Cuomo launches clean energy competition for college students

A competition launched by New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo allowing student groups from colleges and universities in the state to construct plans for clean energy programs has begun accepting applications.

The “Energy to Lead Competition,” launched last week by Cuomo, is part of the governor’s “Reforming the Energy Vision,” a plan that seeks to build “a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers,” according to a release from Cuomo’s office.

The plan aims to engage “energy leaders of the future” in order for New York state to achieve the goal it has set to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent, generating 50 percent of electricity from renewable energy resources and reducing the energy consumption of buildings by 23 percent by 2030, according to the release.

The competition is accepting project proposals from “student-led coalitions” that describe how the project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campus and in local communities, according to the release.

“This competition will engage our future leaders today in this fight against climate change,” Cuomo said in the release.

The winning group will receive $1 million to go toward the project, according to the release, and proposals must include how that award would be used to advance the project.

The proposals must also “demonstrate innovation” in project design, business model, partnerships and/or curriculum integration, according to the release.

The competition is being administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and is open to students from both two- and four-year colleges or universities in the state, according to the release. Proposals must feature at least one undergraduate or graduate student but can also include other community members.

Proposals must be submitted by a faculty or staff member from the student’s institution, according to the release, and applications, which can be found on NYSERDA’s website, are due on April 4 at 5 p.m.

The competition is related to Cuomo’s Thursday announcement that the New York State Public Service Commission approved a 10-year, $5 billion Clean Energy Fund to — starting this year — promote the growth of the clean energy economy in New York state, address climate change, improve resiliency during extreme weather and decrease energy bills for New Yorkers.