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commons_aerial120The United States Department of Energy has agreed to offer technical assistance to complete phase 2 of the Downtown Combined Heat and Power - District Energy (CHP-DE) Utility project study for the greater downtown Ithaca area.

“Every day at the Downtown Ithaca Alliance we work to make downtown a more desirable and competitive place for growth and investment. We see district energy and a combined heating and power program as a key tool for making downtown a more attractive place for people to invest, develop, work, and live,” said Gary Ferguson, Executive Director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance.

Under the umbrella of Energize Ithaca, LLC, project partners are modeling the framework of CHP-DE. Phase 2 of the project will research and recommend ways in which Ithaca can best utilize distributed energy and CHP to effectively create a strong downtown energy district. "Combined Heat and Power and District Energy will promote the efficient use of our resources, reduce operating and utility expenses for downtown businesses and will allow for higher density development," said project partner David Parks of Energize Ithaca.

“This is the type of technology that changes the face of traditional commercial and industrial building/operating practices, and we are excited that ASI Energy is participating,” stated project manager Herbert Dwyer of ASI Energy.

Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick said, "In 2006, Common Council approved a plan for the City of Ithaca to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% from 2001 levels by 2016. My administration is still committed to this target. We believe that bringing Combined Heat and Power to Ithaca's downtown and having the direct support of the US Department of Energy will help us achieve this important goal."

Combined heat and power is not a single technology, but an integrated energy system, most commonly using a gas turbine with a heat recovery unit or a steam boiler with a steam turbine, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Combined Heat and Power partnership.

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