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NEW YORK GEOTHERMAL ENERGY ORGANIZATION INC
CAMBRIDGE, NY · EIN 471443932 · Form 990 · FY2023 · Small ($100K-$1M) · ny-geo.org
revenue
$528K
expenses
$325K
net assets
$445K
employees
1
mission · from form 990

TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS.

profile · synthesized from sources

New York Geothermal Energy Organization Inc (NY-GEO) advocates for the adoption of ground source heat pump (GHP) technology to advance economic and environmental goals in New York State. The organization engages in policy advocacy, legislative initiatives, and regulatory proceedings to promote geothermal energy as a clean, efficient, and equitable heating and cooling solution. It represents industry stakeholders and works to shape energy policy, building codes, and financial incentives to support geothermal deployment.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Lunch & Learn
Monthly educational webinar series held on the second Tuesday of each month, featuring industry experts on topics such as transferable tax credits, engineering compliance, and financial transactions in the geothermal sector
Policy & Legislative Advocacy
Advances geothermal energy through legislative initiatives including tax credit expansion, repeal of the 100-foot gas rule, and support for the NY HEAT Act and Cap-and-Invest programs
Regulatory Engagement
Submits formal comments and testimony in state proceedings such as UTEN pilot projects, building code reforms, and energy efficiency portfolios to influence policy and utility practices
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Professional Excellence Awards Programs 1 activity
    • Administering the GeoStar Top Job Competition
      Organizes and presents the annual GeoStar Top Job Competition as part of its conference programming to recognize excellence in geothermal system design and installation. Awards highlight innovative projects across diverse building types, including affordable housing, historic buildings, municipal facilities, schools, and community-scale systems, such as the Pierce Arrow Lofts, 555 Greenwich, Smith Residence, and Framingham pilot projects.
  • Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
    • Hosting annual geothermal industry conference
      Hosts an annual three-day educational and networking conference across various locations in New York State, including Brooklyn, Saratoga Springs, and Albany, featuring multiple tracks and dozens of educational sessions. The event brings together over 500 attendees, including 110 speakers and 40 exhibitors, and includes programming such as plenary panels on financing models and an annual dinner.
  • Construction Industry Professional Development & Networking 1 activity
    • Hosting monthly Lunch & Learn educational program
      Hosts a recurring monthly educational event on the second Tuesday of each month from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm EST to promote knowledge sharing and technical learning in the geothermal industry.
  • Industry Trade Association Services 1 activity
    • Industry organization and collaboration
      Organizes and represents 70 founding members across the geothermal heat pump industry in New York State, fostering collaboration and collective action through structured governance including a Policy Advisory Board and Board of Directors that developed a strategic plan.
  • Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
    • Providing geothermal training and professional development
      Offers classroom instruction, drill site training, and hands-on experience in geothermal drilling, including shadowing opportunities to complete boreholes. Also provides up to five Professional Development Hour (PDH) credits to conference attendees for continuing education.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Advocacy for geothermal energy policy and regulation
      Represents the geothermal heat pump industry in New York State by advocating for favorable policies, submitting formal comments on regulatory proceedings, and contributing to state-level initiatives such as the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and the Draft New York State Energy Plan. Successfully advocated for expansion of the state tax credit for geothermal systems, increasing the cap to $10,000 and making it refundable.
    • Facilitating geothermal project financing
      Facilitated the first investment tax credit transferability bridge loan for a geothermal heat pump project through NY Green Bank, enabling financial innovation in project funding.
    • Supporting deployment of scalable geothermal systems
      Supports the implementation of large-scale geothermal heat pump systems, including community-wide loops and district energy networks serving multiple buildings on college campuses and mixed-use developments. Examples include the Skidmore Energy Node Project, Ithaca Fire Station, Alafia Brooklyn affordable housing development, and the Albany Housing Authority retrofit.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$528K
Contributions & grants$86K16%
Program service revenue$442K84%
Investment income$150%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$325K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$84K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$474K
Cash$473K
Investments$0
Liabilities$28K
Net assets$445K
Liquid reserves17.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +106.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CHRISTINE HOFFER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $78K
board members · 9
  • AMANDA SCHNECK — TREASURER
  • BILL NOWAK — DIRECTOR
  • HEATHER DEESE — DIRECTOR
  • JENS PONIKAU — PRESIDENT
  • JOHN CIOVACCO — PAST PRESIDENT
  • KEVIN MORAVEC — DIRECTOR
  • SAMARA SWANSTON — DIRECTOR
  • VENETIA LANNON — DIRECTOR
  • ZACHARY FINK — SECRETARY
relationships · 40

Who they work with

  • Aztech Geothermal Partner — Engaged as geothermal design consultant for the Albany Housing Authority's “Steamboat 20” electrification project
  • Brown & Brown Partner — Partner firm contributing expertise on tax credit insurance in geothermal credit transfer transactions.
  • Carbon Solutions Group Partner — Partner organization contributing expertise on Geothermal Renewable Energy Credits (GRECs) in educational sessions.
  • Celsius Energy Partner — Recognized for drilling work in the Framingham, MA geothermal pilot project.
  • Con Edison Partner — Speaker participant in NY-GEO events.
  • Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. Partner — Engaged with Con Edison's UTEN pilot projects through formal comment submissions in PSC case 22-M-0429.
  • Dandelion Energy Partner — Member or collaborator presenting on Geothermal Renewable Energy Credits (GRECs) in joint educational programming.
  • Endurant Energy Partner — Recognized Endurant Energy for the 555 Greenwich geothermal installation.
  • Eversource Energy Partner — Recognized Eversource Energy's geothermal pilot project in Framingham, MA as a Top Job awardee.
  • GEOExchange Partner — Collaborates on educational programming about Geothermal Renewable Energy Credits (GRECs).
  • GEOExchange Organization Partner — Speaker participant in NY-GEO events.
  • GeoStar Partner — Presenting sponsor of the 2023 Top Jobs competition.
  • Geothermal Drillers Association Partner — Collaborates on geothermal drilling training programs and shared workforce development initiatives.
  • Halco Partner — Recognized Halco for the Smith Residence geothermal retrofit project.
  • IGSHPA Network — Board representation and speaker participation in NY-GEO events.
  • Mickelson & Company Partner — Partner firm providing buyer and transaction perspectives on geothermal tax credit transfers in joint educational programming.
  • NY Green Bank Partner — Collaborates on financing solutions for geothermal deployment, including investment tax credit transferability bridge lending.
  • NYC Energy Efficiency Corp. Partner — Panelist participant in NY-GEO events.
  • NYISO Government — Keynote speaker participant in NY-GEO events.
  • NYISO Partner — Includes visits to NYISO as part of pre-conference activities for industry education and networking.
  • NYPA Partner — Panelist participant in NY-GEO events.
  • NYS DEC Partner — Collaborates with NYS DEC to review and revise geothermal heat pump-related drilling regulations.
  • NYS Public Service Commission Government — Keynote speaker participant in NY-GEO events.
  • NYSERDA Partner — Sponsor and speaker participant in NY-GEO events.
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Collaborates with NYS DEC to review and revise geothermal heat pump-related drilling regulations.
  • New York State Electric & Gas Corporation Partner — Submitted comments on NYSEG's Ithaca UTEN pilot project in PSC case 22-M-0429.
  • Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation Partner — Submitted comments on Niagara Mohawk's Syracuse UTEN pilot project in PSC case 22-M-0429.
  • Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. Partner — Reviewed and commented on Orange and Rockland Utilities' Haverstraw UTEN pilot project as part of PSC case 22-M-0429.
  • Public Service Commission Government — Regularly submits formal comments and testimony in PSC proceedings related to energy policy, rate design, and building electrification.
  • Salas O'Brien Partner — Partnered on the Alafia mixed-use development geothermal integration
+ 10 more
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Catalytic Education and Outreach for Systemic Change
    methodology: market-readiness education
    By delivering recurring virtual education, market-readiness training, and public education campaigns, the organization builds broad-based understanding and transactional efficiency in the geothermal sector because widespread knowledge accelerates decision-making and investment.
  • Financial and Policy Incentive Restructuring for Market Transformation
    methodology: innovative-financing-models
    By promoting innovative financing models and advocating for the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, the organization reduces economic barriers to geothermal adoption because shifting financial incentives makes clean heating alternatives more competitive and accessible.
  • Industry Advocacy and Stakeholder Convening to Accelerate Adoption
    methodology: trade_association_industry_advancement
    By organizing and representing geothermal industry stakeholders, convening experts, and fostering collaboration, the organization drives systemic adoption of geothermal heat pumps because collective action lowers market barriers, aligns innovation, and strengthens policy influence.
  • Promotion of Geothermal as Preferred Clean Energy Technology
    methodology: preferred-technology-adoption
    By positioning ground source heat pumps as the default heating and cooling solution and demonstrating their feasibility through case studies and awards, the organization shifts market and policy norms because visible, credible examples reduce perceived risk and catalyze mass adoption.
  • Workforce and Industry Capacity Development through Integrated Education
    methodology: industry-growth-and-education
    By growing the geothermal workforce and industry capacity through classroom instruction, field training, and expert-led education, the organization increases adoption because skilled labor and technical knowledge are critical enablers of scalable deployment.