LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel And Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer Dedicate
Solar Powered Trash Compactors
A Clean and Green Solution to Trash Collection in Rockaway
Uniondale, NY—June 9, 2006—Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Chairman
Richard M. Kessel and New York Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer today dedicated one
of two recently installed solar powered trash compactors in Rockaway to help
promote the use of clean and renewable energy alternatives in the community. The
solar powered trash compactors will help to reduce the frequency of collections
required and the costs (and associated carbon dioxide and pollution emissions
from truck traffic) related to solid waste removal efforts.
“These solar powered trash compactors store and use the power of the sun to
crush up to six bags’ worth of garbage into a single bag,” Chairman Kessel said.
“That saves even more energy because sanitation trucks don’t have to empty the
waste receptacle as often.”
The solar-powered, BigBelly Cordless Compaction System™ was funded through a
grant from LIPA’s Clean Energy Initiative (CEI). The Chamber of Commerce of the
Rockaways placed one compactor at Tribute Park and the other compactor nearby in
front of the A Line subway station on Beach 116th Street in Rockaway Park.
LIPA’s CEI is a 10-year $355-million program fostered by Governor George
Pataki, and 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.
"The beachfront community of Rockaway is an ideal place to showcase
technology that demonstrates the use of clean energy alternatives. I look
forward to continuing to work closely with LIPA to encourage energy efficiency
and conservation," stated Assemblywoman Pheffer.
"The Rockaway Chamber would like to thank Assemblywoman Pheffer for
encouraging LIPA to choose Rockaway as the recipient of state of the art
technology. We are thrilled to be on the cutting edge of an environmentally
friendly way to collect trash and beautify our neighborhood for all who live,
work and play here,” said John Lepore, President of the Rockaway Chamber of
Commerce.
“We are extremely grateful to the DOE fund for their generous assistance in
maintaining the Big Belly."
The solar compactor purchased under this grant is the “BigBelly” Cordless
Compaction System manufactured by Seahorse Power Company. It uses a solar panel
to generate energy, stores the energy in a battery pack, then utilizes the
energy very efficiently, allowing industrial-strength trash compaction without
using electricity from LIPA’s system.
The Solar Powered BigBelly Cordless Compaction System™:
- Solar-powered, automatic compaction
- Reduces collections by 4 times or more
- Eliminates unsightly, overflowing bins
- Keeps litter in, and pests out
- No trenching or wiring installation needed
- Reliable, safe and easy to use
“We are committed to providing reliable electric service to the more than
100,000 people who live in Rockaway,” Chairman Kessel said. “Cutting edge
technology like the solar powered trash compactor will help us meet that
commitment with less reliance on fossil fuels. That’s a win-win for Rockaway’s
residents and the environment!” |
