"Turning Suffolk County Into Solar County" Steve Levy

“It is good for our environment, good for national security, good for our local economy, and good for local taxpayers.” County Executive Steve Levy 

County Exec. Steve Levy, Gordian Raacke (Renewable Energy Long Island, and LIPA CEO Michael D. HerveyAt a press conference today, held at the Dennison building, County Executive Steve Levy introduced the nearly completed solar carports that have been raised on the south side of the Dennison property. The project uses thousands of solar panels in the construction of 10 carport buildings. The solar panels will connect to the electric grid and generate electricity that is clean and renewable.  

The work being done on the Dennison site is being subcontracted to a Holtsville-based company, Eldor Electrical Construction & Maintenance, which anticipates some 150 jobs to be generated through multiple county solar carport project sites going forward. The work at the Dennison site includes an innovative parking design that will allow for snow plowing, regular maintenance and overhead cover for commuters’ vehicles.

“Seeing is believing, and this is an exciting example of progressive collaboration involving county government, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and the private sector,” said Levy. “We are taking what was once merely a concept and are turning it into a reality that produces jobs and long-lasting benefits for our society.”

Levy pointed out that Suffolk’s solar initiative uses zero taxpayer dollars and carries no financial risk to the county. In addition to the work at the Dennison location, the multi-pronged initiative will feature solar-module build outs at several locations countywide. Under the agreement, Suffolk is generating income by leasing the land to enXco, which is generating clean, renewable power and selling it to LIPA.