Supporting Clean Energy Goals

Our Area Development Program and Partnership to Revitalize the Industrial Manufacturing Economy of WNY (“Programs”) have been updated to encourage new and expanding businesses to align with New York State’s clean energy goals. The funding for these projects supports New York’s broader environmental objectives. Here are the key updates:

Evaluation of Non-Pipe Alternatives (“NPA”)

• Projects applying for Program grants must consider energy usage and supply alternatives to minimize natural gas requirements.
• Energy usage alternatives may include reviewing customer equipment technology, such as electric versus gas-powered processes, and other energy efficiency measures.
• Energy supply alternatives may include low-carbon fuels like electrification, hydrogen, or renewable natural gas.
• Applicants must provide an evaluation of these alternatives, including technical feasibility, costs, benefits, reliability, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Third-Party Energy Efficiency Assessment

• For applicants unable to conduct an NPA analysis, a third-party firm will assess energy usage and develop an Energy Efficiency Plan.
• Implementing reasonable energy efficiency upgrades will be a condition for grant approval.

Prioritization of Energy Efficiency Measures

• Grant funds will prioritize reasonable energy efficiency measures, which must be implemented before funds are allocated to other project costs.

The New York Area Development Program

National Fuel’s Area Development Program can assist your business with relocation or expansion initiatives. Through an agreement with the New York State Public Service Commission, annual funding is available for:

• Energy and/or process efficiency upgrades
• Utility connections
• Interior natural gas piping
• Applicable equipment costs
• Potentially Job training

The program offers grants for targeted projects aimed at boosting economic activity and redevelopment within National Fuel’s New York service area. To qualify for funding, projects must be related to natural gas, align with clean energy goals and meet the following criteria:

• Stimulate investment in underutilized industrial/commercial property.
• Create new or higher-value employment opportunities.
• Provide workforce training or retraining.
• Stimulate private investment in capital expenditures.
• This program was developed in conjunction with the New York State Public Service Commission. Click here to view the case.

A transportation rate discount is available for businesses that qualify and meet at least one of the following requirements:

• New facility (minimal annual usage of 24,000 Ccf)
• Existing facility purchased/leased and vacant 6 months or more (minimal annual usage of 24,000 Ccf)
• Expansion of existing facility (minimal annual incremental usage of 12,000 Ccf)

A transportation rate discount is available for businesses that have been awarded a New York State Excelsior Jobs Program Certificate and meet at least one of the following requirements:

• New facility (minimal annual usage of 12,000 Ccf)
• Existing facility purchased/leased and vacant 6 months or more (minimal annual usage of 12,000 Ccf)
• Expansion of existing facility (minimal annual incremental usage of 6,000 Ccf)

These programs provide incentives for specific projects in order to aid large commercial and industrial customers in installing incremental gas-fired equipment at their facilities within National Fuel’s service territory. These incentives can  assist with the upfront capital costs associated with either gas infrastructure and/or gas equipment needed for a specific project.

These programs were developed in conjunction with the New York State Public Service Commission.

Partnership to Revitalize the Industrial Manufacturing Economy (PRIME)

National Fuel’s Partnership to Revitalize the Industrial Manufacturing Economy of WNY program offers upfront capital buydowns to help customers utilize available capacity or install additional gas-fired equipment at their industrial or commercial properties. Through an agreement with the New York State Public Service Commission, annual funding is available to offset capital costs, including construction, equipment, materials, utility connections, and environmental expenses related to increased natural gas consumption. View the case.

To qualify for funding, projects must:

• Promote investment in business expansion and the revitalization of underutilized industrial and commercial properties.
• Increase natural gas consumption by utilizing available capacity or installing additional gas-fired equipment.
• Enter into a performance agreement with a term of up to seven years.
• Provide security for the capital buydown amount.

Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Capital Buydown Program

National Fuel’s NGV Capital Buydown Program may be able to assist your company in converting to Natural Gas Vehicles. Through an agreement with the New York State Public Service Commission (NY PSC), funding is available  to help customers reduce the cost of installing Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) refueling stations and/or purchasing new vehicles, thereby lowering their total project  payback. View the case.

Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Capital Buydown Program

National Fuel’s CHP Capital Buydown Program may be able to assist your company in the purchase of CHP equipment. CHP is a technology that simultaneously produces electricity and useful waste heat from natural gas. It offers advantages to commercial and industrial energy users where energy costs and reliability are a concern. Through an agreement with the New York State Public Service Commission (NY PSC), funding is available  to help customers reduce the  cost of installing CHP equipment, thereby lowering their total project payback.

The RD&D Program funds the development, field testing, and demonstration of technologies, with the prospect of improving utility operations and increasing customers’ choices of natural gas technologies. This may result in reduced costs, increased work productivity and efficiency, greater reliability, reduced emissions, etc., for NFGDC’s customers.

• This program was developed in conjunction with the New York State Public Service Commission. Click here to view the case.