The completion and commissioning of the Long Island Solar Farm (LISF) Project in New York State, the largest solar panel array in the eastern U.S., was celebrated last week.
The Long Island Solar Farm (LISF) Project consists of over 164,000 BP solar panels. Officials say the 32 megawatt solar farm also has the smallest footprint of an installation of this size.
“This solar farm not only strengthens our renewable energy portfolio, but also reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, assists New York State in meeting its goal of 30 percent renewable resources by 2015, and will continue to act as a catalyst for fostering a bright future and green economy on Long Island through the creation of new, high-quality energy jobs,” said LIPA chief operating officer Michael D. Hervey.
Co-owned by BP Solar and MetLife, the Long Island Solar Farm will generate around 50 gigawatt-hours of solar electricity a year, which will be exported to Long Island Power Authority’s (LIPA) grid – enough to meet the power consumption of approximately 4,500 households. The installation will avoid more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
In addition to the main facility, the project incorporates a laboratory-dedicated array and a solar research facility. LIPA, Brookhaven Lab and BP Solar also established a Natural Resource Benefits package in association with the project.
Metlife, a global provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs, has invested $1.5 billion in renewable energy projects to date.
In 2010, the company invested $915 million in renewable energy; including a 15.5 megawatt solar energy facility in Lexington, North Carolina, a $19.2 million solar farm in Colorado and a wind farm in Texas. The company also invested in, SunE Solar V – an initiative for distributed generation solar facilities across the U.S.
The LISF project has been awarded the Best Photovoltaic Project of Year Award from the New York Solar Energy Industries Association.
