Rep. Israel, Supervisor Nolan and Councilman Edwards Join Local Companies to Break Ground on the Islip Landfill Photovoltaic Solar Power System

Press Release

On Thursday, Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington), Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan and Islip Town Councilman John Edwards joined with local companies to break ground on the Islip Town Landfill photovoltaic (PV) solar power project. The project is supported by federal funds secured by Congressman Israel and the Town of Islip and will turn a former hazardous waste site into a clean energy producer.

"Today, we are turning trash into treasure. This landfill used to be a hazardous waste site. Now it will be a clean energy producer -- generating not just electricity, but also jobs. I'm proud to say that two local companies are working on this project and that we are using "Buy America' qualified solar panels. This is another step toward expanding Long Island's clean technology economy and creating new green jobs for future generations. I'm grateful to Supervisor Nolan and Councilman Edwards for our partnership on this project," said Rep. Israel, who secured $475,500 in federal funding for the project.

"On top of the clear environmental benefits, as well as electrical cost savings for the Town of Islip, this project is all about promoting green-collar jobs. We need to lead by example, and promote clean energy here in the Town, because clean energy jobs are the jobs of the future," said Supervisor Nolan. "I thank Congressman Israel for working so diligently with Councilman Edwards and I to make this innovative project a reality."

"An energy facility of this magnitude located atop a capped landfill is a perfect example of putting previously unusable land to work in a positive way," said Councilman Edwards. "In addition, this solar array has been designed with education in mind, featuring numerous carbon and energy monitors, so Long Island's next generation of clean energy engineers can visit this site to learn about sustainable energy technology."

The landfill contains an estimated 70 acres of raw garbage and was part of the EPA's Superfund program to clean up hazardous waste sites. Because of contamination from dry cleaning chemicals, the site was capped in the late 1990s. Today, vegetation grows atop the cap, and in the future, the still hazardous site will create pollution-free electricity. The conversion of the landfill to a solar energy-producing site is an example of a movement supported by the US Department of Energy to turn "brownfields," previously contaminated sites, into "brightfields," sites that produce solar energy.

Ronkonkoma based FPM group completed the design and engineering for the project and the Eldor Contracting Corporation out of Holtsville is the general contractor who will complete the project. The installation will keep an estimated 30 skilled craftsman on the job. The solar panels are "Buy America Act" qualified and manufactured domestically by Schott Solar.

The PV system is comprised of 330 panels that will produce 50 kilowatts of energy daily, with an estimated 82,125 kilowatts annually. The energy generated will be used to power the landfill site and excess energy will be sold back to the grid. The project is expected to be completed this summer.

The U.S. Department of Energy describes the benefits of Photovoltaic (or PV) technology as follows:
* It's highly reliable and needs little maintenance.
* It costs little to build and operate.
* It has virtually no environmental impact.
* It's produced domestically, strengthening our economy and reducing our trade deficit.
* It's modular and thus flexible in terms of size and applications.
* It meets the demand and capacity challenges facing energy service providers.
* It helps energy service providers manage uncertainty and mitigate risk.
* It serves both form and function in a building.

Rep. Israel is the co-chairman of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition in the House of Representatives.

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