LIPA and Smithtown Schools Announce Largest School Solar Project on Long Island

Smithtown, NY—The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), in its continuing effort to help Long Island become more energy efficient, announced today that the Smithtown Central School District has partnered with the Authority to upgrade its facilities by participating in LIPA’s Solar Entrepreneur Program and Efficiency Long Island/Commercial Construction Program.

The four solar electric generating photovoltaic (PV) systems total 110.775 kilowatts (kW) and will produce a total of approximately 141,238 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually. This will save the Smithtown Central School District and its taxpayers approximately $27,682 in electricity costs per year.

The PV systems will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. By using solar power as opposed to fossil fuels to generate electricity, the avoided emissions over a 20 year period will be approximately five tons of Sulfur Dioxide, two tons of Nitrous Oxide, and 1,660 tons of Carbon Dioxide. This is the equivalent of removing 276 passenger cars from the road.

By participating in LIPA’s Solar Entrepreneur Program, the school district also received a $356,937.50 rebate, which will help offset the capital costs for the four PV systems. The systems are located at Smithtown High School West, which has a 47.775 kW system, and Accompsett, Great Hollow and Nesaquake Middle Schools, each of which has a 21 kW system. In addition, the Board of Education is considering a proposal for a 5 kW solar installation at Smithtown Elementary School which should be eligible for a $22,500 LIPA rebate.

“Smithtown Central School District can now harness the energy of the sun to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, lower its energy bills and protect the environment,” said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law. “LIPA commends the district for making renewable energy part of their energy portfolio. Moreover, every dollar saved by the district with the solar panels is a dollar that can be spent on a child’s education or a dollar of property taxes that doesn’t have to be raised.”

“This is part of the Smithtown School District’s ongoing efforts to conserve energy, bring about “green” schools, reduce operational expenditures, and educate our students about the importance of protecting the environment. We are proud to be in the forefront of this important endeavor among Long Island school systems,” said Smithtown School District Superintendent Ed Ehmann.

Through Sept 1, 2009, under its Solar Pioneer and Entrepreneur Programs, LIPA has rebated over $48 million for the installation of approximately 11 megawatts in almost 2000 solar residential and commercial power systems Island-wide, installed at educational, not-for-profit and government facilities.

LIPA’s Solar Pioneer and Entrepreneur rebates are currently available for residential and commercial customers. For residential customers, rebates are $3.50 per watt up to a 10 kW system. Commercial customers are eligible for rebates up to 100kW. The commercial rebates are from 1-10 kW at $3.50 per watt, from 11-50 kW $1.50/watt and from 51-100kW $1.00/watt. School districts, 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations and government entities within LIPA’s service area are eligible for an extra dollar per watt above the current LIPA Solar Pioneer rebate of $3.50 for a total of $4.50 per watt up to a 10 kW and $2.50 per watt from 11-50kW system as they are not eligible for federal and state tax credits.

In addition to the recent PV installation, the Smithtown Central School District has participated in LIPA’s Efficiency Long Island/Commercial Construction Program. Between 2001 and 2006, the district upgraded the lighting systems in the school buildings to high-efficiency fixtures. In total, this work qualified the district for over $111,786 in rebates from the Authority. These efficiency measures allowed the district to reduce its electric energy demand by an estimated 131 kW and its electric energy usage by an estimated 513,305 kWh per year, resulting in savings of approximately $95,000 annually.

This year, the district installed occupancy sensors in all of its schools so that lights will go off automatically in rooms that are not being used. This equipment is expected to qualify for $33,470 in LIPA rebates and further reduce the district’s electric energy demand by an estimated 99.54 kW and its annual electric energy usage by an estimated 227,713 kWh. The above mentioned energy efficiency measures taken by Smithtown Central School District under this initiative will have the equivalent effect of removing 69 cars from the road for one year.

Efficiency Long Island is a 10-year, $924 million energy efficiency program launched this year which offers a wide array of incentives, rebates and initiatives to LIPA’s residential and commercial customers to assist them in reducing their energy usage and thereby lowering their bills.

"I applaud both LIPA and the Smithtown Central school District for partnering together on this valuable project. Today’s announcement will save parents money while protecting the environmental future of their students. Through this project, the Smithtown school district is teaching students that we can all play a role in the fight to protect our planet and, as school opens, what better lesson can there be," said Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District).

"As a Member of the Assembly, I applaud Superintendent Ehmann and the Board of Education for being proactive regarding energy conservation and reducing the use of fossil fuels to help protect the environment. As a taxpayer in the Smithtown Central School District, I say thank you for your due-diligence and efforts to reduce costs," said Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick.

“This is a wonderful cooperative effort between LIPA and the Smithtown School District. This effort will demonstrate that the school district and LIPA are committed to saving the environment,” said Supervisor Patrick Vecchio.

“Today’s event marks the culmination of years of efforts that Smithtown High School students and the entire Smithtown School District have undertaken to become more ‘green’. In December 2006, I attended a Smithtown DECA Green Conference that discussed many of the goals and plans the students envisioned for the district – goals that would save taxpayer money while reducing our carbon imprint on the environment. These efforts are to be recognized and honored as one more
step on our journey to become more energy efficient and less reliant on fossil fuels for heat and light. I am honored to have been a part of the DECA conference and to be part of today’s event,” said Legislator Lynne Nowick. “This important undertaking could not have been possible without the generous grant from LIPA to bring this solar project to life. LIPA’s efforts will be the cornerstone of future building projects that can be referenced to show how going green can be financially rewarding. LIPA must be commended for their enthusiasm and leadership in this worthy project.”

"We can all learn an important lesson from this school,” said Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of the not-for-profit organization Renewable Energy Long Island. “The lesson is that adding energy efficiency to solar panels is a powerful equation resulting in lower utility bills and a cleaner environment. Thanks to Kevin Law’s leadership and LIPA’s attractive rebates more and more Long Island schools are now taking advantage of this successful formula."

On behalf of the members of the Long Island Solar Energy Industries Association (LISEIA), Chairman Kevin MacLeod applauds the Smithtown School District’s leadership in choosing solar energy and incorporating it into the daily experience of their community. “Cleaner air, lower taxes and independence from foreign oil interests are all benefits of a clean energy economy. LIPA is to be thanked and congratulated for its long range vision in supporting a transition to a clean energy economy through its solar pioneer and solar entrepreneur programs. Long Island needs more leaders like LIPA CEO Kevin Law and the Smithtown School Board.”

“LIPA's Solar Pioneer Program is a national leader in providing incentives for solar energy which is one of the best ways to reduce greenhouse gases that cause global warming, while also saving money on energy costs,” said Neal Lewis, Executive Director of the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College. “It is particularly encouraging to see school districts like Smithtown working LIPA's leadership by investing in solar energy because these efforts will help educate children about the importance of clean and renewable energy solutions to our future energy needs.”

“Congratulations to the Long Island Power Authority and the Smithtown Central School District on this cost-saving and eco-friendly project. Partnerships like these are essential for transforming Long Island into a clean energy mecca. This exciting project will also introduce thousands upon thousands of students to the benefits of renewable energy. Relying less on Long Island’s antiquated power plants will not only reduce carbon emissions but also protect coastal resources. We encourage LIPA to continue to play a leading role in the fight against global warming and the promotion of energy efficiency, solar power and other renewables,” said Kyle Rabin, Director, Network for New Energy Choices.

“Back to school now means, back to clean energy, students will not only learn Science, Math, and English but also the value of renewable energy and fighting climate change. CCE gives Smithtown and LIPA a grade of A for this project,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

“The USGBC-LI chapter would like to extend their congratulations and support to the Smithtown School District and LIPA for their promotion of solar energy in particular and energy efficiency in general. The choices being made by the School district, in partnership with LIPA make for a stronger Long Island,” said Art Desin USGBC-LI Chairman.

For more information on LIPA’s Solar Pioneer and Entrepreneur Programs and Efficiency Long Island go to http://www.lipower.org/efficiency.

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
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