April 2008

The Future of Energy on Long Island

STORY BY MIRANDA GATEWOOD

The Hauppauge Industrial Association (HIA) held their Business Luncheon, "The Future of Energy on Long Island" at the Hyatt Regency LI Hotel. The speaker was Kevin Law, president and CEO of LIPA. Hauppauge Industrial Association president Terri Alessi Miceli introduced him.

As the demand for energy on Long Island continues to increase, Law discussed his budget reforms in effort to make LIPA a more transparent and open agency.

Citing facts such as a plasma television consuming six times the energy of a conventional one, Law stated that LIPA will soon be launching one of the largest energy efficiency programs in the nation, involving products, appliances and lighting. His aim is not to decrease the demand for energy but to reduce the growth of demand in order to avoid building the next power plant.

Later this spring, Law hopes to announce LIPA-sponsored technical assistance/planning as well as rebates and time-of-day financing. His focus is on commercial customers. "We have a new master plan for Long Island," Law said. Public hearings are scheduled in April. "We need the Federal Government to participate with us. We can't do it alone," he added. "We're looking to [implement] commercial solar energy," said Law.

After his preamble, Law invited questions from the business community in attendance. When the topic of nucear power was raised, Law noted that though the statute that created LIPA prohibits a nuclear power plant from being built on Long Island, LIPA has an 80% share of ownership in an Oswego, NY nuclear plant.