Green Success Stories sat down with Max Frank, Project Officer – Clean Energy at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. We discussed his efforts toward helping provide clean energy and resiliency improvements to NJ commercial real estate owners as well as his engagement with multiple other clean energy efforts, including hydrogen production, storage, and off-taking; geothermal networks; and fusion energy.
Tell us a bit about your sustainability journey.
After receiving my master’s degree, I had the opportunity to develop an office greening program at Bristol Myers Squibb. From there, I joined the NJ Economic Development Authority’s (NJEDA) Clean Energy Team where I almost immediately took on the responsibility of developing the state’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program, a commercial real estate financing program rooted in clean energy improvements. Throughout my time with EDA, which is ongoing, I’ve picked up work focusing on clean energy well beyond commercial real estate, such as hydrogen production, storage, and off-taking; geothermal networks; and fusion energy. I haven’t looked back!
Tell us a bit about the product or solution you offer.
Although the NJEDA’s Clean Energy Team has a variety of offerings such as NJ Cool, NJ Zero Emission Incentive (NJ ZIP) program, and NJ Clean Energy Loans (NJ CELs) program, the program where I’ve spent a majority of my time has been the Garden State Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (Garden State C-PACE) program. As in other states, the C-PACE program enables eligible property owners to undertake clean energy and resiliency improvements on their properties at a lower cost. Of course, once launched, the NJ program will have its own unique features, but it is part of a collective effort, being made across the nation, to combat the climate crisis.
Beyond the Garden State C-PACE program and my work on hydrogen, geothermal, and fusion energy, I spend a good amount of time meeting with clean energy-oriented companies and, more broadly, companies looking to move away from fossil fuels. This is a crucial part of my work with the State – to engage those seeking opportunities in NJ and point them in the right direction, whether that be another point of contact or another program.
Share a green success story with us – how have you helped customers or other businesses in the fight against climate change?
To reiterate a bit from the response above – The Garden State C-PACE Program, once live, will help projects of all sizes that may not have otherwise penciled out. In other words, property owners of all sizes will be able to take advantage of the program to upgrade the state’s aging building stock. These upgrades are critical because the State’s building sector is the second most GHG polluting sector following transportation.
What do you envision your industry looking like in ten years?
Clean energy has been up-and-coming for years, and although there have been highs and lows, I think we’ve entered a boom and I think this boom will last. If you google clean energy, every day you will find that the news is different than the day before – THAT is innovation. I anticipate new government programs targeting building decarbonization and zero-emission transportation, desirable production and investment tax credits, more public-private partnerships, record private investment, the list goes on…
How should readers get in touch with you and/or your organization?
Via email at
Kudos
Many thanks to Max Frank and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
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