LIPA

An agreement has been reached between the town, LIPA, Suffolk County and the town’s school and fire districts to collect what is likely more than $10 million of payments-in-lieu-of-taxes, also known as PILOTs, for LIPA-owned properties in Riverhead.

There was overwhelming support for the idea of transforming the Long Island Power Authority into a fully public power authority at a hearing conducted by the State Legislature’s LIPA Commission at Southampton Town Hall on Friday.

The Riverhead Central School District has rejected a proposed agreement from Riverhead Town in an effort to collect approximately $2.9 million in payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOTs) owed the school district for Long Island Power Authority properties for the 2021-2022 tax year.

The dispute between Riverhead Town and LIPA centers on whether the town must issue consolidated invoices totaling more than $5 million for all LIPA parcels reflecting all taxing districts within the town, as LIPA has demanded.

The Cooperage Inn generates its own power when PSEG-LI needs to reduce energy load in times of stress on the electric grid. "I'm like a mini power plant," restaurant owner Jonathan Perkins said.

Five bills sponsored by Assemblyman Fred Thiele aimed at increasing transparency, accountability and oversight of the Long Island Power Authority and its contractor PSEG-LI have passed both chambers of the state legislature.

Assembly Member Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor): "We deserve an electric company that is up to the task of implementing our new energy future. Transparency, oversight, and accountability will be critical."

Legislation mandating formal community notice procedures on LIPA and PSEG-LI for utility transmission projects has been signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

The $7.6 billion bailout of four aging nuclear power plants upstate, a sweetheart deal for nuclear energy giant Exelon, is being funded by ratepayer subsidies across New York.

A State Supreme Court judge this week dismissed a lawsuit brought by Brookhaven Town seeking the removal of 211 steel utility poles installed last year along County Route 51 from Riverside to Eastport.