GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 76WEST CLEAN ENERGY COMPETITION

Dallas-Based Skyven Technologies Named $1 Million Grand Prize Winner – Will Expand Business to the Southern Tier; Grow Southern Tier’s Clean Energy Economy

Competition Complements “Southern Tier Soaring” – the Region’s Strategic Plan to Generate Robust Economic Growth and Community Development

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the six winning companies of the 76West Clean Energy Competition, one of the largest competitions in the country that focuses on supporting and growing clean-energy businesses and economic development. Skyven Technologies, a solar heating company from Dallas, Texas, has been awarded the $1 million grand prize, and will expand its operations in the Southern Tier. The competition complements “Southern Tier Soaring,” the region’s comprehensive strategy to generate robust economic growth and community development.

“New York is setting a national precedent in growing clean-energy businesses and battling climate change, and this momentum continues with the 76West Competition,” Governor Cuomo said. “Skyven Technologies and the rest of the winners from this competition will bring jobs and economic growth to the Southern Tier and beyond, ensuring that New York remains at the forefront of the new clean energy economy.”

A total of $2.5 million was awarded to six innovative companies from New York and across the United States. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul announced the winners at an awards ceremony in downtown Binghamton today, joined by more than 100 elected officials, entrepreneurs and local business leaders. The event also named a $500,000 winner and four $250,000 winners.

As a condition of the award, companies must either move to the Southern Tier or establish a direct connection with the Southern Tier, such as a supply chain, job development with Southern Tier companies, or other strategic relationships with Southern Tier entities that increases wealth creation and creates jobs. If the companies are already in the Southern Tier, they must commit to substantially growing their business and employment in the region.

The 76West winners are:

$1 million grand prize winner

• Skyven Technologies – Dallas, TX: uses solar heating techniques to reduce fossil fuel consumption in agriculture and other industries

$500,000 award winner

• SunTegra – Port Chester, NY (Mid-Hudson Valley): develops solar products that are integrated into the roof to provide clean energy and an alternate look to conventional solar panels

$250,000 award winners

• Biological Energy – Spencer, NY (Southern Tier): provides technology that increases wastewater treatment capacity while reducing energy use
• EthosGen – Wilkes-Barre, PA: Captures and transforms waste heat to resilient, renewable on-site electric power
• SolarKal – New York, NY (New York City): provides a brokerage service to help businesses simplify the process of going solar
• Visolis – Berkeley, CA: produces high-value chemicals from biomass instead of petroleum, which reduces greenhouse gases

 The second round of the 76West Competition was launched in December 2016 and received applications from around the world, including Switzerland, South Africa and Israel. Of these, 15 semifinalists were chosen and participated in a marathon pitch session on July 11, at Alfred State College. Judges selected eight finalists, who then pitched their companies to a different panel of judges on July 13, in Corning, New York with six winners being selected.

In addition to announcing the 76West winners, Lt. Governor Hochul recognized Binghamton for being the first city in the Southern Tier designated as a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The Clean Energy Communities initiative recognizes municipalities that complete four of 10 high-impact clean energy actions. To earn the designation, Binghamton converted all city street lights to energy efficient LED technology, installed an electric vehicle charging station, completed energy code enforcement training, and streamlined the approvals process for local solar projects. The city is now eligible to apply for $250,000 in grants to fund additional clean energy projects.
NYSERDA administers the 76West Competition which supports New York’s nation-leading Clean Energy Standard which will ensure that 50 percent of the state’s electricity comes from renewable energy by 2030, under the comprehensive Reforming the Energy Vision, a strategy to build a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers. 76West fosters cleantech economic development and leadership and expands innovative entrepreneurship in the Southern Tier.

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