BOMA presents ECIDA’s plans for net-zero energy building in Buffalo

Riggs shares plans for a zero-net energy building in Buffalo.

Buffalo, NY The Greater Buffalo Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) welcomed Erie County Industrial Development Agency’s (ECIDA) Philip Riggs, facilities site manager and inspector and Grant Lesswing, business development officer, at the March meeting held at Tempelton Landing Restaurant.

Riggs and Lesswing shared plans to build a manufacturing facility that produces as much energy as it consumes. The concept is called “zero-net energy” and has been widely adopted in Europe, but is still a fledgling idea in the U.S. If built, it would be one of the first certified zero-net energy factories in the entire country.

“This would be a signature project, not just for Western New York but for the entire state,” said Lesswing, who is leading the project along with Riggs.

The ECIDA has an initial set of proposals for the facility, including 50,000 s/f of manufacturing space and 30,000 s/f  of commercial office space within five square miles of the SolarCity complex in South Buffalo. The initial cost projection is $17 million, but ECIDA principals warned that the proposal will likely change substantially through the design phase.