Heating and cooling our buildings and industrial processes make up a major part of the energy system in the Northeastern US. Thermal energy demand is a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and renewable heating and cooling is gaining traction as a key opportunity to achieve ambitious energy and GHG emissions reduction goals. While Massachusetts released its renewable thermal strategy in 2014, Connecticut and New York recently published roadmaps for renewable heating and cooling. The opportunities and challenges are to a large extent shared across the states.   

Neil Veilleux from Meister Consultants Group, a lead author of IEA’s report “Waking the Sleeping Giant” and a key consultant to several of the states, will give an overview of opportunities and policies in the renewable heating and cooling space in the Northeastern US.

Following Neil’s overview, panelists from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York will present their thoughts on market strategies to bring renewable heating and cooling to scale, in their own states and the region.