News Wrap: Fracking Bans Upheld; Big Solar Eyes NYS; JFK Gets Energy Plan Funds; USTA NYC Update
New York
Court Upholds Towns' Rights to Ban Fracking
The hydraulic fracturing sector is assessing the impact of a ruling late last month by New York state's highest court that municipalities have the right to stop the practice.
At issue were challenges to bans on oil-and-gas production activities, including shale gas drilling, that were enacted in the upstate towns of Middlefield and Dryden. In a 5-2 decision on June 30, the New York Court of Appeals ruled to uphold the local zoning laws, a move that is being hailed as a major victory for small towns.
The towns "appropriately acted within their home rule authority in adopting the challenged zoning laws," the court said in its ruling. "We find no legislative intent, much less a requisite 'clear expression,' requiring the preemption of local land-use regulations."
There are many towns statewide that have banned fracking or put moratoriums in place. Last year, the state Assembly adopted a resolution to suspend state permits for fracking for two years to give lawmakers time to review health and safety data (ENR New York 4/8/13).
New York State
SolarCity Eyes NYS to Build World's Biggest Solar Panel Plant
SolarCity, the largest U.S. solar-panel installer, says it may build a more than 1-million gigawatt manufacturing plant in New York state during the next two years. The San Mateo, Calif.-based firm adds that if it follows through with the plan, the plant would be the world's largest solar panel facility.
In a related move, SolarCity also announced an agreement to buy Fremont, Calif.-based panel maker Silevo for an undisclosed sum. Both the manufacturing plant and the acquisition were announced in a joint blog post last month by three SolarCity executives.
"We are in discussions with the state of New York to build the initial manufacturing plant, continuing a relationship developed by the Silevo team," according to the blog by Elon Musk, SolarCity chairman; Peter Rive, co-founder and chief technology officer; and Lyndon Rive, co-founder and CEO.
"Although no other acquisitions are currently being contemplated, SolarCity may acquire additional photovoltaics companies as needed to ensure clear technology leadership," they said.
Silevo and Soraa, another clean tech firm, last year agreed to invest a total of $1.5 billion to develop a high-tech manufacturing hub in the RiverBend section of Buffalo.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in November that the state would invest $225 million to develop infrastructure for the hub. In announcing the plan—part of the state's Buffalo Billion initiative—Cuomo said that Silevo and Soraa would relocate major parts of their operations from California to the hub, creating 500 construction jobs and attracting other manufacturers.
"Under the largest investment in our Buffalo Billion initiative, we are building a state-of-the-art campus to house high-tech and advanced manufacturing companies that will create hundreds of jobs and leverage over $1 billion in private investment for Western New York," Cuomo said in a November statement.
New York City
PANYNJ OKs Funds for JFK Energy Conservation
The Port AuthoritY of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners has authorized $7.5 million for energy conservation improvements at John F. Kennedy Airport.
The project is expected to begin this fall and will include extensive interior lighting upgrades on roadways and pedestrian bridges and in parking lots and bus shelters. It will also include interior lighting improvements, steam system upgrades and a boiler replacement with conversion from oil to natural gas.
Through the agency's Multi-Facility Guaranteed Energy Savings Program, the project aims to reduce operating expenses by $700,000 per year and yield annual greenhouse gas emission reductions of about 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
PANYNJ says its energy projects that are either under way or completed within the last year are expected to produce about 18,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emission reductions.
New York
New Queens Tennis Center to Name CM Soon
The U.S. Tennis Association is expected to name the construction manager for its $550-million-plus Billie Jean King National Tennis Center project in Flushing, Queens, as early as the second week of July, according to sources close to the project.
The three-phase project includes building a $150-million Rossetti-designed retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium as well as two new stadiums on the 46.5-acre site. Rossetti is the original stadium's architect.
The project's first phase began in April and is set for completion in August 2016, in time for that year's U.S. Open Tennis Championships.
Work also includes a chiller plant, electrical substation and other infrastructure upgrades, which are set to begin this fall. Completion also is targeted for August 2016.
The next two phases include demolishing and replacing the Louis Armstrong Stadium and its attached grandstand. The new stadium and grandstand will be separate structures.
