The Long Island Power Authority, Piece Management and EmPower Solar install 117kW of solar panels

New Hyde Park, NY Armed with a commitment to energy efficiency, clean renewable energy, and environmental responsibility, Piece Management Inc. (PMI) has partnered with The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and EmPower Solar as the contractor to complete a 117kW solar panel installation on its facility, which over the course of a year will help reduce CO2 emissions by over 92 tons. The solar installation was made possible through LIPA's Solar Entrepreneur program and is one of the largest commercial systems to be installed since the program's inception. The new PV system will reduce PMI's electric bill by 75% annually while continuing to reap significant environmental benefits which equal planting 2,200 trees or removing 17 cars from our local roads annually. After extensive research and evaluation, PMI selected to contract with EmPower Solar, a solar solutions provider. Upon completion of the solar panel installation, Piece Management will be one of Long Island's largest solar producers, with PMI's millwork shop operating predominately with solar energy. PMI has also refitted its New Hyde Park location with T-5 lighting fixtures, which use 50% less energy, while providing 30% more light. EmPower helped PMI achieve an overall 75% utilization of renewable energy. "Not long ago, "going green" was a movement we only read about," said Michael Sumersille, president, Piece Management. "Thankfully, today, most of us have wised up and joined the cause, and in fact, Piece Management has spent the past year pursuing the road to green. Environmental responsibility is an ongoing and long-standing commitment for all and a cornerstone of Piece Management's philosophy." "I am proud to partner with Piece Management Inc. and EmPower Solar on the largest commercial solar installation under our nationally recognized solar programs. Projects like this one demonstrate my commitment to Long Island and LIPA's customers to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency, to reduce our carbon footprint, and to stimulate the local economy by creating new clean energy jobs," said LIPA president and CEO Kevin Law. "Piece Management has set the "green bar" standard for other Long Island companies seeking to reduce overall energy bills, while taking advantage of the power of the sun," said David Schieren, CEO of EmPower. "We're confident that the demand for new solar energy installations will remain strong as more businesses and homeowners realize that solar power has become a more affordable means of controlling rising energy costs, while at the same time they're doing something good for the U.S. economy and the planet." The cost of the PV system was $734,000. LIPA, through its Solar Entrepreneur Program, provided a significant rebate of $237,563 which helped to reduce the out-of-pocket expense for the system. In addition, PMI may be able to further reduce the cost of the system via federal and state tax incentives. Since 2000, LIPA has rebated over $76 million through its Solar Pioneer and Solar Entrepreneur programs for the installation of PV systems on residential, commercial, and municipality rooftops. LIPA's solar programs have assisted in transforming the solar market on Long Island, increasing the amount of solar contractors from 2 part-time individuals to over 60 companies and providing the financial incentives to install more than 3,000 solar systems making Long Island a national and state leader in solar installation Piece Management is a recognized leader in facility management services, renovation, construction and millwork manufacturing. Founded in 1985, our reputation is based on convenience, communication and commitment, which translates to quality, consistency and reliability. PMI is self-performing, maintaining a large staff of technicians, in addition to numerous resources. PMI prides itself on being able to accommodate client needs in order to minimize disruption while maximizing productivity and efficiency. PMI makes it their business to understand their clients business. EmPower Solar is a leading solar contractor serving Long Island's residential and commercial markets. Since 2003, EmPower has installed over 200 residential, commercial and non-profit solar power systems in the Tri-State Area. Additionally, EmPower has consulted on many clean energy projects throughout the country, including solar powered hydrogen fueling systems and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. EmPower is committed to the EmPowering Way operating philosophy, defined by the highest quality work and professionalism. More information about EmPower can be found online at: http://www.empowerces.com ABOUT LIPA LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric provider, owns the retail electric Transmission and Distribution System on Long Island and provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. LIPA is the 2nd largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of electric revenues, 3rd largest in terms of customers served and the 7th largest in terms of electricity delivered. In 2008, LIPA outperformed all other overhead electric utilities in New York State for frequency of service interruptions, and ranked second for duration of service interruptions. LIPA does not provide natural gas service or own any on-island generating assets. More information about LIPA can be found online at: http://www.lipower.org.