The Town of Southampton

A Long Island Town Collaborates on Its Energy Future with a NYSERDA “Just Transition” Site Reuse Planning Study

The Town of Southampton, which is a NYSERDA “Clean Energy Community,” has a fully operational peaker plant. A peaker plant is an energy-generating facility that runs at times of peak electric demand, for example, hot summer days.

The Town’s plant opened in 1963 and is located on an 8-acre parcel zoned for light industrial use within the Village of Southampton. The plant is powered by a gas turbine generator and runs about 90 hours per year.

Motivations for an Energy Site Reuse Study

In 2022, after learning about NYSERDA’s Just Transition Site Reuse Planning Study, Town officials decided to apply. Because they didn’t have an existing relationship with the power plant owner and there was little public data available, they saw the study as a way to open up a conversation and learn about existing conditions.

The Town saw the study’s other benefits, too. It would help them gain insight into land use and learn about their energy profile; they could explore the transition away from conventional energy and help mitigate potential negative impacts if the plant were to close; and it created a way to bring together various community stakeholders -- including residents -- to discuss the site’s and the Town’s energy future.

First Steps: Contracts and Collaboration

The Town’s application and contract sign-off timeline ran from 2022 to 2023. During that period, it selected Ramboll to oversee the study and coordinate information sharing. Because Southampton was one of the first to apply through the Just Transition Program, a few factors caused the application process to run long. For example, many stakeholders had never worked together before, so the initial “get-to-know-you” period took time. Additionally, the right contacts at the utility had to be located and site access coordinated.

By September 2023, the study was contracted. It kicked off the same month.

The study moved forward on schedule. Updates were provided via the Town’s website, and Ramboll regularly engaged with both key local stakeholders and Town of Southampton residents for feedback. Ramboll concluded the study in March 2025.

What the Study Revealed

The study outlined potential alternative reuse scenarios, which included:

• A green commerce park (with sustainable light-industrial uses + a community education facility)
• A light-industrial subdivision with 8 subdivided lots
• A district energy system that delivered integrated energy solutions to the surrounding community 
• A scenario that combines aspects of the three

It also revealed how community members felt about the reuse scenarios. Discoveries included:

• Awareness of the need for light-manufacturing spaces within the Town
• Openness for those light manufacturing spaces to be located adjacent to residential (but within appropriate zoning districts) 
• Willingness to develop innovative clean energy solutions, such as air-source heat pumps and/or a microgrid, and community solar installation and production
• Desire for synergistic development and infrastructure, such as combining commercial businesses, community solar, and clean energy education on a single lot or within a single district 
• Strong opposition to a sewage treatment plant. While sewage treatment is a need in the Town, residential property owners in the Village were opposed to it being located close to their homes, particularly if they would not be receiving a direct benefit.

Lessons Learned

Southampton shared these insights about its process:

• A study can’t happen unless there is buy-in and engagement from the municipality.
• The municipality’s staff capacity could impact how long the study takes.
• There doesn’t need to be a prior relationship with the plant owner or knowledge of how a plant operates.
• It’s helpful to have a third party (such as Ramboll) to facilitate knowledge sharing. 
• A study offers a good baseline snapshot of how the utility functions, who it serves, and lease terms.
• A study is like an insurance policy for the municipality, in the event of a plant closure.

Looking Ahead

With the study wrapped up, the Town has new information, new relationships, is more knowledgeable about its energy needs, and is more prepared if the plant should close.

Additionally, as a Clean Energy Community, Southampton will continue to work toward its 2040 carbon neutral target. “Carbon neutral” refers to reducing, eliminating, or offsetting carbon dioxide emissions created by its transportation, manufacturing, and energy use in homes and businesses.