State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr., (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) today blasted LIPA officials for turning down a $1billion offshore wind project knows as Deepwater Wind, and for skimping out on their plan to issue 280 megawatts of green energy this year, nearly cutting their promise in half.

Thiele noted, “Long Island, and particularly the East End, faces unique energy and economic challenges. As one of the few parts of Long Island in which energy demands continue to grow, we face a steadily increasing need for new sources of power. Our existing electricity grid is operating at its limits and, given our population density and our commitment to conservation, building any new energy infrastructure here is difficult. ”

“While I do support the expansion of renewable energy sources, including solar arrays,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “LIPA has must start broadening their renewable portfolio. Unless we begin to invest in other alternative renewable energy infrastructure, LIPA is going to continue to rely on environmentally harmful energy production.”