LIPA Partners with Suffolk Transportation Services to Install 51 kW of Solar Panels at Bay Shore Headquarters

View press conference photos

Bay Shore, NY—The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has partnered with Suffolk Transportation Service to bring solar energy to the state-of-the-art headquarters in Bay Shore, NY. Today, LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law presented a solar rebate check of $96,000 to help offset the cost of this beneficial project. This funding was provided through LIPA’s Solar Entrepreneur program.

“I am proud to say LIPA’s nationally recognized Solar Pioneer and Entrepreneur Programs have rebated over $59 million since inception,” said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law. “With our renewable programs and customers like Suffolk Transportation Service’s environmentally conscious vision, Long Island is becoming more and more independent of fossil fuel.”

Suffolk Transportation Service installed a solar electric generating photovoltaic (PV) system totaling 51 kilowatts (kW) which will produce a total of approximately 57,623 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually. This will save the facility approximately $10,718 in electricity costs per year.

“Suffolk Transportation prides itself on providing safe, reliable transportation for its riders, said President John J. Corrado. “The installation of solar at this state-of-the-art headquarters in Bay Shore, NY reinforces this commitment. Using PV to produce electricity for the facility creates an environmentally friendly building for the community while saving money for the company to utilize on future investments.

The 255-panel PV system cost $366,678. LIPA, through its Solar Entrepreneur Program, provided a significant rebate of $96,000 which helped to reduce the out-of-pocket expense for the system. In addition, Suffolk Transportation Service may be able to further reduce the cost of the system via Federal and State tax incentives.

“Bringing solar energy to the Suffolk Transportation Service’s headquarters will help Suffolk become more independent of fossil fuels, relieve stress on the electric grid and save money,” said Assemblyman Phil Ramos (D-Central Islip). “Solar panels are proven reliable and efficient. Solar energy needs to be a focal point of Long Island’s energy future, and this grant moves us in that direction.”

“Suffolk Transportation Service and the Long Island Power Authority are helping to lead Islip Town, and all of Long Island, into an environmentally-conscious and energy-efficient future,” said Supervisor Nolan. “These kinds of mutually beneficial partnerships are exactly what we need moving forward.”

“I’d like to congratulate Suffolk Transportation Service, working in conjunction with the Long Island Power Authority, for making this major investment in Solar Panels,” said County Legislator Thomas F. Barraga. “Such positive action will not only financially benefit the company in the long term but is another positive step in helping remove our dependency on fossil fuels.”

“LIPA’s solar rebate program has been very successful in making these projects much more cost effective for businesses and residents,” said Islip Town Councilman John Edwards. “The payback period is reduced significantly. Wherever possible, such incentive rebate programs promoting renewable energy should continue and be expanded.”

“We commend Suffolk Transportation for taking this important step and encourage other commercial business owners to consider the environmental and financial benefits of investing in solar energy,” said Jared Haines, President, Mercury Solar Systems.

LIPA’s Solar Pioneer and Entrepreneur Programs have lowered emissions of harmful pollutants that contribute to climate change. By using solar power as opposed to fossil fuels to generate electricity, Suffolk Transportation Service’s avoided emissions, over a 20-year period, will be approximately 210 pounds of Sulfur Dioxide, 82 pounds of Nitrous Oxide, and 71,610 pounds of Carbon Dioxide which is the equivalent of removing 5.9 passenger cars off the road and a savings 3,687 gallons of gas consumed.

As of January 1, 2010, LIPA has rebated approximately 2,249 residential, 86 commercial roofs and 88 systems installed at educational, not-for-profit, and government facilities.

For complete program details visit the LIPA website at http://www.lipower.org/efficiency/solar-programs.html.

View more photos

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

Multimedia Gallery

Stay Connected