Politics & Government

South Fork Energy Efficiency Program Launches in East Hampton

Businesses can seek savings, while LIPA decreases demand in high-use area.

A held in East Hampton on Monday morning also formally launched a major commercial energy efficiency program on the South Fork.

The Long Island Power Authority's South Fork Efficiency Initiative includes LIPA's Small Business Direct Install lighting efficiency program, offered to small and mid-size businesses. The program is meant to save energy and lower electric costs, as well as reduce the demand on the most constrained circuits and therefore defer the cost to increase the capacities of power plants.

Over two dozen business owners turned out for the forum, organized by East Hampton's senior environmental analyst Joel Halsey. It was attended by LIPA officials, Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., I-Sag Harbor, Legis. Jay Schneiderman, I-Montauk, and members of the East Hampton Town Board. 

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LIPA Chief Operating Officer Michael D. Hervey said he was pleased with the attendance. "In addition to helping our business customers become green leaders in the community, we are able to address these load pockets in a more environmentally sustainable and economic manner," he said.

Eligible business customers may receive a free lighting survey and a comprehensive report detailing upgrades, the cost and expected energy savings, and the payback. If customers agree to move forward, LIPA may pay up 70 percent of the project.

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Gordon Raacke, the executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island, a not-for-profit organization promoting clean, sustainable energy use, said the program not only offers business' savings, but also makes for a stronger economy in East Hampton. "They're doing the right things for themselves, but also the community," he said.

Hervey said the forum shows a real interest for energy efficiency from the community, which he said is important when the South Fork has trended above the average of 4 percent energy growth on Long Island.

He said the South Fork trends at about 7 percent growth due to demand and usage of technology. For instance, he said, 3 million iPads are worth 7,000 homes on the electric grid.

Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson said he was pleased LIPA chose to launch its initiative here. "It shows East Hampton is a leader on the East End," he said. "We have to figure out a forward thinking infrastructure for this town, which I don't think we've done adequately."

The business initiative is part of LIPA's Efficiency Long Island program, a customer-funded, 10-year, $924 million energy efficiency program that offers incentives and rebates to residential and commercial customers.

The East Hampton School District recently last month under the program. The district will save an estimated $76,000 per year on energy costs for the high school alone due to efficiency upgrades undertaken during a recent construction project.


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