Long Island Pwr Plans To Sign 25,000 For Renewable Energy

Dow Jones & Company, Inc. - Oct 15

HAUPPAUGE, Long Island, New York (AP)--The Long Island Power Authority says it has a goal to sign up 25,000 customers to get alternative energy produced in New York over the next two years.

It's called the Green Choice Power Program.

There are a number of companies producing electricity by wind power, bio- energy or hydropower in New York State. LIPA has agreed to advertise alternative energy benefits to its customers, as a way to get them to sign up with the alternative energy firms.

The alternative energy costs about a half-cent to two cents more per kilowatt hour - or about $5 to $15 a month more for the average Long Island household. But LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel says using renewable technologies will pay off in the long run. With oil nearing $55 a barrel and the country's energy policy dependent on an unstable Middle East , Kessel said the U.S. must get away from fossil fuels.

Environmental groups such as the Citizens Campaign for the Environment and the Long Island Neighborhood Network are helping to tell LIPA's customers on the benefits of the Green Choice program, Kessel said.

The Village of Roslyn Estates is the first village in the state to agree to get 100% of its electricity from green power producers. Kessel said he hopes other municipalities will enroll in the near future.

A customer agreeing to buy alternative energy can pick if they want wind power, hydropower or bio-energy or a a mxture of the three, Kessel said.

Dow Jones Newswires 10-15-04 1228ET