Technology

New Microturbine Requirements in NYC!

In December, the Mayor signed and the Commissioner adopted Rule 50-01, "Requirements for the Installation of High-Pressure Natural Gas-Fired Microturbine Systems."

The microturbine market has burgeoned in the last three years in New York City, and in 2006 we assembled a Cogeneration Task Force, including mechanical engineer practioner experts, manufacturers, as well as real estate, the Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability (PlaNYC), Fire Department of NY, Battery Park City Authority and various specialists within the Department of Buildings. We worked for several months over many drafts until we could come to agreement on this rule. As many of you are aware, cogeneration and clean distributed generation both figure prominently in PlaNYC 2030: A Greener, Greater New York, and the Mayor, while emphasizing their safe use, is an important supporter of microturbine use in NYC.

However, we are finding that the message about the safety requirements we are requiring has not been received by many, and so we are redoubling our efforts to convey this message. Please let your memberships know that it is mandatory to file a microturbine under a PW-1 as a microturbine, that it is mandatory to coordinate early in design with the utility for both electrical interconnection and for gas, that there are limitations to both capacity and placement of the microturbines, that FDNY has operational requirements that must be met and that if an installation is found to be not in compliance with these safety provisions, DoB will not authorize gas connection. Please encourage your memberships to read the rule and to contact me if they have any questions.

Thank you for your cooperation in this effort,

Deborah F. Taylor, AIA, LEED AP
Chief Sustainability Officer
New York City Department of Buildings
280 Broadway -- 7th Floor
New York, NY 10007
t 212 566 3255
f 212 566 3813

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