Suffolk County Parking Lots, Carports Go Solar

The proposal to outfit Suffolk County parking lots with solar panels was presented by officials Tuesday morning in Hauppauge, right across the street from what will soon be one of Long Islands first Power Lots.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, LIPA President and CEO Kevin Law and the California-based international wind and solar project developer, enXco are teaming up to turn seven of Suffolk Countys largest parking lots into clean energy producers. Coupled with LIPAs plans for a 200-acre solar farm at Brookhaven Laboratory in Upton, this will be the largest solar project in New York State.

Solar energy is clean, renewable and safe, and our large parking areas provide ideal locations for solar panels, said Levy. Its a win-win for everybodyas not only do solar carports generate clean energy, but they provide a convenient shelter from hot sun or inclement weather for drivers.

Levy and Law noted that enXco-one of the two firms selected through Request for Proposals by LIPA to provide up to 50 megawatts of solar power to the grid -will enter into a long-term lease agreement with Suffolk for outfitting parking lots including the H. Lee Dennison Building and the North County Complex in Hauppauge, the Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip and the Riverhead County Center, as well as county-owned parking lots at the Long Island Railroad stations in Ronkonkoma, Deer Park and Brentwood.

LIPAs Solar Energy Project is the largest solar project in New York State, and keeps my commitment to Long Island and LIPAs customers to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency, to diversify our energy portfolio, to reduce our use and dependence on fossil fuels, to stimulate the local economy, to create clean energy jobs, and to help build the solar industry, said Law.

Artist rendering of the proposed layout at the H. Lee Dennison Building

If all locations are utilized, the project would generate as much as 17 megawatts and reduce carbon emissions by more than 13 metric tons annually.

The installations will not reduce the number of available parking spots at any of the locations, and the design allows for snow plowing and regular maintenance, Levy said.

Construction could begin as early as April, and take approximately a year to complete all seven installations.