Press Releases

November 9, 2001
SUNY/Farmingdale and Long Island University Sponsor Solar Energy Initiative

Contact:
Jane Finalborgo
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

As part of an initiative to promote the use of solar energy on Long Island, a series of solar seminars for the general public as well as technical workshops for installers will be held at SUNY/Farmingdale's Solar Energy Center.

The free solar seminars entitled "Home Grown Electricity Using the Sun" will take place Tuesday, November 13, Wednesday December 12 and Wednesday, January 16 at 7:15 p.m. in the Little Theater Roosevelt Hall. The Presenter is Dr. Gay Canough, President of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association. For reservations, call SUNY/Farmingdale at 631-420-2588. The seminars are co-sponsored by LIPA.

The three-day specialized workshops providing instruction and certification in installation, operation and maintenance of solar systems will be held November 13-15, December 12-14, and January 16-18. Tuition is $75. For registration information contact Professor Y. Dathatri at 631-420-2450.

These workshops have been made possible through a collaboration between the Solar Energy Center of SUNY/Farmingdale, the Institute for Sustainable Development at Long Island University, and the Citizens Advisory Panel. The group has secured a grant under the U.S. Department of Energy's Million Solar Roofs Program. The grant will also fund a major solar energy conference this spring at SUNY/Farmingdale.

Upon successful completion of this grant, the cooperating institutions plan to explore other opportunities to work together to enhance the Long Island Solar Roofs Initiatives.

"The purpose of the collaboration is to try to make solar energy a reality on Long Island by removing barriers and educating the public," said Professor Scott Carlin, co-director of the Institute for Sustainable Development.

For more information on the Solar Energy Center, call Professor Y. Dathatri, the Director at 631-420-2588, or visit www.farmingdale.edu (click Centers/Institutes) online. For more information on Long Island University's Institute for Sustainable Development, contact Professor Scott Carlin at 631-287-8238 or visit www.liu.edu/sustain/sustain.html