Energy Innovation
Strengthening the resilience of the Hudson Valley.
Mid-Hudson Energy Transition is committed to exploring and developing new methods and systems for delivering ownership and the benefits of renewable energy to communities in the Mid Hudson Valley. If we have ten strategies to strengthen the resilience of the Hudson Valley and build wealth in marginalized communities, we should use all ten and look for ten more.
Right now, we are most excited about Agrivoltaics, which just means raised solar panels with farming underneath, and Thermal Energy Networks, which means pipes of water that move heat around to help warm and cool our neighborhoods. Click either of the below links to learn more!
Agrivoltaics
Why we like it
Agrivoltaic projects drive renewable energy growth without compromising agricultural production or the livelihoods of local farmers. This dual-purpose solution strengthens our climate resilience and advancement of sustainability
Agrivoltaic projects bring solar development into our own backyard, offering options for local ownership. Farmers, cooperatives, and community members can hold shares in projects to generate passive income and decide where the benefits of the project should go!
By hosting agrivoltaic systems, farmers can earn lease payments or even own part of the system, generating income through solar production while maintaining their agricultural activities.
We hope to deliver ownership of agrivoltaic projects to local community members, allowing them to partake in and benefit from the green transition at a local level. Shared or distributed ownership produces passive income that can be allocated according to the community’s priorities.
Thermal Energy Networks
Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) are innovative systems that deliver heating and cooling through a network of pipes, distributing thermal energy from central or multiple energy sources to multiple buildings. These networks provide efficient and cost-effective space heating, cooling, and hot water for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings alike. By replacing traditional gas-powered systems, TENs offer a cleaner, more sustainable solution that lowers costs for consumers and reduces carbon emissions.
Why we like it
In a Municipal Thermal Energy Network, the local government manages the system and billing, with accountability to residents through elections. This gives people real influence over their energy services—powering true energy democracy.
TENs are designed for maximum efficiency, using underground pipes to minimize energy loss and leveraging steady heat sources like geothermal energy or waste heat. This high-efficiency design reduces strain on the electric grid and keeps energy costs predictable, even in extreme weather. By stabilizing heating and cooling needs across buildings, TENs provide a reliable, community-wide solution that enhances resilience and sustainability year-round.
Questions? We're here to help!
Have questions and need help getting them answered? Send us a question, or contact us at the information below:
- Call us at 845-383-1050
- Visit the office at 280 Wall Street, Suite 379, Kingston, New York 12401 USA
Check out our other programs
The Hudson Valley’s current energy system is run and owned by Central Hudson, a for-profit utility that is beholden to shareholders, not people. As a result, their decisions are guided by maximizing revenue and minimizing costs. That’s just how their incentives are structured. But the point of an energy system isn’t to make money, it’s to provide the necessities of modern life. We need to keep our kids warm in the winter, we need our grandparents in cool, comfortable rooms in the summer, and we need light when it’s dark outside. Needing these things shouldn’t drive us into debt! But it does.
The current system doesn’t prioritize our wellbeing by the nature of its construction. So we need a new one. And MHET will continue to find innovative technologies, systems, and solutions until we get there.
Learn more about how we’re making an impact in our other programs below:
Kingston Community Energy
Home Upgrade Grants
HELP Fund
