LIPA Named Among Nation's Most Solar Integrated Utilities in the Country for Second Straight Year

Solar Electric Power Association Announces Top Ten Rankings and Results of 2008 U.S. Utility Solar Electricity Market Survey

Uniondale, NY – For the second straight year, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has been named among the top ten utilities in the United States with the most solar electricity integrated into their energy mix by the Washington, D.C.-based Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA). The second annual rankings are based on information provided to SEPA through a survey of utilities and independent research.

LIPA is among only two East Coast utilities to make the Top Ten ranking, along with Public Service Electric & Gas Company of New Jersey. California - with its long-standing policies for solar market development, represents the majority of the highest rankings.

Top Ten Utilities Ranked By Total Solar Electric Capacity (MW) – All Utilities

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (CA) #1
Southern California Edison (CA) #2
San Diego Gas & Electric Company (CA) #3
Public Serv. Co. of Co (Xcel Energy) (CO) #4
Public Service Electric & Gas Company (NJ) #5
Arizona Public Service Company (AZ) #6
Hawaiian Electric Co (HI) #7
Portland General Electric (OR) #8
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (CA) #9
Long Island Power Authority (NY) #10

“We have been working very hard at LIPA to diversify Long Island’s energy portfolio, strengthen the local economy, and to transform the solar photovoltaic marketplace to help reduce our dependency on costly fossil fuels,” said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law. “LIPA’s place in this national ranking for a second straight year is a testament to the success of that effort and we are committed to a continued aggressive future in harnessing the power of the sun.”

“LIPA demonstrates that public power utilities can be amongst the solar leaders in the utility industry, despite their inability to take direct advantage of the 30 percent federal solar investment tax credit,” said Julia Hamm, SEPA executive director. “Under the direction of CEO Kevin Law, LIPA continued to make significant progress in 2008, both by integrating 2.5 MW of new solar power into its grid, and by furthering plans to drastically increase future integration on both the customer and utility sides of the meter.”

Law and New York State Governor David A. Paterson recently announced a major alternative energy project that would create one of the state’s largest sources 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.

LIPA has selected several developers to develop up to 50 megawatts (MW) of solar energy on Long Island. LIPA will seek final approvals of power purchase contracts upon satisfactory completion of environmental reviews. Once on line, these solar generating facilities would provide enough power to sustain more than 6,500 households and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20,000 tons. LIPA envisions that the photovoltaic arrays could be installed at school buildings, on commercial and municipal rooftops, parking lots, atop landfills, on federal properties, and at brownfield sites. These innovative projects will 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 1,700 participants and has resulted in more than $40 million in LIPA rebates.

According to SEPA, over the last year, U.S. electric utilities' engagement with grid-connected solar electricity increased significantly, with major photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar thermal (CST) announcements by utilities, their customers, and third-party solar developers. Utilities have traditionally operated as a solar facilitator, integrating customer developed projects. However, recently there have been several announcements by utilities of new entrepreneurial ideas that provide fresh solutions to regulatory, customer and internal issues.

The full report, which includes the rankings, is available for download at www.solarelectricpower.org.

About the Solar Electric Power Association: From national events to one-on-one counseling, SEPA is the go-to resource for unbiased and actionable solar intelligence. SEPA is comprised of over 550 utilities and solar industry members. Breaking down information overload into business reality, SEPA takes the time and risk out of implementing solar business plans and helps turn new technologies into new opportunities. www.solarelectricpower.org.

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 2010, 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
Mark Gross
Phone - (516) 719-9892
Media Pager - (516) 229-7248
media.relations@lipower.org

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