NYSEG Hosts Community Event for Proposed Utility Thermal Energy Network Pilot
Data gathering continues as NYSEG prepares to build a geothermal heating and cooling network in Ithaca neighborhood
Community event this week set to share project updates and engage pilot participants
ITHACA, N.Y. — July 8, 2025 — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) will conduct the next phase of data gathering as part of its proposed Utility Thermal Energy Network (UTEN) Pilot Project on Ithaca’s North side. The goal of the pilot project is to develop a more efficient building heating and cooling system that also helps Ithaca meet its set climate goals.
Beginning Monday, July 14, crews will be performing well flow testing to determine the capacity of the source well in the same areas where soil sampling was conducted in June. This is the second step in the critical data gathering phase, following completion of initial engineering design work and pilot participant recruitment.
“This phase of well flow testing is a vital step toward building a network that’s not only clean but reliable and community-focused,” said Vini Rossetti, Director of Planning Initiatives for Avangrid. “We’re excited to share progress and hear from residents as we work together toward a more sustainable future.”
On July 9, pilot participants and all members of the community are invited to join the NYSEG UTEN Team at a community informational session to learn more about the project and ask questions. There is no formal presentation, but interested attendees can stop by at any time during the event.
Event details are below:
Wednesday, July 9
Ithaca Sciencenter - 601 1st Street - Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Just as with soil sampling completed in June, the well flow testing will take place on City of Ithaca property and is expected to be complete in 3-4 days. There will be no road closures and no public disruption. Well flow testing is an important part of this thermal energy network project to help the design team better understand whether the well has enough capacity to support the network, to guide the team in creating the most efficient design, and ensure the thermal supply can support the network long term.
“Utility thermal energy networks like this one in Ithaca are exactly the kind of innovative, community-rooted solutions we need to meet New York’s climate and equity goals,” said Jon Furlong, Clean Buildings Campaign Manager for the New York League of Conservation Voters. “We applaud NYSEG for engaging residents early and often, and for advancing a model that can help decarbonize buildings while lowering energy costs and creating clean energy jobs.”
Under NYSEG’s proposed pilot program, participating businesses and residences will connect to an open-loop networked system supplying thermal energy for heating and cooling via geothermal heat pumps in the buildings. The cost of the pumps will be covered by NYSEG as part of the pilot, and in accordance with the Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act signed into law by Governor Hochul in 2022.
In total, 72 customers residing in the 45 buildings in the proposed pilot project area - 30 of which are residential buildings- have signed a letter of intent to participate in the pilot project. A third of residences in the proposed pilot project area are owned by Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, a nonprofit serving low to moderate-income residents in a seven-county region.
Media Contact:
Alexis Arnold
alexis.arnold@avangrid.com
585.953.3159