Ronkonkoma solar project might 'limit' hub

Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko wants Suffolk officials to reconsider locating solar panels in a Long Island Rail Road parking lot because the plan "severely limits" the Ronkonkoma hub redevelopment project.

Lesko is a leading proponent of the highly anticipated hub project, which seeks to update the Ronkonkoma station through development of retail and residential properties at the station and on 50 surrounding acres. South of the station, Suffolk County owns a 28.5-acre parking field where it plans to erect rows of carports bearing solar panels.

Lesko issued a letter to County Executive Steve Levy this week saying it would "be a shame" to have to restrict the hub project to the northern side of the tracks because of the carport plan.

Levy said the county would "try to be flexible and accommodate" both the solar plan and the hub project, but added that he "does not see how they conflict."

Levy said a meeting between town and county officials will happen next week.

"We don't believe there is any interference between the carports and the hub," Levy said.

The hub project is searching for a developer, and more than 50 firms have shown interest, town officials said. Proposals are due by June 30, town officials said.

Meanwhile, the solar project is due to break ground in Ronkonkoma in 2012, Levy said.

It is one of seven Suffolk County sites slated to receive 60,000 solar panels.

The county is renting the space to project coordinator enXco of California, which, in turn, will sell energy to Long Island Power Authority, Levy said.

LIPA spokeswoman Vanessa Baird-Streeter said in a statement that the authority thinks the solar and hub projects "are complementary and beneficial to the communities where they are developed and housed."

Attempts to reach enXco representatives were not successful.

The 28.5-acre parking field is owned by Suffolk County and maintained by the Town of Islip. Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan said in a statement that the issue is "between Brookhaven and the county."

Lesko said he fully supports "finding alternative means of energy creation," and that he looks forward to working with Levy to "do something creative and innovative for everybody."

He added: "Instead of talking about Ronkonkoma, come back to the table. We have an empty seat for you."