. See: http://www.transalt.org/calendar/century/index.html 

Friday, September 23, 2005, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Bronx, NY "Moving Toward Sustainable Energy: The Bronx is Going Green Energy," Technology Seminar presented by Rebuild America and New York Energy $mart Communities.
http://store.mountainmedia.com/eba-nys/calendar.cfm?do=detail&d=3191&c=4943&p=32625 

Sunday, September 25, 2005, New York, NY 17th Annual EcoFest and environmental conference featuring exhibits, performances, and presentations about sustainability. See: http://www.ecofest.org/5 

Monday, September 26, 2005, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, New Brunswick, NJ New Jersey Clean Energy Conference: energy services, solar manufacturing, green building design, energy project financing. Contact: 732-932-9271, ext. 617; or,  kwilson@aesop.rutgers.edu; or, http://www.njcleanenergy.com/conference/ 

Wednesday, September 28, 2005, 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM, Melville, NY "Driving for a Cleaner Tomorrow... ... Today" conference and exposition sponsored by the Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition. Call 631-969-3700 or see:www.gliccc.org 

Monday, October 10th to Wednesday, October 12th, 2005, Saratoga Springs, New York 5th Annual Empire Energy & Environmental Exposition, Sponsored by EBA, NYSERDA, USDOE, US EPA, and CEEP. See: http://store.mountainmedia.com/eba-nys/calendar.cfm?do=detail&d=3191&c=4943&p=29536 

Thursday, October 20, 2005, New York, NY Advanced Lighting Training offered by the New York Energy $mart Small Commercial Lighting Program. Continuing Education Credits for AIA, PDH, and NCQLP (LC) will be available. Pre-registration is required. Call 866-698-8177 or email sclp@icfconsulting.com

Friday, October 28, 2005, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Bronx, NY "Road to Energy Independence: New York City's Alternative Transportation Future” (see news item above) and http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/events.cfm?page=88 

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The Center for Sustainable Energy, established in 2003 at Bronx Community College, City University of New York, was funded with a Congressional appropriation sponsored by Representative José E. Serrano, and administered through the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Mission of the Center is to promote a stronger economy and a healthier environment through education, training and community involvement.

Tax deductible contributions to the Center may be sent to the address below. Checks should be made payable to “Bronx Community College Foundation/Center for Sustainable Energy.”

Center for Sustainable Energy
Bronx Community College, CUNY
Hall of Fame Terrace
Bronx, NY10453Call the Center at: 718-289-5332
Email the Center at: mail@csebcc.org
Visit the Center website at: http://www.csebcc.org

For links to the latest news, check out the Center’s news page at: http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/News_Publications.cfm

West 181st. Street & University Ave., GML-104 Bronx, New York 10453