Long Island Construction Law does not own this content. This content was created by Thomas Falcone, and was published to the Long Island Business News on Jan 19th, 2023. Thomas Falcone is the chief executive officer of LIPA.

Long Island is leading the way in the transition to a clean energy future. LIPA is committed to achieving New York State’s goal of a carbon-free electric grid by 2040. As a coastal community vulnerable to the effects of climate change, Long Islanders understand the need to transition to clean energy. That is why LIPA’s focus is to improve the product we deliver to you – clean, reliable, and customer-first electric service.

Through our actions, LIPA continues to demonstrate that delivering clean, reliable, and affordable electric service are complementary goals that benefit our customers. We don’t have to choose between clean and affordable energy; we can do both by making smart investments that put customers first.

For instance, while some communities are just starting to look at siting offshore wind, New York’s first offshore wind farm is already under construction 35 miles off the coast of Montauk.  The South Fork Wind Farm, approved by the LIPA Board of Trustees in 2017, will add enough renewable electricity to the Long Island grid to power 70,000 homes and offset 300,000 tons of carbon emissions. It is expected to begin delivering clean energy to Long Island in 2023.

In total, Long Island will have over 4,000 megawatts of clean energy in operation by 2030, including 900 MW of solar, 2,400 MW of offshore wind, and 750 MW of energy storage. For context, Long Island’s peak 2022 demand was 5,260 MW, meaning that the clean energy already deployed or in development will reduce LIPA’s carbon footprint by over 72% by 2030.

In 2023, LIPA will unveil the results of our Integrated Resource Plan, which will chart the path to a zero-carbon grid while still meeting our needs reliably and affordably. Key objectives include meeting New York’s Climate Act goals, planning for the retirement of additional fossil-fuel generation, and integration of renewable energy, and improving the availability of clean energy in all Long Island communities.

In addition to our utility-scale efforts, LIPA has leading programs to work with customers to incorporate win-win solutions that save customers dollars while reducing your carbon footprint.  Customer-driven solutions include:

 Leading NY in solar development: Long Island currently leads the state in solar power with no signs of slowing down. The solar market on Long Island and the Rockaways continues to grow, exceeding LIPA’s 2025 goal in 2021 – a full four years ahead of schedule.

Promote electric heat pumps: Approximately 500,000 customers could save money today by installing a cold climate heat pump. For a typical home that heats with fuel oil and needs to replace an aging central air conditioning unit, a cold climate heat pump could reduce heating costs $1,500 per year while reducing carbon emissions by 46%. With LIPA rebates and federal tax credits, the cost of the heat pump can pay for itself in less than two years for many homes.

Embrace electric vehicles: With New York phasing out the sale of most internal combustion engine cars by 2035, the time is now to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. New federal incentives offer upfront discounts up to $7,500 for new domestically assembled EVs, and LIPA offers residential customers an approximately 25 percent discount on electricity used to charge their vehicles overnight. LIPA has an $88 million plan to build out 4,700 chargers across Long Island and the Rockaways by 2025.

Long Island is once more leading the way by putting customers first, and showing the nation that an affordable, reliable, clean energy future is achievable now.

Long Island Construction Law does not own this content. This content was created by Thomas Falcone, and was published to the Long Island Business News on Jan 19th, 2023. Thomas Falcone is the chief executive officer of LIPA.

John Caravella Esq., is a construction attorney and formerly practicing project architect at The Law Office of John Caravella, P.C., representing architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and owners in all phases of contract preparation, litigation, and arbitration across New York and Florida. He also serves as an arbitrator to the American Arbitration Association Construction Industry Panel. Mr. Caravella can be reached by email: John@LIConstructionLaw.com or (631) 608-1346.

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