Energy Technology Pilot Program Gets Millions in Federal Funding

Rep. Steve Israel, D-Huntington, joined with LIPA President Kevin Law and local business leaders to announce a new program to help businesses deploy new clean energy technologies on Aug. 25.

The $3.9 million in federal funding will allow LIPA to work with small businesses and manufacturers to deploy renewable energy technologies in order to test their efficiency, harness new clean energy resources for thriving small businesses and assess how they interface with the energy grid on Long Island, according to Israel.

"This pilot program will foster deployments of advanced energy technologies and allow businesses around Long Island to see what clean energy resources work best for them," Israel said after the the event, which took place at Leviton Manufacturing, a Melville-based manufacturer of electrical and lighting energy efficiency products, that recently worked with LIPA on energy incentives so it could relocate to Long Island from Queens.

LIPA President and CEO Kevin Law said LIPA remains committed to partnering with businesses throughout Long Island to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy, thus helping them to lower their utility costs, reduce their carbon footprint and promote a clean energy economy.

"I thank Congressman Israel for securing millions in federal funding to continue to promote energy efficiency and renewable programs," Law said. "His continued leadership on energy issues is to be applauded."

Leviton CEO/President Don Hendler said he feels that this new federally funded program will help Long Island-based companies operate more efficiently.

"By working with LIPA, we received the customized support we needed to achieve our efficiency goals and establish our world headquarters along Long Island's corporate corridor," Hendler said. "LIPA is also helping drive awareness of essential technologies like daylighting, occupancy detection and wireless control systems that enable commercial energy users to reduce their energy use and carbon footprint."

Israel said he hopes this new program will keep local businesses ahead of the learning curve and on Long Island. "Businesses on Long Island are innovators," Israel said. "They use cutting edge technologies to manufacture their products more efficiently, but they want to cut their energy bills in order to stay on Long Island and keep jobs here."