Duke Energy Renewables to acquire Long Island solar site
Duke Energy Renewables recently announced that it would purchase the 24.9-megawatt (MW) Shoreham Solar Commons project on Long Island from Invenergy.
Invenergy is currently constructing the project in Brookhaven, New York on the grounds of the former Tallgrass Golf Course.
The project is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2018.
The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) will purchase the power from the project under a 20-year agreement.
“We are excited to enter New York with a renewables project that offers many benefits to the state and local community,” Rob Caldwell, president of Duke Energy Renewables and Distributed Energy Technology, said. “The solar project will help meet the energy needs of LIPA’s customers while delivering tremendous economic and environmental benefits.”
The project is expected to create more than 175 local jobs during construction, generate between $700,000 and $900,000 in annual tax revenue for the local community and prevent approximately 29,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
“Duke Energy has a reputation of excellence and we are pleased to help them and their stakeholders meet the increasing demand for affordable, renewable energy,” Invenergy EVP and Chief Development Officer Bryan Schueler said. “Repurposing the former Tallgrass Golf Course into a solar site eliminates the use of pesticides and fertilizers on the property, protecting Long Island’s fresh water aquifer and providing environmental benefits in addition to the generation of renewable energy.”
Duke Energy Renewables will close on the transaction post-construction, pending federal and local approvals.
