LIPA and GreenLogic Energy Bring Wind Power to McCall Wines

Wind turbine installation and rebates made possible through LIPA’s Backyard Wind Initiative

View press conference photos and video

Cutchogue, NY— The Long Island Power Authority, GreenLogic Energy and McCall Wines celebrated the commencement of a newly installed wind turbine at the McCall Vineyard in Cutchogue.

The 10 kW wind turbine installed by GreenLogic Energy will produce approximately 12,501 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually, which will save McCall Wines $2,312 in electricity costs per year. It’s the sixth turbine installed this year under LIPA’s Backyard Wind Program, there are also 13 applications pending.

“It is encouraging to see Long Islanders participating in LIPA’s Backyard Wind Program,” said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law. “Like our nationally recognized solar programs, LIPA’s wind program will help to create a marketplace for wind power thus reducing our carbon footprint, lowering electric costs, and helping to spur a clean energy economy on Long Island.”

By participating in LIPA’s Backyard Wind Program, McCall Wines will also receive a $43,753.50 LIPA rebate, which will help offset a large portion of the capital costs for the installation of the wind turbine.

"GreenLogic Energy is pleased to have worked with McCall Wines and LIPA to design, permit and install this fabulous wind turbine,” said Founder and Managing Director Mark Clejan. This 10 kW turbine will provide approximately 12,501 kWhs of electricity to the vineyard’s tasting room. McCall Wines and LIPA have shown their commitment to helping green the North Fork and to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. As we watch images every day about oil leaks in the Gulf, we are reminded once again of how important it is to find viable alternatives."

“Our goal at McCall Wines is to be self-sufficient and have a zero carbon footprint,” said Russell McCall, President of McCall Winery. “Our partnership with LIPA and GreenLogic has enabled us to install a wind turbine and move closer to achieving our goal.”

“The development of renewable energy sources is extremely important to fulfilling the ever-increasing demand for power,” said Senator Kenneth P. LaValle. “LIPA’s commitment to supporting renewable technologies will create new jobs, enhance our economy, and help reduce our dependence on foreign fuels. This wind turbine is a fine example of how investments made today will benefit our region, the environment, and our energy efficiency well into the future.”

“Today Long Island is taking another step forward in the progress of alternative energy,” said Assemblyman Marc Alessi. “LIPA’s Backyard Wind Program will not only create jobs, it will also help lower energy bills and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I commend McCall Wines for their support in making Long Island greener and GreenLogic Energy for the wonderful work they did.”

"Renewable sources, like the windmill we unveiled today, are the future of energy production in the United States. I commend McCall Vineyards for moving forward with this project and LIPA for supporting it," said Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine.

“Myself and the members of the Southold Town Board support efforts to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and are pleased to have passed the legislation that made the construction of this wind turbine possible,” said Scott Russell, Town of Southold Supervisor.”

“Turning Long Island’s steady breezes into environmentally friendly electricity makes perfect sense because it lowers utility bills, keeps pollutants out of the air and more of our energy dollars in the local economy,” said Gordian Raacke, executive director of the not-for-profit organization Renewable Energy Long Island (reLI). “Thanks to LIPA’s new wind incentive program another North Fork vineyard will now be able to harvest clean and locally grown electricity.”

McCall Wines, owned by Russell McCall, is a 50 acre farm purchased in 1996 for agricultural interests. The vineyard was planted in 1997 with 10 acres of Pinot Noir and 10 acres of Merlot. This is the largest Pinot Noir vineyard on Long Island. In the last 10 years the McCall family has been instrumental in preserving over 10,000 acres of Long Island farmland by working with the Peconic Land Trust. The wind turbine will reinforce the McCall’s commitment to running a green and sustainable farm.

McCall Wines avoided emissions, over a 20-year period, will amount to approximately 450 pounds of Sulfur Dioxide, 300 pounds of Nitrous Oxide, and 291,923 pounds of Carbon Dioxide which is the equivalent of removing 24 passenger cars off the road and a saving 15,020 gallons of gas consumed.

LIPA’s Backyard Wind Program serves as a compliment to LIPA’s Efficiency Long Island (ELI) initiative. Efficiency Long Island is a 10-year, $924 million energy efficiency program launched in 2009, 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.

View press conference photos and video

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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