GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR STATE’S LARGEST SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT
LIPA Solar Project Would Provide Enough Power to Sustain 6,500 Households And
Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions by 20,000 Tons
Governor David A. Paterson today announced a major alternative energy project
that would create the state’s largest source of solar power to help meet the
challenge of developing comprehensive renewable energy alternatives and address
the growing demand for energy on Long Island and throughout the state.
Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) President and CEO Kevin S. Law said LIPA
released a Request for Proposals (RFP) today calling for 50 megawatts (MW) of
solar energy to be generated on Long Island. The project would provide enough
power to sustain more than 6,500 households and reduce carbon dioxide emissions
by 20,000 tons. The solar energy would be produced by one or more developers of
solar photovoltaic systems and will be introduced onto the LIPA grid and
purchased by LIPA.
“As our need for energy continues to grow on Long Island and throughout the
state, it is imperative that we find new ways to develop more renewable energy
resources that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Governor
Paterson. “The RFP issued today, which was one of the recommendations of my
Renewable Energy Task Force, is just one of the actions we are taking to meet
our energy needs while reducing the State’s carbon footprint.”
LIPA envisions that the photovoltaic arrays will be installed at school
buildings, on commercial and municipal rooftops, along parking lots, atop
landfills, and at brownfield sites. This innovative project could further
stimulate the solar marketplace throughout the state, fostering the creation of
more “green collar” jobs.
The 50MW of solar energy builds on the success of LIPA’s Solar Pioneer
program, which boasts more than 1,200 participants and has resulted in more than
$30 million in LIPA rebates. LIPA and Long Island have been leading the way in
this regard, serving as a host to 90 percent of the photovoltaic systems
purchased throughout the entire state. The new 50MW will count for nearly one
percent of LIPA’s total annual demand and will be the single largest block of
solar energy in New York State.
LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law said: “This project will diversify Long
Island’s energy portfolio, strengthen the local economy, transform the solar
photovoltaic marketplace, and reduce our dependency on costly fossil fuels.”
Ashok Gupta, Senior Energy Economist for the Natural Resources Defense
Council, said: “Governor Paterson and LIPA's leadership on solar is to be
commended. Having 50 MW of solar in LIPA’s portfolio will not only help reduce
the pollution that causes global warming but it will also provide critical
peaking power which is otherwise very expensive and often dirtier than baseload
generation.”
Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of the not-for-profit Renewable Energy
Long Island said: “LIPA’s Solar Pioneer program for homeowners has helped
transform a virtually non-existent residential market into a fast growing
success story. I hope that LIPA’s new large-scale solar initiative will do the
same for commercial and institutional buildings on Long Island. The roofs of our
malls, institutional buildings and covered parking lots present a huge
opportunity to turn Long Island’s abundant sunshine into clean and green
electricity.”
The deadline for RFP responses is June 27, 2008. Recommendations for an award
are expected to be made at the October 2008 meeting of LIPA’s Board of Trustees.
A Proposers’ Conference will be held at LIPA’s offices in Uniondale, New York
on May 12, 2008, where LIPA staff will provide an overview of key elements of
the RFP and answer questions from interested parties. Further details of the
conference will be posted on LIPA’s website at
http://www.lipower.org/ |
