The discussion of clean, renewable energy is one that has persisted for decades and continues to make strides in realism with new technology and creative initiatives.
Suffolk County and its elected leaders have long explored the possibilities of green, renewable energy, not only for the purpose of eventually eliminating fossil fuels overall, but also in regards to Long Island’s unique and delicate ecosystem.
That said, Suffolk leaders have routinely stressed that such measures should be affordable and effective.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) announced last Friday at a press conference in the parking lot of the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge new efforts by the County to “quadruple” the County’s solar energy production by 2027. Perhaps the landmark proposal in the initiative is to convert otherwise “wasted” space into energy-producing hubs. Romaine has targeted a ubiquitous candidate: parking lots.
The initiative looks to install solar panels on the tops of parking lot stalls across Suffolk County, as well as engaging with industries and the general public to encourage the transition to rooftop solar energy.
Romaine has also identified the Hauppauge Industrial Park as another possible destination for solar panels, with twenty million square feet of roofing available for solar.
“When I was supervisor of Brookhaven Town, I made solar a major part of the Town’s energy portfolio,” said Romaine. “There aren’t too many Town lands that don’t have solar on it in Brookhaven Town. The one thing that we did say: we weren’t about to trade trees for green; we weren’t about to tear down trees to make solar. But we have our parking lots and so many rooftops, particularly of an industrial nature, that should have solar on them.”
Romaine said the announcement is timely with March 11, dubbed “Solar Appreciation Day,” and April, which is Earth Month. Romaine also mentioned the “Solar up Suffolk” program, the first of which will include County employees to learn the benefits of solar, and the second of which will be open to the public to learn about the advantages of solar and consult with solar providers. The event will be held in the lobby of the H. Lee Dennison Building on April 22, Earth Day.
“As I did in Brookhaven, I am going to insist that the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) use its powers to convince the industries of this county to put solar on their rooftops,” said Romaine. “I want to see us depend on more renewable energy. Solar is something each of us can do, not only with our homes and our industry, but solar is something that we can do as a government. I am looking at all the vacant lands in Suffolk where we can put solar. We’re going to increase the amount of solar that we possibly can to the maximum extent in this county.”
Romaine was joined by Suffolk County Legislator and Minority Leader Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon).
“We have so many flat roofs here in Suffolk County and we have so many different parking lots that are owned by the County,” said Richberg. “This is a perfect opportunity to use point source power to make sure that we’re coming off of the grid and we’re recharging the grid, but more importantly, to make sure that we are giving back to our planet.”
Scott Baskin of Sun Nation Energy worked with Romaine on solar programs during Romaine’s tenure as Supervisor and is enthusiastic to work with him at the County level.
“When County Executive Romaine was in charge of Brookhaven, we produced the state’s most successful solarized program delivering to Brookhaven residents,” said Baskin. “I’m excited because we’re going to be able to do the same thing on a larger scale to the residents of Suffolk County. He’s committed to enabling on the residential side and enabling contractors to deliver incredible cost of scale services to Suffolk County residents. The sky’s the limit right now and I appreciate the opportunity to work side by side with you.”
Kelly Murphy, Acting Executive Director for the Suffolk County IDA, joined Romaine and others for the announcement.
“We are honored and thrilled to be here and be part of the County Executive’s Initiative. In the Hauppauge Industrial Park, there are 55,000 businesses and flat roofs abound,” said Murphy. “More than half of our clients are in the Hauppauge Park, and I think we’ve been talking and we’re looking to form a committee and advisory committees to discuss how we can incentivize not only new clients coming to the IDA, but encourage existing clients to also participate in the solar initiative that the County Executive has proposed. So we’re very excited to move forward and be part of this partnership.”
The Suffolk County IDA’s mission, according to their website, is to “promote economic development in the county by helping business expand and grow, increase employment opportunities, and add to the quality of life for the residents of Suffolk County.” The Suffolk IDA operates in six townships, while the Towns of Babylon, Brookhaven, and Riverhead have their own IDA chapters.
Romaine added that he hopes all IDAs in Suffolk, Town or County-run, “have one agenda in terms of solar, that we want solar on any of the rooftops that are practical to put them on.”
“Not every rooftop lends itself, but most do,” said Romaine. “And what I want to do is change the rooftops of this county over the next four years so that when you fly over this county, you see solar panels on as many rooftops as possible.”
Bob Horn of PSE&G Long Island said that the “success of this program will ensure continued growth and diversification of Long Island’s renewable energy portfolio, providing a safe, adequate, and long-term supply of renewable energy for all.”
Augie Ruckdeschel, a Clean Energy Coordination for the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) for Suffolk County, discussed the Long Island Clean Energy Hub. The Hub consists of the Cornell Public Extension of Nassau County, United Way of Long Island, Renewable Energy Long Island, and the Hofstra University Employee Institute.
“The Hub is funded by the state to be your first point of contact in all things clean energy and energy efficiency,” said Ruckdeschel.” So, we have a multi-county-wide team ready and available to assist homeowners, small businesses, not-for-profits in achieving home energy improvements and that of course includes rooftop solar, ground-mounted solar, whatever it is that they’re interested in. We have a team of individuals ready to assist and enhance the County’s messaging and to actually turn that interest into implementation. So, please reach out to us and we’re ready to assist you.”
The CCE is a non-profit community education agency affiliated with Cornell University as “part of the national land grant university system started in 1862,” according to their website. The CCE is a team of “educators, researchers, specialists, and support personnel who are dedicated to making Suffolk County a desirable place to live and work.”
Melissa Parrott, Deputy Executive Director for Renewable Energy Long Island said that “initiatives like this” are “extremely important” to help meet solar and wind energy goals.
The Solar Up Suffolk Fair will be held on Earth Day, April 22, in the lobby of the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. The event will host numerous solar providers and will be open to the public.
