Saturday, June 28th, 2008
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Paul Smith, 631.338.9586
Bohemia NY, June 25, 2008
The Long Island Solar Energy Industries Association (LISEIA) representing almost 85% of the Solar Contractors on Long Island, applauds LIPA for its recent announcement that it plans to become the first utility in the state to make commercial net metering available to commercial customers.
Under the proposed changes, LIPA will introduce new tariff provisions to allow for net metering of energy for commercial customers who install solar generating equipment at their facilities and would expand existing tariff eligibility provisions for net metering to residential customers as well.
The plans call for two significant steps forward toward the encouragement of increased installation of both commercial and residential photovoltaic installations: To authorize net metering for non-residential customers with an overall capacity of up to the lesser of the customers peak demand, or 2Megawatts To more than double the overall capacity for net metering on residential solar customers from 11kW to 27.5 kW
LIPA’s tariff will conform largely to the legislation spearheaded by Long Island lawmakers Senator Owen J. Johnson and Assemblyman Steve Englebright that recently passed both houses of the NY State Legislature and that authorizes utilities to implement these changes statewide.
LISEIA Chairman Kevin MacLeod had this to say about the recent announcement: “This is one of the most significant steps forward that the solar industry in New York State has ever had. Businesses will be encouraged to produce significant amounts of solar electricity and homeowners will be able to install larger solar arrays hence allowing them to supply a larger percentage of their own power than ever before. New York State and our local utility, LIPA, have really shown just how serious they are about the importance of renewable energy and we support them for that.”
LISEIA membership is open to anyone interested the Long Island Solar Industry. Please log on to www.LISEIA.org for membership and meeting information.
