BINGHAMTON — A Tioga County company has won $250,000 in the 76West clean-energy competition conducted in the Southern Tier. Biological Energy of Spencer provides technology that “increases wastewater-treatment capacity while reducing energy use,” according to a NYSERDA news release. NYSERDA is the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Skyven Technologies, a Dallas, Texas–based […]
BINGHAMTON — A Tioga County company has won $250,000 in the 76West clean-energy competition conducted in the Southern Tier.
Biological Energy of Spencer provides technology that “increases wastewater-treatment capacity while reducing energy use,” according to a NYSERDA news release. NYSERDA is the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Skyven Technologies, a Dallas, Texas–based solar-heating company won the $1 million grand prize in the competition and will expand its operations in the Southern Tier.
The state on Aug. 16 announced the winners in a ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in downtown Binghamton. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul attended the event to announce the winners.
NYSERDA describes the 76West clean-energy competition as “one of the largest competitions in the country that focuses on supporting and growing clean-energy businesses and economic development.”
“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,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo contended in the release.
The competition complements “Southern Tier Soaring,” the region’s economic-development blueprint.
Winning firms
The state awarded a total of $2.5 million to six companies, three of which are from New York.
Besides Skyven and Biological Energy, the event also named a $500,000 winner and three additional $250,000 winners.
SunTegra of Port Chester, New York in the Mid-Hudson Valley will use its $500,000 award to develop solar products that are “integrated” into the roof to provide clean energy and an “alternate” look to conventional solar panels.
SolarKal of New York City will use its $250,000 award to provide a brokerage service to help businesses simplify the process of going solar.
In addition, EthosGen of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania captured a $250,000 award and will use the funding in its work that focuses on capturing and transforming waste heat to “resilient, renewable on-site electric power.”
Visolis of Berkeley, California also won a $250,000 award. The firm produces “high-value” chemicals from biomass instead of petroleum, which reduces greenhouse gases.
As a condition of the award, companies must either move to the Southern Tier or establish a direct connection with the region. That connection could be a supply chain, job development with Southern Tier companies, or other “strategic” relationships with Southern Tier entities that boosts 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.
About the program
The state launched the second round of the 76West competition in December 2016, receiving applications from companies in countries 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 in eastern Allegany County.
Judges selected eight finalists, who then pitched their companies to a different panel of judges on July 13 in Corning. That pitch session determined the winning six firms.
NYSERDA administers the 76West competition which supports New York’s clean-energy standard, which seeks to “ensure that 50 percent of the state’s electricity comes from renewable energy by 2030.”
