New York Creates Program with $25 Million in New Funding for Clean, High-Performance Building Projects

By Jay Fox

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced at the beginning of June that $25 million is now available for clean, high performance building projects as part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative. Offered through New York’s Building Cleaner Communities Competition (BCCC), the funding prioritizes cost-effective, regionally significant commercial building projects that will help demonstrate replicable pathways to modernize buildings and eliminate reliance on fossil fuels across the state. Teams considering Passive House certification are encouraged to apply here.

“Through the Building Cleaner Communities Competition, New York is continuing to demonstrate that investing in modern, energy efficient buildings is also an investment in our economic future,” said NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “These projects will help create healthier, more resilient communities while attracting new businesses, supporting local jobs and ensuring all New Yorkers benefit from the clean energy transition.”

The BCCC program is administered by NYSERDA in partnership with Empire State Development (ESD) and the New York Department of State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. It provides funding for design and construction projects to support regional economic development goals and advance clean energy and resiliency strategies. The program is open to new construction and existing buildings while prioritizing incentives for mixed-use facilities that are regionally significant and projects located within low- to moderate-income communities or disadvantaged communities. Goals extend beyond improving building performance and reducing emissions. Improvements in quality of life for residents and visitors are also priorities.

NYSERDA will be hosting an informational webinar on June 16^th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am to provide additional details and to answer questions.

"The Building Cleaner Communities Competition is exactly the kind of initiative New York needs,” said President of Ingui Architecture and Passive House Accelerator Founder Michael Ingui. “It recognizes that healthier, more resilient, zero-emissions buildings are not just good for the environment, but that they also create stronger communities and better long-term outcomes. Every project becomes an opportunity to demonstrate what's possible, share lessons learned, and inspire broader adoption of high-performance, low-carbon building practices. That's how meaningful market transformation happens."

Applicants may apply for incentives toward new construction or existing building renovation projects that are designed to achieve carbon neutral or net zero energy performance and demonstrate how the approach is replicable and cost effective. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate resiliency strategies that minimize environmental impact and ensure long-term performance, such as creating areas of refuge within the building for emergencies, connecting to thermal energy networks to ensure diversity of energy resources, and incorporating backup power. A special focus will be given to project proposals that adopt solutions to reduce energy usage during peak times, increase the resiliency of the building and lower the use of refrigerants.

The deadline for applications is August 14, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Interested proposers can find more information or apply to this program through the link below.