New York utility leading the transition toward a distributed energy future - Clean Coalition
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New York utility leading the transition toward a distributed energy future

New York’s Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is leading the way on distributed energy resources.

Craig Lewis


Across the country, utilities are paying greater attention to distributed energy resources – like distributed generation, energy storage, and demand response – as they increasingly offer a cost-competitive alternative to conventional generation.

New York’s Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is leading the way. This October, LIPA issued two requests for proposals (RFP) totaling 1,910 MW that call for increased deployment of distributed energy resources to replace current peaking facilities and improve power system efficiency.

“These RFPs are intended to have resources added to the LIPA system that are smaller in size and strategically located to provide the greatest overall value to our customers,” said LIPA Chief Operating Officer John McMahon.

LIPA’s latest RFPs build upon prior success embracing distributed resources. With support from the Clean Coalition, the utility’s CLEAN Solar Initiative is directing the deployment of 40 MW of local solar capacity to a constrained region on its grid. This move willsave LIPA ratepayers $84 million by deferring– and potentially eliminating the need for – expensive transmission grid investments.

Craig Lewis

Founder and Executive Director

Craig founded the Clean Coalition in 2009 and has over 30 years of experience in policy and technology innovation, including the proliferation of Solar Microgrids and Community Microgrids. Prior to founding the Clean Coalition, Craig held numerous positions in the wireless, semiconductor, banking, and renewable energy industries. Previously VP of Government Relations at GreenVolts, he was the first to successfully navigate a solar project through California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard solicitation process. Craig was energy policy lead on Steve Westly’s 2006 California gubernatorial campaign. His resume includes senior government relations, corporate development, and marketing positions at leading wireless, semiconductor, and banking companies such as Qualcomm, Ericsson, and Barclays Bank. Craig received an MBA and MSEE from the University of Southern California and a BSEE from the University of California, Berkeley.

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