RIT-led consortium wins $19.5M state contract

A Rochester Institute of Technology-led consortium has won a $19.5 million, five-year award from the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation to operate the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute. The win allows RIT to continue to lead important environmental projects and initiatives that have a significant impact on businesses and residents statewide.

The contract award for the Pollution Prevention Institute, also known as NYSP2I, is funded by the state’s Environmental Protection Fund and followed a competitive statewide application process. It is subject to approval from the Office of State Comptroller.

NYSP2I, sponsored by the DEC since its establishment in 2008, is led by RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability. GIS will continue to direct a statewide consortium of environmental experts from leading schools in Binghamton University, Clarkson University, Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

“This partnership with New York state, our terrific university partners and the strong network of statewide Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEPs) is a model of successful collaboration that leads to outstanding results, and the re-designation will enable us to engage with more companies and organizations in these efforts,” said RIT President David Munson.

Charles Ruffing, director of NYSP2I, noted that the institute has gained a strong reputation for bringing innovative processes and technologies to a wide variety of industry sectors.

“The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute’s accomplishments over the last decade here at RIT, working closely with the DEC and our partners across all corners of the state, have helped provide significant value to a wide range of New York state industries—both environmentally and economically,” Ruffing said. “We look forward to expanding our impact in the future as we work to identify opportunities that will continue to help businesses, communities and the citizens of New York become more sustainable.”

NYSP2I’s accomplishments over the last decade include:

• $4.7 million in operational cost savings as a result of direct assistance to state companies.
• More than 300 assistance projects working directly with statewide companies and communities.
• More than 60 companies receiving assistance through its Green Initiative, supporting the potential to create nearly 200 jobs.
• $1.5 million in support of projects through NYSP2I’s Community Grants Program.
• More than $2.5 million to fund 35 research and daevelopment projects.
• Millions of pounds of reductions in non-hazardous and hazardous materials; air emissions; energy usage in electricity and natural gas; water usage; and wastewater discharge.