Suffolk County Opens Solar Carport In Hauppauge
HAUPPAUGE, NY (WCBS 880) - Suffolk County is continuing to try and lead the way in renewable energy with the opening of a new solar energy project in the county seat.
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The county has opened another another solar-powered carport. This one is outside the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.
County Executive Steve Levy praised what he calls a no-risk project.
"There's no investment by our county taxpayers. It's all profit from the lease and, of course, we get the benefits of cleaner energy as well," he said. "Suffolk County will derive approximately $8 million in rental payments from [the company] enXco over the next 20 years during the term of this lease."
Levy says it makes Suffolk the leader in New York state for renewable energy.
"This project is good for our environment. It's good for national security. It's good for our local economy," said Levy, who added that between 150 to 175 jobs will be created as a result of the project.
"In a way, you could say we are the Saudi Arabia of solar power," said Gordian Raacke, executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island. "This is the way of the future, what you're seeing here."
This is the latest of eight such planned facilities to be activated.
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