The Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise and polar explorer, Eric Larsen arrived on Long Island, Wednesday, Sept. 28, to raise awareness of the threats posed by global warming and climate change and to lend support to a LIPA proposal for an offshore wind energy park.

"As someone who has been to the front lines of global warming, I feel it is important to promote clean energy solutions," said polar explorer Eric Larson. "But you don't have to be a polar explorer to make a difference; investing in energy efficiency and pollution-free renewable energy sources like solar and wind is a no-brainer. I support the planned Long Island Offshore Wind Park because it can demonstrate to the whole nation that we now have the technologies to meet our growing electricity needs without emitting harmful global warming pollution."

Mr. Larson and his partner planned to kayak from Siberia, across the Arctic Ocean and the North Pole and head south to Canada. They were to sled, row and sail through the northern waters but because of the melting ice which occurred two weeks earlier this year and changed the flow of water, they had to cancel their trip until next year. They will try to schedule it before the ice begins to melt. Chris Miller of Greenpeace said more scientists are engaged in the study of global warming than have ever focused on one scientific issue before.

The 165-foot long Icebreaker Arctic Sunrise is making her way down the east coast of the United States where Greenpeace is promoting solutions to global warming including proposed wind farms in Cape Cod and Long Island. Greenpeace's visit here is part of Project Thin Ice - Going the Distance to Stop Global Warming. (www.ProjectThinIce.org)

"Our Offshore Wind Park will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change and it is heartening to see such international, national, state and local support for our project," said LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel. "Whether it is our county executives who understand the need to reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels or polar explorers who have seen glaciers melt away in the arctic, we agree that tapping the abundant power of wind energy presents a solution to our heavy dependence on fossil fuels."

LIPA's planned offshore wind park is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 235,000 tons every year. CO2 results from the combustion of fossil fuels and is the chief greenhouse gas responsible for global climate change.

"Greenpeace and its courageous polar explorers are sending out an urgent Mayday call alerting us that polar ice and glaciers are melting as a result of our ever-increasing consumption of fossil energy sources," said Gordian Raacke, executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island. "The good news is that LIPA and the State of New York now embrace renewable energy sources as a way to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels."

"It's clear that global warming is an issue we must confront immediately," said Friends of the Bay Executive Director Kyle Rabin. "We cannot leave this issue to future generations but must deal with this ecological and social threat on a local and regional level, not just within the federal and international arenas. We must move swiftly to put into operation cleaner energy projects such as offshore wind power, and maximize energy conservation and energy efficiency. Cleaner power and conservation translate to cleaner water and air."

"To avoid the devastating impacts of global warming, we need to stop burning dirty fossil fuels like coal and oil and instead move toward clean, safe, domestically produced energy from wind," said Chris Miller, Clean Energy Now campaigner for Greenpeace. "Offshore wind projects like the one off the coast of Long Island represent the clean energy future that keeps the air we breathe clean and helps curb global warming."

More information about the Long Island Offshore Wind Park and other renewable energy technologies is at www.RenewableEnergyLongIsland.org