Taking another step forward in its effort to harness the wind to generate a significant amount of electricity for Long Island, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) today issued a Request for Information (RFI) that seeks input from potential offshore wind power developers.

The wind industry information gathered as a result of the RFI will assist LIPA in formulating an offshore wind power Request for Proposals (RFP) that will be issued later this fall. The RFP will seek formal proposals from wind energy developers to build enough wind turbines off the south shore to generate approximately 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity for Long Island's power grid.

LIPA is part of a coalition of environmental and consumer groups, the Long Island Offshore Wind Initiative (LIOWI), which is advocating for a proposed offshore wind project. The coalition's members include: the LI Neighborhood Network, Sustainable Energy Alliance, Citizens Campaign for the Environment; STAR Foundation; New York Public Interest Research Group; the Citizens Advisory Panel and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

In April, LIPA issued a study entitled Long Island's Offshore Wind Energy Development Potential: A Preliminary Assessment. The study, co-funded by LIPA and the New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), showed that a maximum of about 5200 MW of electricity could be produced by wind generators placed in a 314 square-mile band that stretches three to six nautical miles off Long Island's south shore and east of Montauk Point. As a result of the study, LIPA has determined that an initial project to build an Offshore Wind Power Plant capable of generating approximately 100MW of electricity should be developed. A second phase study is underway to determine the best offshore location for the wind power facility, and the responses to the RFI will also help in the offshore site selection process.

"We are eager to move the offshore wind generation project forward as quickly as possible," said LIPA Chairman Richard M. Kessel. "We have a unique and historic opportunity to use wind, as a renewable energy source, to produce electricity for Long Island. By issuing this Request for Information, we will gather important information from wind generation developers that will be very valuable in organizing LIPA's formal Request for Proposals (RFP) that will be released this fall.

"The RFP," said Mr. Kessel, "will seek specific proposals from wind power developers to build a sufficient number of wind turbines, perhaps 30 to 50 units, off the south shore of Long Island to produce about 100 megawatts of electricity for Long Island. By harnessing the wind to generate electricity, Long Island will be taking a giant step forward in reducing its dependence on fossil fuel-generated electricity, which in turn will help reduce power plant emissions on Long Island."

Some of the issues to be addressed by wind power developers include:

• Environmental issues and appropriate mitigation;
• Community issues;
• Construction issues;
• Equipment issues;
• Interconnection issues; and
• Operations and Maintenance Issues.

Wind industry representatives who wish to respond to LIPA's RFI should notify LIPA of their intent before the close of business on August 30^th. Detailed responses to the RFI are not due until September 25^th.

A copy of the RFI is available on LIPA's Web site, www.lipower.org, or may be obtained by contacting Daniel Zaweski, Director of Energy Efficiency & Distributed Generation, LIPA, 333 Earle Ovington Blvd., Suite 403, Uniondale, NY, 11553.

In May 1998, LIPA reduced electric rates across the board by an average of 20% islandwide. Over the last four years that rate reduction has saved Long Island's electric consumers more than $2 billion. LIPA also offers a wide range of programs that can help consumers lower electricity costs through energy conservation and efficiency. Information on these programs can be obtained by calling LIPA's EnergyWise Infoline at 1-800-692-2626, or by going to LIPA's Web site.

LIPA provides electric service to approximately 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. LIPA does not provide natural gas service.