Press release: CLEAN Solar Initiative approved by Long Island Power Authority, advancing Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun Initiative
LIPA joins a nationwide movement to unleash local renewable generation through Clean Local Energy Accessible Now (CLEAN) Programs.
June 29, 2012
For Immediate Release:
News Release: CLEAN Solar Initiative approved by Long Island Power Authority, advancing Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun Initiative
LIPA joins a nationwide movement to unleash local renewable generation through Clean Local Energy Accessible Now (CLEAN) Programs
LONG ISLAND, NY – On June 28th, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), which serves more than 1 million customers, approved the CLEAN Solar Initiative (CSI), advancing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s NY-Sun Initiative goal of quadrupling customer-sited solar energy in New York State by 2013. LIPA’s CSI is the largest CLEAN program by a single utility on the Eastern Seaboard and is expected to result in the deployment of 50 megawatts (MW) of local solar energy generation within two years.
“LIPA’s CLEAN Solar Initiative is an important part of the NY-Sun Initiative,” said Tom Congdon, Assistant Secretary for Energy in Governor Cuomo’s administration. “The CLEAN Solar Initiative will create green jobs, expand our solar capacity, and lead to a long-term reduction of the cost of solar in New York.”
Under the CSI program, LIPA will purchase all of the energy generated by 50 MW of local solar projects at a fixed-rate of 22 cents per kilowatt-hour for 20 years. Projects must be at least 50 kilowatts (kW) in size, and LIPA expects that the largest projects will be in the 3 MW range. Since all projects must be interconnected to LIPA’s distribution grid, no new transmission lines will be required. Additional details about LIPA’s CLEAN Solar Initiative are available here.
“LIPA’s CLEAN Solar Initiative will rapidly increase the local production of solar energy while sustaining the local industry, creating local jobs, and keeping customer bills low by locking in reasonable electric rates for long durations,” said LIPA’s Chief Operating Officer Michael Hervey.
The CLEAN Solar Initiative marks a significant milestone in the widespread adoption of CLEAN Programs across the country. Over the last three years, utilities and policymakers have implemented CLEAN Programs in Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, Tennessee, Texas, Oregon, Hawaii, and California.
“With its CLEAN Solar Initiative, LIPA joins a rapidly growing list of American utilities that have already embraced the proven benefits of CLEAN Programs,” said Craig Lewis, Executive Director of Clean Coalition. “Local energy means local jobs, rapid renewable project development, private investment opportunities, and efficient power by generating close to where energy is used and avoiding transmission infrastructure. The utility, its customers, and both local and state government will all benefit from the CLEAN Solar Initiative.”
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Contact:
John Bernhardt
john@clean-coalition.org
(703) 963-8750
About Clean Coalition
Clean Coalition is a nonprofit organization that makes clean local energy accessible now. Its mission is to implement policies and programs that accelerate the transition to a decentralized energy system that delivers cost-effective renewable energy, strengthens local economies, minimizes environmental impacts, and enhances energy security. Clean Coalition recently released an updated version of the Local CLEAN Program Guide, a free best practices guide designed to help utilities and policymakers evaluate, design, and implement CLEAN Programs. For more information, please visit www.Clean-Coalition.org.
