RELI: Press Releases

Municipality Will Pay $2,500 to Solar Pioneers to Encourage Clean Energy
[August 9, 2006, Southampton, New York] The Town of Southampton will provide cash rebates of $2,500 to the first 20 homeowners or businesses that install solar electric systems on their roofs. The Town Board adopted Resolution 2006-1053 yesterday to support efforts to bring pollution-free and local energy sources to the Township. The Town appears to be the first municipality to offer such a cash incentive in the State.

“We commend Supervisor Heaney and the Town Board for taking a leadership role in bringing more renewable energy to Long Island,” stated Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of Bridgehampton-based Renewable Energy Long Island (RELI). “We hope that other Towns on Long Island will now consider similar incentives that result in cleaner air and help us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels”.

The Town’s rebate is available for solar electric systems of 5 kilowatts or larger, retroactively from May 1, 2006 through the end of the year, on a first-come-first-serve basis and is in addition to a LIPA rebate of up to $37,500 and federal and state income tax credits of up to $7,000.

A typical 5 kW system that would normally cost about $37,000 will have a net cost after the available rebates and tax credits of only about $10,000, or about 30% of the normal cost. Such a system could generate more than $31,000 of electricity over 25 years assuming electric rates stay at 20 cents per kilowatt-hour.

There are already 700 solar electric systems installed all over Long Island, 64 of them in Southampton. RELI is organizing an open house tour on Saturday, October 7, featuring many of these installations.

Anyone interested in obtaining more information about solar electric panels, cost and rebates, and a listing of solar contractors can contact RELI via its website www.RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org or by calling 631-537-8282.

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A copy of the Resolution can be downloaded (as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file) at http://www.renewableenergylongisland.org/downloads/SouthamptonRebate.pdf

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RELI is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit membership organization promoting clean,
sustainable energy use for Long Island.
Gordian Raacke, Executive Director, Renewable Energy Long Island
62 Newtown Lane, Suite 103
East Hampton, NY 11937
Phone: 631-329-8888 Fax: 877-619-5572
info@RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org www.RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org