The Long Island Power Authority & Carle Place Schools Dedicate Solar Power System
The first Photovoltaic (PV) solar power systems to be installed will save on Electric Costs, Provide Educational Opportunity
Source: The Westbury Times online edition /Feb 2, 2007
http://www.antonnews.com/westburytimes/2007/02/02/news/
The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and the Carle Place School District last week dedicated the first photovoltaic (PV) solar power systems to be installed by a Long Island school district under LIPA’s Solar Pioneer Program. The five PV systems installed by Johnson Controls/Rockmore Contracting total 49.54 kilowatts (kW) and will produce a total of approximately 57,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually, saving the Carle Place School District and its taxpayers about $10,177 in electricity costs per year.
The solar power systems will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By avoiding the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity, the avoided emissions over a 20-year period will be approximately 6,062 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 1,984 of nitrous oxide and 1.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide. By participating in LIPA’s Solar Pioneer Program, the Carle Place School District also received a $198,500 rebate, which will help offset some of the capital costs for installing the five PV systems.
“Because of their foresight and leadership, the Carle Place 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 Chairman Richard M. Kessel. “LIPA hopes that Carle Place Schools will light the way for other municipal entities to make renewable energy part of their energy portfolio.”
W. Michael Mahoney, superintendent of the Carle Place School District, said, “the solar system installation represents the district’s effort to save money by attracting LIPA rebates, cushioning the cost to taxpayers and reducing fossil fuel usage. When you include the opportunity to educate children about the benefits of alternative energy, the solar installation is a great example of a win-win circumstance.”
The Carle Place School District is also using the PV systems to educate students about solar energy and alternative energy resources. The PV installation includes a “story board” on the side of the school building upon which the solar panels are located that provides a description of all the systems’ components for the students to see.
To date, under its Solar Pioneer Program, LIPA has rebated over $22.9 million for the installation of approximately 859 PV systems Island-wide. That number breaks down to 778 residential and 44 commercial systems and 27 systems installed at educational, not-for-profit and Government facilities. Additionally, there are 236 rebate applications pending for PV systems that are about to be installed.
LIPA’s Solar Pioneer rebates are currently available for residential and commercial customers at $3.75 per watt. School districts, not-for-profit 501c3 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 $3.75 for a total of $4.75 per watt.
More school districts around the Island are investigating the benefits of solar power as an electricity supply alternative. Two other school districts have applied for Solar Pioneer rebates to help lower energy costs and to educate their students about solar energy. For more information about LIPA’s Solar Pioneer Program visit http://www.lipower.org