Statements by LIPA Chairman Richard M. Kessel regarding the 2005 population survey conducted by The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA):
On the importance of the survey:
"LIPA's annual Population Survey is an invaluable tool for Long Island's government, education and business institutions because it measures community by community growth trends, which helps us forecast future energy needs, as we continue to evolve and change as a region.”On the truth about population growth:
"The fact that over 90,000 new residents and 27,983 new households have been added to LIPA's service area in the last five years underscores the need for LIPA to continue to strengthen and expand Long Island's electrical system and supply resources, especially in Eastern Long Island."On the changing electricity demand:
"Clearly, the demand for electricity is increasing at a rate that is greater than the population growth rate. That means that, by and large, the region's pre-existing customer base is using more electricity than ever before. It's an appetite for energy that seems almost insatiable."
Through incentives for renewable energy use and energy efficient initiatives by LIPA, the demand on Long Island has actually started to level off since 2005. When wind turbines are allowed to flourish on Long Island, the demand may actually start to decrease regardless of the inevitable population increase. Decreased demand means a reduced strain on LIPA’s power plants and a diminished necessity of purchasing foreign oil for electricity generation.
The Energy Problem
