New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $30 million is available through the Empire Building Challenge: Hospitals program to support demonstration projects that showcase innovative pathways to achieving meaningful electrification retrofits that can be replicated and scaled at hospitals throughout the state. The program will improve energy efficiency, lower operating costs and reduce emissions, making existing hospitals cleaner and healthier.
The Empire Building Challenge: Hospitals program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, provides funding to help hospitals overcome cost barriers and challenges to energy-saving investments while improving the resiliency of healthcare facilities. NYSERDA will award up to $5 million to selected hospitals for the construction and installation of scalable, efficient low-carbon solutions, such as electrification of building systems, electrification readiness projects and comprehensive energy efficiency projects that will achieve significant energy and carbon reductions. Eligible facilities include licensed, existing inpatient hospitals primarily focused on delivering acute, short-term medical and surgical care for patients, including diagnosis, treatment and inpatient housing.
The program will prioritize projects at hospitals located in disadvantaged communities to ensure the communities benefit from the positive impacts of the clean energy and resiliency solutions supported by the program. Additionally, selected proposers may also be eligible for up to $50,000 to support operation and maintenance training on new equipment and building systems installed as part of their project. Training award amounts are based on the number of trainees and to be eligible for the maximum of $50,000, a minimum of eight building operators must be trained.
Proposals are due by 3 p.m. ET Aug. 14. A complete list of all eligibility rules and evaluation criteria can be found in the solicitation summary on NYSERDA’s website.
