In the summer of 2024, the Pace Energy and Climate Center at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Pace University (the Center), and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), jointly published Chapter 17 of the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) as a standalone document (IAPMO/UMC/Chapter 17-2024). This document is intended to address the critical need for enforceable safety provisions for geothermal district ambient temperature loop systems and draws upon the Center’s expertise in geothermal energy systems.
This version of Chapter 17 follows the 2024 edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code (Chapter 17) and may be used in any jurisdiction seeking to adopt standards for geothermal energy systems and ambient temperature loops. These systems include district-wide geothermal energy systems and district ambient temperature loop systems that circulate ground-ambient-temperature water to be used in end-use buildings as a thermal source or sink, via water source heat pump or reversing chiller. In addition, this Standard also addresses many critical issues in geothermal energy systems and ambient temperature loops such as Specific System Components Design, Ground-Heat Exchanger Testing, Geothermal Ambient Temperature Loops (ATL), and ATL Distributed Energy Systems Design Requirements as well as other design requirements.
References to chapters of the 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code have been written to refer to the corresponding code as adopted by the local jurisdiction. Accordingly, this document can be considered for integration into local codes based on any of the model codes commonly adopted by local jurisdictions in the United States and other countries. Sample legislation included in the document recommends that jurisdictions wishing to adopt Chapter 17 of the Uniform Mechanical Code as an enforceable regulation governing plumbing systems by reference should include in their ordinance the legal basis for adoption and implementation of the Chapter.
While speaking on this joint effort, the CEO of IAPMO, Dave Viola, had this to say: “With the Pace Energy and Climate Center’s long history of focusing on renewable energy and decarbonization, along with IAPMO’s leadership in the geothermal district systems with its consensus-based Uniform Mechanical Code, this joint effort greatly strengthens our industry,”
Former Executive Director of the Pace Energy and Climate Center, Craig Hart, who led the Center’s collaboration with IAPMO, stated that “IAPMO’s leadership in standards development for district geothermal systems meets an urgent need among municipalities seeking to accelerate the adoption of clean heating and cooling technologies, and Pace is very happy to support IAPMO in developing a standard that can support those municipalities.”
Pace Energy and Climate Center is excited to have collaborated with IAPMO on this project in continuation of its research and development of much-needed policy solutions to climate and energy crises around the world.
The Pace Energy and Climate Center (Center) is pleased to announce that on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Janine Migden-Ostrander, one of the Center’s Institute for Energy Democracy Fellows, will join other energy experts in a roundtable to discuss how state power generation can keep pace with the trend toward increased electricity demand. The roundtable will focus on Central Ohio which is in a period of growth and has become a hub for data centers, like Intel, which use large quantities of electricity.
Energy forecasters are scrambling to ensure that there are adequate supplies of electricity. State officials and utilities in Ohio have been focusing on meeting the increased demand by adding more natural gas plants and encouraging fracking. They have also proposed legislation to expedite power plant siting review. In the roundtable discussion available virtually, and in-person at the Columbus Metropolitan Club, Janine Migden-Ostrander will offer an alternative view that promotes least cost options such as wind and solar, battery storage, and energy efficiency and demand response. She will argue that while Ohio has had smart meters throughout a large percentage of the state, utilities and regulators have not tapped into the benefits of using them to manage load and avoid high peak costs and forced blackouts. She will also argue that total reliance on natural gas plants will not benefit Ohio in the long run due to environmental impacts and costs and that the portfolio needs to be diversified to include legitimate clean energy sources.
The Pace Energy and Climate Center was cited by the New York Supreme Court of Westchester County in upholding the Town of Mount Pleasant Planning Board in denying approval of a solar project that would have clear-cut 26 acres of trees to build a solar PV array of the same size. Quoting Pace as a basis for the Planning Board’s decision, the court stated in CES Hawthorne Solar, LLC v. The Town of Mount Pleasant Planning Board (2022), “it is essential that local communities deploy clean energy in a manner that safeguards natural resources such as forests. While recognizing the importance of advancing solar in New York State, the Pace Energy and Climate Center does not recommend clearcutting healthy tree stands to clear land to install solar PV arrays. Trees are important for sequestering carbon, and also for protecting biodiversity, preventing heat island effects, and providing a healthy environment in urban and suburban areas. Biodiversity is especially difficult to quantify and track, cannot be directly valued against other metrics like carbon reductions, and, as a result, is chronically undervalued, contributing to ecosystem losses. Given that biodiversity is severely at risk and that many decades are required to fully replace all the environmental services provided by mature tree stands, tree removal should only be done sparingly.”
The Westchester County Association (WCA) partnered with the Pace Energy and Climate Center to launch the County’s Clean Energy Program Portal. This dynamic, searchable guide acts as a clearinghouse that enables businesses to easily find clean energy programs and incentives available in Westchester County and the surrounding region. Read more: https://westchestermagazine.com/life-style/wca-clean-energy-portal-romita/
THE ELISABETH HAUB SCHOOL OF LAW CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF CLEAN ENERGY WORK AT THE PACE ENERGY AND CLIMATE CENTER
WHITE PLAINS, NY – Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law today celebrated 30 years of work at the Pace Energy and Climate Center (PECC). For three decades, PECC has been at the leading edge of creating and implementing solutions to our energy and climate challenges on the local, state, regional, national, and international levels.
“Pace’s Energy and Climate Center is an important part of the Pace Law campus and our community,” said Dean Horace Anderson. “It is a force for legal and policy change, and has trained many Pace Law students to become the next generation of smart energy professionals, working at home and abroad to create more resilient, sustainable communities.”
“This little Center has had an outsized positive effect on clean energy policy over the past thirty years,” said Karl R. Rábago, current Center director. “We fight well above our weight because of the brilliant and inspired leadership of our founder, Dick Ottinger; because the high caliber of our staff, interns, and colleagues; and because of the steadfast support of our community, funders, and clients. I can’t wait to see what we do next!”
PECC was founded by Pace Law Dean Emeritus Richard Ottinger. In recognition of his decades of service to the Center, numerous elected officials issued proclamations and letters of support commending him for his service, including Congressman Eliot L. Engel, New York State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins, New York State Assembly Members Amy R. Paulin, Steven Otis, and Thomas J. Abinanti, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators Benjamin Boykin, Westchester County Board of Legislator Catherine Parker, and Mayor of the City of White Plains Thomas Roach.
PECC is one of eight centers and institutes that are a part of the Pace Law campus. PECC is the leading Center working at the intersection of energy and the environment, engaging government decision makers and key stakeholders with robust research and analysis in law and policy. Over time, the Center has grown from its initial focus on energy regulatory law and policies to tackle transportation and fuels, as well as climate change mitigation and resilience. PECC directly engaged in complex regulatory proceedings in New York and several other states, and advocates successfully for policies to improve energy efficiency, advance renewable energy and distributed generation, account for environmental impacts in energy decisions, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
PECC is a critical part of Pace Law’s environmental law program, which is consistently ranked among the top in the country by “US News &World Report.” The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University launched its environmental law program in 1978; it has long been ranked among the world’s leading university programs. Pace’s doctoral graduates teach environmental law at universities around the world. Pace’s J.D. alumni are prominent in environmental law firms, agencies and non-profit organizations across the U.S. and abroad.
About Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law (Pace Law) offers Juris Doctorate, Master of Laws, and Doctor of Juridical Science in Environmental Law degrees, as well as a series of joint degree programs. The school, housed on the University’s campus in White Plains, New York, opened its doors in 1976 and has over 8,500 alumni around the world. The school maintains a unique philosophy and approach to legal education that strikes an important balance between practice and theory. For more information visit http://law.pace.edu.
We have consistently fought efforts by utilities in NY to increase basic customer charges, which are among the worst/highest in the nation. And we have been winning! In early efforts we stopped increases; recently we have secured reductions in NY’s too high customer charges. This video by Resource Media explains what fixed charges are and why utilities want to raise them. In January, Con Ed will file a major rate case, this is just in time for you to take action!
