Building Cleaner Communities Competition Supports Carbon Reduction Strategies for Regionally Significant Commercial Projects Across the State

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced $15 million is now available for clean, resilient economic development projects as part of Round XV of Governor Kathy Hochul’s Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative. The funding will help make it more affordable to adopt carbon reduction strategies in regionally significant commercial projects across the state.

President and CEO, NYSERDA Doreen M. Harris said, “Investing in carbon-neutral design and construction not only creates healthier communities but also brings jobs to New York State. With the expansion of the Building Cleaner Communities Competition to now include funding for community and campus-scale projects, I look forward to building new partnerships that can drive innovative building solutions and help lead the way toward a sustainable, resilient future.”

The Building Cleaner Communities Competition (BCCC), administered in partnership with Empire State Development (ESD) and the New York Department of State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, provides funding for carbon neutral design and construction projects in new construction and existing buildings to support regional economic development goals. The program is open to all projects while prioritizing incentives for projects located within low- to moderate-income communities or disadvantaged communities (DACs), as defined by New York’s Climate Justice Working Group, to reduce emissions and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors.

The deadline for applications is July 31, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Interested proposers can find more information or apply to this program here.

This round of the Competition reintroduces funding for community and campus-scale projects in addition to commercial, industrial, institutional, municipal, and mixed-use building projects across New York State. 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, 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 and lowers the use of global warming potential refrigerants.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “New York’s regional economic development and downtown revitalization initiatives have transformed the state’s economy by leveraging our the productive partnerships within communities to power local projects that have the greatest positive long-term impact. As sustainability and the effects of climate change increasingly become a local issue, regions need strong, innovative solutions such as NYSERDA’s Building Cleaner Communities Competition. By investing in clean, resilient development that includes community input, we’re building a healthier, more inclusive and equitable future for all New Yorkers.”