LIPA and Hempstead Town Dedicate Solar Energy Installation at Town’s Conservation and Waterways Building and New Renewable Energy Learning Center in Point Lookout The First Solar Power Installation on a Municipal Building on Long Island Point Lookout, NY—April 6, 2005—The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and the Town of Hempstead today dedicated Long Island’s first roof-top solar installation on a municipally owned and operated building. The 80 panel, 10 kilowatt (kW) solar system was installed on the Town’s Conservation and Waterways Building located in Pont Lookout. This facility will also house Long Island’s first “Renewable Energy Learning Center.” “This solar installation represents what can be accomplished when LIPA and local governments work together to lower Long Island’s dependence on fossil fuels,” said LIPA Chairman Richard M. Kessel. “The Town of Hempstead will lower its energy costs, and through the Renewable Energy Learning Center will provide an important and invaluable service for all Long Islanders.” “Hempstead Town is committed to protecting the environment through the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor, Kate Murray. “The beauty of environmentally responsible energy systems such as this one is that they are in harmony with nature while simultaneously offering genuine cost savings.” The Renewable Energy Learning Center will be an in-depth source of information about the many types of renewable energy technologies available today such as solar, wind, fuel cells and geothermal. On Wednesday, April 20, 2005 the Learning Center will host a free LIPA Solar Energy Seminar at 7:00pm. The seminar, sponsored by LIPA and Renewable Energy LI (RELI), will provide information on how to harness the energy of the sun and protect the environment. The 10kW solar system will provide nearly 10% of the Conservation and Waterways building’s electrical needs and save Hempstead Town $1300 per year on energy costs for the building. Over the 25-year life expectancy of the solar panels, the solar system will generate almost 323,500 Kwh of electricity. That’s enough electricity to power 345 average sized Long Island homes for 25 years. By generating electricity utilizing the energy of the sun, the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity will be displaced. As a result, the emissions that would have been created through the burning of oil and natural gas will be avoided. During the life-span of the solar panels over 187 tons of NOx, Sox and CO2 will not be released into Long Island’s environment. Mr. Kessel also presented Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray with a $49,200 LIPA Solar Pioneer rebate check for the solar installation. The Conservation and Waterways solar installation is part of LIPA’s ongoing effort to diversify Long Island’s energy supply through LIPA’s Clean Energy Initiative (CEI). The CEI is a 10-year, $355-million program fostered by Governor George Pataki. The CEI is designed to encourage energy conservation, efficient energy use and the development and use of renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal and fuel cells. "We commend Supervisor Murray and the Town for their leadership in bringing pollution-free solar energy to Hempstead,” said Gordian Raacke, executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island (RELI), a not-for-profit organization providing solar information to the public under the national Million Solar Roofs Initiative. "Generating electricity with Long Island's abundant sunshine instead of imported fossil fuels makes sense for municipalities, homeowners and businesses alike, and thanks to LIPA's attractive upfront rebates, the technology is now becoming quite affordable." "It's great that LIPA and the Town of Hempstead are acting for the public benefit and employing pollution-free power." Mark Serotoff, Coordinator for the Sustainable Energy Alliance Long Island. “Investing in renewable energy technologies is Long Island’s future. It is refreshing to see cooperation between LIPA and the Town of Hempstead to advance clean, conflict-free, safe energy. This 10 kW solar system is a step in the right direction. We hope the town will continue and become a leader in their investment of renewable energy,” stated Maureen Dolan, Program Coordinator, Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “At a time when our Federal Government is refusing to recognize the potential of renewable energy it is refreshing to see that the Town of Hempstead is following the only course that we have for health, sustainability, energy independence and the survival of the planet,” said Marie Pendzich, Energy Chair of the Long Island Sierra Club. To learn more about LIPA’s Clean Energy Initiative and its alternative energy technology efforts, go to the Authority’s Web site at www.lipower.org. LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric utility, owns the retail electric system on Long Island and provides electric service to nearly 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. LIPA does not own any on-island generation assets and does not provide natural gas service. ### Contact Information: Press Release 04/06/05 3:25 PM Eastern |
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