LIPA Celebrates Clean Energy in LI Schools for Earth Day

Announce Winners of ‘I am an ENERGY STAR” contest and help kick off Calhoun High School Fundraiser

Uniondale, NY— The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and Calhoun High School have joined together for EARTH DAY 2007 to celebrate the future of clean energy with teachers and students who participated in the highly successful ‘Clean Energy Challenge’ and “I am an ENERGY STAR” ® talent show held earlier this year.

Today’s event highlights the announcement of the three Grand Prize Winners of the “I am an ENERGY STAR” ® contest sponsored by LIPA and the New York Islanders and helps kick off Calhoun High School’s fundraiser to raise funds towards a purchase of solar electric panels for the high school.

“Kids really make a difference when it comes to understanding the importance of clean energy and energy efficiency,” said Richard M. Kessel, Chief Executive Officer and President of LIPA. “Not only do they represent our future, but young people are taking action right now to help spread the Earth Day message and play an active role in building a sustainable, clean energy future for Long Island.”

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and the New York Islanders have selected the winners of the “I am an ENERGY STAR®” contest: Corrine Castoldi in the 5 to 8 age category, Vincent Lopez in the 10 to 13 age category and Marissa Larsen in the 14 to 18 age category. The winners will appear in LIPA’s new “I am an ENERGY STAR” ® commercial and receive a free ENERGY STAR®-qualified laptop computer. Winners will also have an opportunity to sing the National Anthem at the Nassau Coliseum during the 2007-2008 Islanders hockey season.

The contest was part of two successful initiatives sponsored by LIPA and the New York Islanders that educated youngsters and families about energy efficiency and conservation. Over 600 kids auditioned at schools and malls earlier this year by singing their version of the “I am an ENERGY STAR” ® song and offer their ideas for saving energy and the environment. USA Today also joined LIPA and the Islanders with sponsorship of the Clean Energy Challenge which awarded students’ creativity for clean energy projects, including efficiency, renewable energy and green building designs for the Nassau Coliseum.

“The Islanders are proud to join LIPA in these programs to promote energy efficiency to Long Island’s future generations. For us, these contests are another opportunity for our team to reach out to our younger fans and their families,” said Mike Milbury, senior vice president of sports properties for the New York Islanders.

Students and teachers from Calhoun High School who participated in the ‘Clean Energy Challenge’ are bringing home the message of energy efficiency this Earth Day with the kick off of their annual fundraiser to raise money towards the purchase of a solar system for the high school. This year’s fundraiser, sponsored by the school’s Environmental Classes and Science Club, will promote the sale of Energy Star-rated compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s) to raise funds toward the student’s five year goal of $12,000 for a solar electric system installation at the high school. To date, the school has raised almost $2,500 and is well on their way to meeting their goal.

“Earth Week gives us all the opportunity to stop and think about what we should be doing today for a better tomorrow,” stated David Seinfeld, Principal of Calhoun High School. “I’m very proud of how our teachers have involved our students and this fundraiser will serve as a ‘green energy’ event to promote our collective concern for our environment.”

LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric provider, 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 2nd largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of electric revenues, 3rd largest in terms of customers served and the 7th largest in terms of electricity delivered. In 2008, LIPA outperformed all other overhead electric utilities in New York State for frequency of service interruptions, and ranked second for duration of service interruptions. 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.

Media Contact Information
Vanessa Baird-Streeter
Phone - (516) 719-9230
Cell - (516) 640-0168
Media Pager - (516) 229-7248
media.relations@lipower.org

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