LIPA Dedicates the Installation of the 750th Residential PV System on Long Island.
October 7th Marks Long Island’s Participation in the National Solar Tour
East Northport, NY- October 5, 2006-Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Chairman Richard M. Kessel today dedicated at the East Northport home of Linda and Stan Fostek, the installation of Long Island’s 750th residential solar roof. LIPA has now rebated approximately $20 million dollars for solar installations on Long Island.
“This home truly represents a growing awareness on Long Island that we can take control of our energy future and work towards energy independence,” said LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel. “Solar installations on Long Island have been growing at a rapid pace.”
Solar Pioneer customers all across Long Island are reaping the benefits of the clean and renewable energy that the sun provides. LIPA’s recently installed 750th residential solar roof is located at the East Northport home of Linda and Stan Fostek. The 48-panel pv system will produce about 9,345 watts of electricity and cost $78,000. LIPA, through
its Clean Energy Initiative (CEI) provided a rebate of $39,936, which significantly reduced the out-of-pocket expense for the system. The Fosteks will be able to further reduce the cost of the system via Federal and State tax incentives that could total $7,000 and by selling excess electricity back to LIPA. In addition to the energy savings provided by the solar installations, the Linda and Stan Fostek are helping to preserve Long Island’s environment.
“Installing our solar electric system was very empowering. We felt that we had taken some control back on our energy costs and at the same time we’re also contributing to the community by reducing some of the strain on the power grid,” said Linda and Stan Fostek. “We could not have done it without the generous LIPA Rebate Program as well as state and federal tax incentives. Being solar pioneers has been and continues to be a very rewarding experience.”
As LIPA dedicated its 750th residential roof-top solar energy system, LIPA and Renewable Energy Long Island (RELI) are gearing up for the upcoming National Solar Tour. On October 7th over 90 LIPA Solar Pioneers will open up their homes across Long Island to those interested in learning more about the benefits of “going solar.” The American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour opens thousands of homes and buildings throughout the country to provide the public with an opportunity to experience solar power, solar heating, cooling, and hot-water, wind power, day lighting, and green building technologies.
The Solar Tour is a great opportunity to see actual solar installations on homes and speak with people about energy efficiency strategies and methods. It also provides an opportunity to speak with solar system experts, to learn about how the technology works, what it costs, and why it makes sense to use it. Over 1000 people on Long Island participated
in last year’s Solar Tour.
“The Solar Tour is really the best way to ‘kick the tires’ and talk to home and business owners directly to find out whether solar energy would work for your home or business,” said Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of RELI. The public may participate in this self-guided tour free of charge but will need to obtain a free Visitors Pass from RELI. The
Visitors Pass and information on the tour and solar energy technologies & incentives are available at www.RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org or by calling (631) 537-8282.
To date, LIPA has rebated the installation of approximately 4,194 kW of solar panels (711 residential and 39 commercial). In addition, there are 150 rebate applications pending.
The installations within LIPA’s service territory equate to 3,947 solar roofs, which includes commercial solar applications. To date, the approximate dollar savings to all Solar Pioneer Program Participants is $812,370, with a total cumulative energy savings of 6,249,000 kwh.
LIPA’s Solar Pioneer Program is one of many CEI programs that have helped reduced the use of fossil fuels, which in turn has reduced emissions of harmful pollutants. By fostering energy conservation and efficient energy use to reduce the amount of electricity consumed by LIPA customers, more than 2.17 million barrels of oil, or more than 13.48 million decatherms of gas were NOT burned to produce electricity. In turn, approximately 937,402 tons of CO2, 1,334 tons of NOx and 4,298 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 one (1) thousand Gigawatt hours (GWh) during its first six years, which is enough electricity to power over 140,000 average-sized Long Island homes for one year. CEI programs have also reduced Long Island’s peak demand
by 269.
Visit LIPA’s Web site, www.lipower.org, to learn more about LIPA’s CEI Programs in addition to information that can help customers save on their electricity costs by using electricity more efficiently.
LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric utility, owns the retail electric Transmission and Distribution System (T&D) on Long Island and provides electric service to over 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. In terms of customers served, LUIPA is the 3rd largest municipal electric utility in the
nation and the 6th largest in terms of electricity delivered. LIPA does not provide natural gas service or own any on-island electric generation
assets.
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LIPA Contact Information:
Media Relations: (516) 719-9892
Media Pager: (516) 525-LIPA
media.relations@lipower.org
LIPA News Center
http://www.lipower.org/newscenter
LIPA CEI
www.lipower.org/cei
LIPA Solar Pioneer Program
www.lipower.org/solar
