Energy execs to be honored by LI nonprofit

With power outages still widespread in the region following last weekend's storm, is this a good time to honor energy executives?

An Old Bethpage-based aid agency thinks so. It is honoring some energy executives Friday night. Leaders of such companies on Long Island and elsewhere have been the target of severe criticism for slow repairs after storms, high rates and poor service.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises (FREE), a nonprofit that provides housing, educational and other services to people with mental or developmental disabilities, is holding its largest fundraiser of the year Friday night at the Carlyle at the Palace in Plainview.

Nancy Cohen, FREE's director of development and community affairs, said the 34-year-old organization hopes to net about $200,000.

Among the honorees are former KeySpan chief executive Robert Catell; Long Island Association president Kevin Law, a former LIPA chief; LIPA chief operating officer Michael D. Hervey; EmPower Solar chief executive David G. Schieren, and Yacov Shamash, dean of the College of Engineering at Stony Brook University.

Cohen said about 250 people are expected, down from the approximately 300 who have attended in years past. She said the poor economy is to blame.

LIPA and EmPower, Cohen said, have saved FREE about 27 percent a year in energy costs by converting about 40 of its facilities to solar power.

"Although they're taking a bath with the general public, that savings is important to us." Federal funds have shrunk, Cohen said.