Energy Saving Carport Will Help Power Town Hall
JANUARY 2, 2006, FARMINGVILLE, NY- Brookhaven Town and New York State are teaming up in an initiative to bring clean, efficient energy to the Town of Brookhaven by constructing an energy producing photovoltaic carport at Town Hall.
The carport, the first its kind on Long Island, will harness energy from the sun while providing shade for the vehicles it covers in the Town’s east parking lot. The cost of the entire project is set at $326,000 with funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) covering $260,000 of the cost while Brookhaven Town funds the remaining $66,000.
This project will be funded as a result of the settlement of a lawsuit by the New York State Office of the Attorney General (OAG) against the Ohio Edison Co. Ohio Edison Co. is obligated to provide funding to NYSERDA to accomplish the installation of solar PV on municipal buildings in New York in order to displace the need for more polluting sources of electricity generation.
“I am pleased that our successful effort to reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants also produced a project that allows the Town of Brookhaven - - and many communities across New York - - to install efficient solar photovoltaic technology on public buildings,” said Attorney General and Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer. “This project will help municipalities cut their electric bills and help in the fight against global warming by tapping into this clean and renewable source of energy.”
“The Town is working hard to find alternative sources of energy,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley. “We are taking the first step on Long Island in introducing this technology in the hope that others will adopt similar energy-saving measures. We are working in the Town of Brookhaven to save energy through technological innovations like this project, through the use of alternative fuels for our vehicle fleet, and through the adoption of Energy Star building standards, among many other initiatives.”
“By introducing what will be first of many uses of photovoltaic technology for our municipal buildings we continue to implement our initiatives to be more energy conscientious,” said Councilwoman Carol Bissonette. “This truly demonstrates that Brookhaven Town is assuming a leadership role in promoting and implementing innovative technology that is energy smart and fiscally prudent. This is the first of many steps that Brookhaven Town will be using to promote energy conservation.”
“I am pleased to see that the Town of Brookhaven is expanding its use of alternative energy, while we press forward in the area of energy conservation with programs like Energy Star, and the approval of the Caithness power plant, ” said Councilwoman Connie Kepert.
“I am pleased to see the town initiating projects for clean energy and aggressively pursuing grants to offset the cost for these projects,” said Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Kathleen A. Walsh.
“Saving energy and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is important,” said Councilman Kevin McCarrick. “I am glad to see Brookhaven Town working with programs such as this, and related initiatives to use resources wisely as my outdoor lighting standards law, which was passed last month.” “Working together, we can creatively find cleaner energy alternatives, addressing our obligation for a cleaner planet for our future generations,” SAID Councilman Tim Mazzei.
“The Town of Brookhaven’s commitment to using clean, renewable energy will not only help us move toward energy independence, but will also educate the community about the benefits of solar energy,” said President and CEO of NYSERDA Peter R. Smith. “Utilizing renewable energy sources, like solar, is extremely important for both our energy and environmental future.”
Energy output for the carport is estimated at 40 kilowatts while providing shade in the summer and shelter in the winter for approximately 20 cars. With the power source on site, the energy is easily transferred from the solar panels into the Town Hall grid where it will be utilized by the complex each day. The Town, through its ongoing clean and efficient energy initiative, actively pursued the application for the state grant. Similar photovoltaic technology is used everyday to power streetlights and houses. In some areas, such as California, governments and businesses utilize photovoltaic carports regularly as common sense alternatives to fossil fuels.
The project was selected for funding under a competitive solicitation issued by NYSERDA, and that funding will be available as soon as a contract is executed.
“The benefits of this project are tremendous—not only do we get clean energy fed into the Town Hall grid, we get shelter for some of our town fleet,” said Supervisor Foley. “Brookhaven Town will continue to move aggressively to seek out new technologies to provide cleaner and more affordable energy.”
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Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6955 • Fax (631) 451-6677
www.Brookhaven.org