Geothermal energy becoming a hot topic
Conference sponsored by New York Smart Energy Program promotes use of heating, cooling systems
By LARRY RULISON, Business writer
First published: Thursday,
October 12, 2006
ALBANY -- Geothermal energy isn't as cool as solar energy or even wind energy.
But don't tell that to the more than 400 geothermal experts and industry executives who descended on the Capital Region for the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association's annual conference, held this week through today at the Crowne Plaza Albany Hotel downtown.
In addition to creating hot water, geothermal heat-pump systems heat buildings in the winter and cool them in the summer using heat-exchange systems placed underground. Because the systems do not use the fossil fuels typical in making electricity and heating homes, they are not subject to volatile swings in the energy markets.
"We're not razzle-dazzle," said Philip Schoen, chief executive of GEO-Enterprises Inc., a geothermal company in Catoosa, Okla., and chairman of the association's advisory council. "But we're such a deployable product, and the track record and the savings are impressive."
It was the first time in a decade that the conference was held outside Stillwater, Okla., where the association has its headquarters.
That may have had a lot to do with the fact that the conference was sponsored by the New York Energy Smart Program, an energy-efficiency initiative of the state Public Service Commission and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, two state agencies that promote renewable energy sources.
Although NYSERDA is well-known for promoting alternative energy sources such as wind and solar, it also has done a lot to encourage geothermal energy in New York.
In fact, NYSERDA has spent more than $9 million on geothermal projects across the state. However, many of the more than 50 companies at the conference were located outside the Capital Region and New York state.
"Come and do business in New York," NYSERDA President Peter Smith implored the crowd during a keynote speech he gave Wednesday morning.
Patricia Acampora, a PSC commissioner, said more has to be done to create a larger geothermal industry in the state and make it more mainstream.
"There needs to be a viable business infrastructure," she said. "People need to be able to look in their Yellow Pages ... and be able to find a local technician. That's important to people."
Something was being done this week about that. Four professors from Hudson Valley Community College were attending classes during the conference to incorporate geothermal training into their heating and air conditioning courses at the school.
The geothermal market is still relatively small, measuring just 1 percent of the entire heating and air conditioning market in the United States, with just 1 million units installed. The average system can cost between $10,000 and $20,000 to install.
Conference attendees, though, said that is changing, especially as prices for natural gas and petroleum become more volatile. Many said business has been booming since hurricanes Rita and Katrina sent energy costs soaring.
"It's a hot topic," said John-David Thulin, president of Scandia Contractors Inc., a geothermal systems company based on Long Island. "We had a banner year last year. The whole industry did."
Rulison can be reached at 454-5504 or by e-mail at lrulison@timesunion.com.