The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced that NYU graduate student Paige Medley has won the #irev4NY Challenge for helping a Brooklyn community develop a microgrid. The project is bringing together the community and other organizations to help build a more resilient energy system in Red Hook.
 
The #irev4NY Challenge enabled New Yorkers to share personal stories of how they are supporting Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.
 
New Yorkers tweeted photos from all over the state, including Buffalo, Westchester, Rochester, Binghamton, New York City and Long Island. Among the ways New Yorkers showed they are supporting REV:  

• installing solar panels and a combination wind-solar project to help New York State meet its 2030 mandate for 50 percent of electricity used in the State to come from renewable energy;
• driving electric cars, motorcycles and bikes, or riding buses and ferries to work to support cleaner transportation;
• installing LED lights, replacing appliances with Energy Star items, adding insulation, sealing homes, and using cold water for laundry to promote more energy efficiency;
• hosting climate summits and other educational events to help empower New Yorkers to make more informed energy choices;
• launching a program that leverages combined power of homeowners to buy 100 percent renewables to improve New York's existing energy infrastructure.

NYSERDA President and CEO John B. Rhodes said, "We are thrilled to see New Yorkers taking action to make Governor Cuomo's REV strategy real, incorporating clean energy and energy efficiency into their daily lives. Congratulations to Ms. Medley for her dedication to advancing REV's work and to helping the Red Hook community have a more affordable, resilient energy system."
 
Medley, who is studying energy and environmental policy at NYU, is a consultant at Smart Grid Solutions, one of the organizations involved in creating the Red Hook Community Microgrid. As the winner, she will receive a gift basket from Taste NY featuring some of New York's best locally made and produced food and beverage products.
 
"I'm extremely grateful to Smarter Grid Solutions for the opportunity to be part of the Redhook microgrid project. NYSERDA and New York State's acknowledgment of the important work communities and individuals are doing to transform the State's energy system is very encouraging, and helps New Yorkers achieve the State's ambitious goals," Medley said. "I look forward to helping make this microgrid a reality for Red Hook, and providing the community with reliable and renewable sources of electricity."

The Challenge kicked off during Earth Week and ended on Memorial Day 2016. Entries were judged by New York State Chairman of Energy and Finance Richard Kauffman, NYSERDA Board Member Jigar Shah and Climate Nexus' Director of Energy Transition Courtney St. John.

Reforming the Energy Vision | www.ny.gov/REV4NY
 

NYSERDA | www.nyserda.ny.gov