Bayport Fire District Receives Grant to Install Solar Panels on Firehouse

The received a grant from the office of Congressman Steve Israel and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to install a 4-kilowatt (kW) solar energy system to add to their 10 kW system, which was installed on the firehouse about four years ago.

The grant originated from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and was delivered through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. 

Bayport Fire District also decided to pay about $36,000 out of its own pocket to add another 6 kW.  The total 20-kilowatt system will cover about half the power used at the firehouse.

"It will reduce the annual electrical energy usage, looking at close to $2,000 a year, just with the new 10 kW system, with the other 10 kW it will be closer to a $4,000 annual reduction," said Robbie Shankar, NYPA project manager, who was on hand when the panels were going up on Friday.  They are expected to be completely installed by early this week.

The use of this alternative energy source will result in a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and dependence on power plants to produce electricity. 

Lance Gillette, one of the commissioners of the Bayport Fire District said this project has been in the works for years.

"I've been on the board 15 years, and ten years ago we started looking into this. We were able to get 4 kW from the New York Power Authority; it was a no brainer when we added 6 kW. It's definitely worth it.  Anything we can do to reduce cost is worth it," he said.

According to Gillette this is an effort to help the community by reducing taxes.  He said that for the last three years the Bayport Fire District has not raised its taxes significantly.

This project is part of the red to green Initiative, which Israel and the NYPA are looking to expand to other fire districts. "Red being the firehouse, and green being eco-friendly," Shankar explained.

NYPA filmed a documentary on the installation.  "It's unique that it's at a firehouse so, that's why we want to document it," said Shankar.

Bayport is part of a consortium of fire districts — including Deer Park, East Brentwood and / Oakdale — who have all had panels installed from the grant.  Bayport is the most recent- and largest system- of these to be put in place.

This latest addition will reduce between five and eight tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, generate clean and renewable energy and decrease dependence on fossil fuels.

"It will reduce the greenhouse effect, reduce dependency on LIPA and other utilities to produce power," Shankar said.  "It's a good start."