Utility Thermal Energy Networks and Jobs Act: Chelsea & Rockefeller Center
As part of a New York State Public Service Commission initiative to decarbonize buildings across New York State, the Utility Thermal Energy Networks and Jobs Act was passed to accelerate the development of utility-scale, grid-interactive thermal energy networks (UTENs). These systems reduce greenhouse gases; they harness waste heat, geothermal energy, and advanced heat pump technology to provide efficient, low-emission heating and cooling across multiple buildings. Two of the most ambitious pilot projects under this act—the Chelsea and Rockefeller Center networks—are redefining how we think about sustainable energy in both residential and commercial contexts.