Fuel cell plant would bring more juice to energy thirsty Long Island

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and KeySpan are teaming up to bring more juice to an energy thirsty Long Island. The plan is to build a fuel cell co-generation plant on undeveloped property near

News 12 Staff

Dec 15, 2006, 11:17 PM

Updated 6,480 days ago

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The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and KeySpan are teaming up to bring more juice to an energy thirsty Long Island. The plan is to build a fuel cell co-generation plant on undeveloped property near the LIPA/KeySpan substation on Park Place in Long Beach. The fuel cell converts hydrogen and oxygen into water, producing electricity in the process. LIPA and KeySpan officials say the plant would produce enough electricity to power as many as 5,000 homes. Environmentalists say the fuel cell would provide clean energy. A representative from the Citizens Campaign for the Environment says the fuel cell technology produces electricity with greatly reduced or zero air emissions. Officials from LIPA and KeySpan say the plant will use less natural gas to create electricity and is more efficient than conventional oil-burning power plants. In the end, the company says it will mean lower electric bills for customers.LIPA and KeySpan are expected to announce who will build the fuel cell plant next spring. With all regulatory approvals, the plant could be up and running sometime in 2008.