Mount Kisco, New York — June 9, 2023 — Dandelion Energy, the nation’s leading home geothermal company, celebrated the New York Senate passage of S6604 yesterday; this follows the passage of geothermal legislation A6949 by the New York Assembly on May 17, 2023, by a vote of 143 to 3.
Legislative Champions Driving Change
New York State Senator Peter Harckham (D-40) and Assembly member Deborah Glick (D-66), chairs of the Environmental Conservation committees in each house, championed this legislation to remove outdated regulatory requirements and unlock New York’s ability to meet its climate goals.
Dandelion Energy’s Response
“Senator Harckham and Assembly member Glick have been tireless champions for helping consumers fight climate change, and we are so grateful for their leadership in pushing this legislation forward,” said Michael Sachse, CEO of Dandelion Energy. “We look forward to Governor Hochul signing this bill into law and working with her administration on common-sense regulations that will make geothermal more affordable and available to all New Yorkers.”
Making Geothermal More Accessible
Current regulations treat geothermal systems at depths greater than 500 feet like oil and gas drilling. This disadvantages urban dwellers and those on smaller lots, preventing them from reaping the energy bill savings of geothermal heat pumps. With this change, geothermal systems will be more affordable to install and accessible to more New Yorkers, saving billions in installation and energy costs.
Streamlined Oversight and Regulation
The legislation will also improve the consistency of geothermal installations. It consolidates all geothermal regulations under the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Water. This agency already regulates geothermal boreholes less than 500 feet deep.
This regulatory change aligns with the key recommendations of the Climate Action Council in its Scoping Plan. It’s a crucial step toward the state’s goal of two million electrified and electric-ready homes by 2030. The geothermal heat pump industry is already installing hundreds of systems for New York homeowners and commercial buildings every year – with the enactment of S6604/A6939, that number will significantly increase in the months and years ahead.
About Dandelion Energy
As the nation’s leading home geothermal company, Dandelion Energy helps homeowners free their homes from fossil fuels. Dandelion makes geothermal heating and cooling systems accessible and affordable for homeowners. In doing so, the company helps mitigate climate change with renewable technologies that decarbonize homes. Today, Dandelion’s solutions let homeowners save up to 50 percent on heating and cooling bills. They also reduce household carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80 percent.
Millions of New York residents still rely on expensive and dirty heating oils, propane, or natural gas. Dandelion continues to seek opportunities to offer geothermal heating and cooling to more customers. The company has also improved its operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and service boundaries. These improvements help more people go green at home. Dandelion’s impact on the environment to date has been significant:
- As of June 2023, Dandelion systems have reduced carbon emissions by 38,700 tons — the equivalent of 1,200 cars being taken off the road.
- By 2050, these installed Dandelion systems will reduce carbon emissions by 687,000 tons, which is like removing 21,700 cars from the road.
The state-of-the-art geothermal heat pump system offers wifi-enabled monitoring. This feature creates a smarter, more responsive, and more innovative approach than any other HVAC system on the market. To learn more, visit www.dandelionenergy.com.