Solar Powered Groupies

At Point Lookout, Long Island, an innovative project is using solar and wind energy to nurture juvenile shellfish. The FLUPSY (Floating Upweller System) is a floating solar and wind powered clam nursery with an entirely self-sustaining design that is accelerating the restoration of shellfish populations in Hempstead Bay. What makes this FLUPSY unique is that it's entirely solar and wind powered. When the baby clams grow big enough to leave the nursery, they are deposited in local beds to support both recreational and commercial shell fishing. As an added benefit, as they feed, the clams act as environmental filters, playing a critical role in maintaining water quality and the ecological health of the Bay. The first of its kind in Long Island’s waters, the renewable-powered FLUPSY is also a demonstration project that will serve as an important example for other communities in the region. If you are interested in the FLUPSY project you can contact the Town of Hempstead Conservation and Waterways Department at 516.431.9200.