ALBANY - Governor David Paterson announced the first round of requests for proposals under the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium, known as NY-BEST. Governor Paterson called for the consortium in his State of the State address earlier this year, and announced the creation of NY-BEST and $25 million in dedicated funding in May. This effort will position New York as a leader in the development of energy storage technology and bolster New York’s clean energy economy. Today’s announcement takes the next step in accelerating the development of energy storage technology, providing additional opportunities for economic growth and job creation in the State.

“New York is home to some of the country’s finest academic institutions and industries that are already making advances in energy storage,” said Governor Paterson. “Innovation in this field will allow us to dramatically improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles and make plug-in hybrid vehicles a cost-effective reality. Large-scale energy storage technologies can be used to improve electric grid reliability and harness more power from renewable resources like wind and solar. The creation of NY-BEST and the injection of these funds will capitalize on our existing resources to propel the State to the forefront of clean energy storage technology development. These efforts are crucial as we move the State and the nation to a clean energy economy of the future.”

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is making $6 million in State funding available during this first round of proposals. Funds will be used to support development, demonstration, and commercialization of battery and energy storage technology components, products and systems. In addition, the State is looking for ways to leverage this seed funding with other federal and private funding.

NY-BEST is a consortium of academia, industry and government that will capitalize on the State’s existing technical and industrial capabilities to advance battery and energy storage technology for transportation and power generation. New York’s universities and industry already hold leading positions in research and production of heavy-duty batteries used in transportation, such as subways and railroads, providing a solid base for growth. Additional storage applications exist for stabilizing output from variable generation sources, such as wind and solar. Developments in smaller but potentially more widespread battery applications for plug-in hybrid vehicles can also be bolstered for future growth and development.

More than 150 representatives, already involved in advanced-energy storage, will combine efforts over the next five years to develop advanced battery and energy storage technology in New York. The State will invest more than $25 million garnered through its implementation and sale of federal Clean Air Interstate Rule allowances for nitrogen oxide emissions.

Background and details of the NY BEST Plan may be found on the NYSERDA website, www.nyserda.org/cair/nybest/.