Southampton - The Southampton Town Board has joined the Towns of Brookhaven and Riverhead by adopting legislation on December 22, 2011, to expedite and standardize the permitting process for residential solar energy installations.

Called the Long Island Unified Solar Permitting Initiative (LIUSPI), the collaborative effort launched by the Suffolk County Planning Commission and the Nassau County Planning Commission along with LIPA back in 2009, brought together stakeholders and municipal officials from across Long Island to develop a model process that could be used by all municipalities throughout Long Island to handle the application for and approval of residential solar and hot water systems in each respective jurisdiction. As well the Department of State has contributed its expertise to the effort and has helped shape the final LIUSPI process.

Councilwoman Nancy Graboski who sponsored the legislation stated, "This coordinated effort to bring towns across Long Island together to develop these standards is particularly significant resulting in the creation of an expedited and more uniform permitting process. While the Town of Southampton has always been supportive of the proliferation of solar energy, this action by the Town Board will be part of a larger effort to streamline and standardize the permitting process for residential solar systems while ensuring quality and safety across the region."