Clean Energy Calendar

This fall, AEE Capital Region Chapter is teaming up with ETEC for a three-part forum series bringing energy professionals together across three signature events to connect, innovate, and advocate. On October 14th, join them for a lunch and learn panel exploring the sustainability, efficiency, and innovation — featuring speakers from subject matter experts and leaders.  This PDH-eligible session features Professor Jorge González-Cruz on urban climate and environmental sustainability, Dr. Lu Li on how digital twins and AI are shaping smarter, more resilient cities, and Indu Lnu on UAlbany’s ambitious $1B Net Zero Carbon Roadmap. Brett Orzechowski will moderate the discussion, drawing on his work connecting UAlbany’s research and innovation ecosystem with industry partners. For $35, attendees receive admission to the panel, lunch, and PDH credits — don’t miss this chance to hear directly from the experts driving the region’s energy future.

Presented by the New York League of Conservation Voters, The New York Climate Exchange, Renewable Energy Long Island, Sustainable Westchester, and Sustainable Hudson Valley

New York’s energy future is being built in communities across the state. Come join local leaders, policymakers, fire safety professionals, labor representatives, public health and environmental justice advocates, clean energy experts, and community stakeholders for a regional summit on the future of solar energy and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in New York.

Yes in My Backyard will bring together leaders from across sectors to explore how solar and battery storage can help New York meet its growing energy needs while strengthening reliability, affordability, public health, community resilience, and environmental justice.

Through expert panels and conversations, the Summit will highlight successful projects, emerging best practices, and the policies, partnerships, and investments needed to expand clean energy responsibly and affordably across New York.

Featured Conversations

Fire Safety & Design
Where a battery energy storage project is located and how it is designed are important parts of developing a safe facility. This panel will discuss why BESS projects are sited where they are, and take a closer look at the fire safety measures built into modern facilities. Fire safety and industry experts will discuss how BESS facilities are designed to prevent, detect, and respond to potential hazards, as well as the safety standards and testing requirements these systems must meet.

Environmental Justice & Public Health
The clean energy transition presents an opportunity to build healthier, more resilient communities while addressing longstanding environmental inequities. Panelists will examine how battery storage and solar energy can improve public health, support cleaner air, and strengthen community resilience. The discussion will explore the role of BESS in enabling more renewable energy, supporting critical facilities such as hospitals and community health centers during outages, and ensuring that communities that have historically experienced the greatest environmental burdens can share in the benefits of the clean energy transition.

Jobs & Career Pathways
The growth of battery energy storage is creating new opportunities for workers across New York, from construction and electrical trades to engineering, operations, and other skilled professions. Labor leaders, workforce experts, and industry representatives will highlight the career pathways and workforce investments needed to support the industry’s growth, including union apprenticeships and training programs. The conversation will explore opportunities for students and workers to build family-sustaining careers while strengthening local economies and preparing New York’s next generation of clean energy professionals.

Innovations for Scale
Solar and battery energy storage are transforming New York’s energy landscape and creating new opportunities to build a more reliable and resilient grid. Hear from leaders involved in the energy transition at scales from community to industry.  Panelists will share key strategies for modernizing the grid to scale up renewables and storage, building public support with a narrative of choice and responsibility, and enacting local codes to guide BESS development.

Registration is coming soon—stay tuned and be sure to RSVP early, as space will be limited!

Greenbuild hosts the largest annual event for green building professionals worldwide where attendees learn and source solutions to improve resilience, sustainability, and quality of life in our buildings, cities, and communities. Presented in partnership with the US Green Building Council, a mission-focused organization committed to creating a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. This event will host 10,000+ architects, engineers, contractors, owners, operators, developers, consultants/advisors and government officials alongside an Expo Hall featuring 250+ building product manufacturers.

The annual ACE NY Fall Conference will highlight New York’s progress towards our ambitious clean energy goals, especially in the context of changes at the federal level and how New York State plans to keep the momentum going in the face of those headwinds. Their agenda will focus on connecting this progress with other policy goals, such as job creation and economic stimulus, reinvestment in disadvantaged communities, and strengthening the resilience of the grid. Don’t miss this opportunity to join industry peers at this influential event shaping the future of energy development in New York. Take advantage of expert knowledge-sharing, collaborative networking, and the chance to connect with leaders driving the energy transition.

United Way of Long Island’s NET ZERO Energy Building Campaign is an award-winning, state-of-the-art project that provides essential skills training for populations in need while setting a new standard in renewable energy for non-profit organizations throughout the region.

The project is transforming United Way’s 31,000 sq. ft. headquarters into a building that produces as much energy as it consumes. With one of the largest solar arrays of any not-for-profit commercial building in New York State, United Way will avoid more than $65,000 per year in energy costs, which will be reinvested into existing United Way programs.

The headquarters — renamed the Entenmann Family Center for Hope — will serve as a hands-on training ground for United Way’s Workforce Development Training Academy, consisting of our signature YouthBuild, VetsBuild, and PowerUp! programs. In addition, the Entenmann Family Center for Hope will function as a “command center” for non-profit organizations across Long Island that are impacted by catastrophic events like 2012’s Super Storm Sandy, giving these vital organizations a base from which they can continue serving Long Island communities in need when their own facilities are unavailable.

United Way of Long Island is immensely grateful to the partners who have stepped up to fund the NET ZERO Energy Building Campaign, and there are still opportunities for additional supporters to be recognized as part of the project. Naming opportunities are available via an outright contribution, or through a pledge over one or two years.

For more information, contact Craig Fligstein at 631-921-1484 or craig@unitedwayli.org.