Long Island Begins Solar Carport Installation

SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. — Enxco Development Corp. has begun construction on the Suffolk Solar Carport Project to build carports with solar modules on top at seven parking sites throughout Suffolk County. Mercury Solar Systems, a Long Island-based solar contractor, will install the modules.

The carports will generate up to 17 megawatts of electricity through 60,000 solar modules, which will be sold to the Long Island Power Authority through a 20-year power purchase agreement with Enxco.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority awarded the power authority $6.7 million in federal Recovery Act funding that will allow the utility to connect the carport solar panels installed to the Long Island electrical grid. The county will receive $8.5 to $9 million in revenue for the carport leases. The project is expected to create 150 to 200 construction jobs.

The carports will be built at the H. Lee Dennison Building and the North County Complex in Hauppauge, the Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip, the Riverhead County Center and at county-owned parking lots at the Long Island Railroad stations in Brentwood, Ronkonkoma and Deer Park.

Suffolk County last year signed power purchase agreements for 50 megawatts in projects with BP Solar International and enXco, enough electricity to power 6,500 homes each year.