LIPA Dedicates Installation of 1000th Solar Power System on Long Island

Hicksville, NY-June 26, 2007-The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) today dedicated the installation of Long Island’s 1,000th solar roof. LIPA’s Solar Pioneer program has rebated over $26 million for 5,781 kilowatts (kWs) of solar panels.

“Solar installations on Long Island have been growing at a steady pace,” said LIPA CEO/President Richard M. Kessel.  “The 1,000th solar roof represents an increasing awareness on Long Island that we can take control of our energy future and work toward energy independence by using more alternative energy technologies.”

According to Mr. Kessel, solar pioneer customers across Long Island are reaping the benefits of the clean and renewable energy that the sun provides.  LIPA’s recently rebated 1,000th solar roof is located at the Hicksville home of George and Angela Karman.  The 9,180 watt PV system is expected to produce 10,384 kilowatt hours (kWhs) annually, which should save the Karman’s approximately $2,100 per year.

The cost of a typical 54-panel PV system ranges from $68,850 to $73,440. LIPA, through its Clean Energy Initiative (CEI) provided a rebate of $34,425, which significantly reduced the out-of-pocket expense for the system.  The Karman’s may be able to further reduce the cost of the system via Federal and State tax incentives, which could total $7,000, and by selling excess electricity back to LIPA.  In addition to the energy savings provided by the solar installations, George and Angela Karman are helping to preserve Long Island’s environment.

“RELI had a goal to see 1,000 solar roofs installed on Long Island by the end of 2007 and we are thrilled to have reached this important solar milestone six months ahead of schedule,” said Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Long Island (RELI), a not-for-profit organization conducting outreach and education on clean energy technologies and providing information and assistance to homeowners interested in installing solar energy systems.

“Thanks to attractive LIPA cash rebates, sizable tax credits, and the work of our tireless SolarCorps volunteers and solar homeowners, a record number of Long Island Solar Pioneers are doing their part to lower emissions, create local jobs and cut our dependency on fossil fuels,” said Mr. Raacke.

“I have a special love for this place and with Long Island’s abundant sunshine, it is the perfect location for using solar energy.  As a supporting member of RELI, I am so proud of the fact that we have reached our goal of 1,000 roofs installed by 2007,” said Christie Brinkley.  “Using Mother Nature to generate clean power to run our homes and businesses is a gift to future generations.  As a mother and an environmentalist I am encouraged and inspired by the direction my fellow Long Islanders are taking.  We are finally stepping up to the plate in the battle against global warming by using renewable energy for a brighter future.”

To date, LIPA has rebated the installation of approximately 5,781kWs of solar panels on a combination of 954 residential and 46 commercial roofs.  In addition, LIPA has accepted 271 pending PV applications for a total of over $7.2 million in rebates for 1,841 (DC) kWs of additional solar-generated energy.

LIPA’s Solar Pioneer Program is one of many CEI programs that have helped reduce the use of fossil fuels, which in turn has lowered emissions of harmful pollutants.  By fostering energy conservation and efficient energy use to reduce the amount of electricity consumed by LIPA customers, more than 2.9 million barrels of oil, or more than 18.4
million decatherms of gas were NOT burned to produce electricity.  In turn, approximately 1,153,237 tons of CO2, 1,533 tons of NOx and 5,455 tons of SO2 were NOT released into the air.

LIPA’s CEI, through its various conservation, energy efficiency, and load reduction programs, has produced total energy savings of over 1,800 Gigawatt hours (GWh) during the last seven years, which is enough electricity to power over 180,000 average-sized Long Island homes.  CEI programs have also reduced Long Island’s peak demand by 175MW.

To learn more about LIPA’s CEI programs and information that can help customers save on their electricity costs by using electricity more efficiently, visit LIPA’s Web site at http://www.lipower.org.

LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric utility, owns the retail electric Transmission and Distribution System on Long Island and provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens.  LIPA is the 3rd largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of customers served and the 6th largest in terms of electricity delivered.  In 2006, LIPA outperformed all other overhead electric utilities in New York State in all three major reliability categories.  LIPA does not provide natural gas service or own any on-island generating assets. More information about LIPA can be found online at: http://www.lipower.org.

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LIPA Contact Information:
Media Relations: (516) 222-7700
Media Pager: (516) 525-LIPA
media.relations@lipower.org

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LIPA Solar Pioneers
http://www.lipower.org/solar