Suffolk County welcomes the largest solar project in the history of New York State.

Senator Owen H. Johnson joined Steve Levy, Suffolk County Executive and Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Long Island in applauding the Suffolk Solar Carport Project.  This is the largest solar project in the history of New York State.
 
Seven parking lots, currently owned by Suffolk County, are to be leased for the construction of carports that will hold a total of 60,000 solar panels on the rooftops.  The county lots are located at:  the H. Lee Dennison Building and the North County Complex in Hauppauge, the Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip, the Riverhead County Center, as well as county-owned parking lots at the Long Island Railroad stations in Brentwood, Ronkonkoma and Deer Park.

The State, through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded the Long Island Power Authority (LI PA) $6.7 million in Federal stimulus funding which will allow LIPA to connect the solar panels to the Long Island electric grid.   Once completed, the project will reduce carbon emissions by more than 14,3000 tons annually and generate 17 megawatts of clean, renewable energy for LIPA customers.

The substantial economic benefits to the Long Island community include $8-$9 million in Suffolk County lease revenue, $10 million in local material procurement, and $1.2 million for local school districts and towns.  In addition, there will be 150-200 jobs created during the construction phase of the project.