Spending the weekend in my hometown area of Tampa Bay reminds me that Pinellas County is an overbuilt, tiny peninsula. That makes the proposal to use an old landfill as a solar farm an intriguing possibility.
Monday, June 27
LAND REUSE FOR SOLAR
Sunday, June 26
FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT BEGINS SOLAR REBATE PROGRAM
Florida customers of Florida Power and Light (FPL) are able to apply for a rebate on their new home solar systems beginning July 29th.
The Residential Solar Water Heating Rebate is for solar thermal collectors, pumps, mounting hardware and water storage tanks. All products installed must be new, not refurbished or previously installed and approved and certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC).
There is no minimum or maximum size limit, however, the program is for domestic water heating only. Solar pool heaters do not qualify.
The rebates are a part of a five-year pilot program authorized by the Florida Public Service Commission.
More information: Residential Solar Water Heating Program.
Business customers may apply for a rebate of up to $50,000 per site for installing new solar water heating systems.
The Residential Solar Water Heating Rebate is for solar thermal collectors, pumps, mounting hardware and water storage tanks. All products installed must be new, not refurbished or previously installed and approved and certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC).
There is no minimum or maximum size limit, however, the program is for domestic water heating only. Solar pool heaters do not qualify.
The rebates are a part of a five-year pilot program authorized by the Florida Public Service Commission.
More information: Residential Solar Water Heating Program.
Business customers may apply for a rebate of up to $50,000 per site for installing new solar water heating systems.
Saturday, June 25
SOME FIRE STATIONS IN FLORIDA GO SOLAR
The cities of Tallahassee and South Daytona were some of the cities that utilized grant funding to install solar water heaters at some of its fire stations. Seems like a logical consumer for solar.
Here's a link to a now dated map of Tallahassee's solar projects
Here's a map of the City's net metered projects owned by the City or by individuals.
Here's a link to a now dated map of Tallahassee's solar projects
Here's a map of the City's net metered projects owned by the City or by individuals.
Friday, June 24
ELECTRIC CARS CAN CALL AAA WHEN THEY RUN OUT OF 'GAS'
My AAA renewal notice comes every summer and although I haven't run out of gas in a long time, I know this service is there in case something goes wrong on a road trip.
Now, AAA has announced that it is sending out EV mobile charging units to provide emergency charges to stranded electric vehicles as a part of their emergency roadside service.
Starting with six units in select states (including Florida, California, Oregon, Washington, Tennessee and Georgia) in August, all of the charging units will come with Level 2 chargers, which can charge up a vehicle in a few hours, and Level 3 chargers that can power up a car in a matter of minutes.
Wednesday, June 22
AC CONSUMPTION
The air conditioner gobbles up 25 percent of all electricity used in a typical U.S. home. according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, part of the Department of Energy.
Tuesday, June 21
TURN UP THE FAN!
A typical ceiling fan, set at medium speed, can spin for three hours before the utility bill adds up to a penny. FLORIDA SOLAR ENERGY CENTER
Monday, June 20
EXPANDED RECYCLING FOR PLASTICS
The next you see a member of Sustainable Tallahassee, tell them "thank you."
Effective immediately, all plastic containers that hold less than three gallons can be recycled, including butter tubs, yogurt cups and produce baskets!
Of course, containers that have held automotive fluid, pesticides or other hazardous materials can't be added to your household recycling. But, they can be collected through the existing City and County recycle collection programs.
Sustainable Tallahassee, a citizen-led initiative established through the Knight Creative Communities Institute, appointed a Recycle Sub Committee of citizens, business reps and staff from the City and County. The group worked with the companies that receive plastics from the Tallahassee / Leon County area to significantly expand the plastic materials that can be received.
www.LeonCountyFL.gov/Recycling
Sunday, June 19
NUCLEAR END FOR CRYSTAL RIVER?
There is also a sign in the traditional green and white of a municipality that says: Red Alert. Did someone give their community this name? Is it a civic minded cosmic alert?
Sunday's St Petersburg Times reflects on Progress Energy and the future of its nuclear power plants in Crystal River and the lack movement in Florida toward alternative energy.
Discussions within the organization question whether shutting down the plant rather than repairing it might be the better financial options. [Progress Energy still holds a permit to build nuclear in Levy County to the north of Crystal River.]
Progress Energy says it will update Florida's Public Service Commission on June 27 about its plan for repairs after the second gap in the nuclear reactor's containment wall was discovered.
Read the editorial here.
CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Letter to the Editor Tallahassee Democrat June 17, 2011
[reprinted here if you are locked out of the TDO website]
[reprinted here if you are locked out of the TDO website]
Congress needs serious look at global warming
On Wednesday, the temperature in our town reached 105 degrees breaking the all-time record since it's been measured. Is this a fluke or are we feeling the effects of global warming? Since the beginning of the last decade the number of weather related disasters — tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, draughts — throughout the world has increased in frequency manifold.
Again, Is this a fluke or are we feeling the effects of global warming? A small group of local citizens, including myself, believe that it's time for Congress to take decisive actions to address the problem of global warming. We are members of the transnational organization Citizens Climate Lobby, headquartered in Washington, DC.
On Monday we will gather at the Washington Convention Center to hear noted speakers, including Dr. James Hansen, and participate in workshops in preparation for the meetings with representatives and senators. Anyone interested in the outcome of this event should follow its development at www.citizensclimatelobby.com.
We may ultimately find the answer to the question posed above and it may also be too late to do anything about the problem. Our goal is to create the political will for a sustainable climate.
Please contact your legislators and ask them to hear our message; your grandchildren will benefit from our legacy!
CARLOS S. BOUERES
cboueres@msn.com
Saturday, June 18
TEAM FLORIDA'S ENTRY FOR 2011 SOCAL DECATHLON
Friday, June 17
FLORIDA UNIVERSITY FINDS ALTERNATE FUEL
The University of Central Florida will join the University of Florida as the only universities in the state to have access to an E-85 fueling station.
The Central Florida Future, the UCF campus paper, reports that
the new fueling station became available for the campus fleet vehicles last month and should decrease UCF's environmental footprint with this alternate fuel made from 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
[See Alternate Fuel Locator here to find other stations in Florida]
Tallahassee locations:
- Waco Food Store/Gas Mart 8120 Woodville Hwy. B 20
- Kangaroo/BP 3500 N Monroe St. E 85
- Propane - Suburban Propane 2628 W Tennessee Street
The Central Florida Future, the UCF campus paper, reports that
the new fueling station became available for the campus fleet vehicles last month and should decrease UCF's environmental footprint with this alternate fuel made from 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
Thursday, June 16
Lake Mary's Solar Farm
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| image via PSEG |
Power generated from the solar plant is expected to displace over 25,000 tons of carbon CO2 annually while generating an around 64 million kilowatt hours per year, which is about enough to power around 8,000 typical Florida homes. The power produced will be sold to Progress Energy Florida under a power purchase agreement.
Wednesday, June 15
GOOD NEWS FOR RECYCLERS IN TALLAHASSEE
Tuesday, June 14
FIRST WIND FARM IN FLORIDA SUGAR CANE FILED PROPOSED
Wind Capital Group of Missouri wants to build, own and operate the first wind farm in Florida, despite a view among some residents that wind turbines are not a sensible idea in the hurricane-prone state.
A spokesman for Wind Capital Group, told Recharge News that his company is talking with both electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities on entering into a long-term power purchase contract.
The company also said it is studying wind speeds in the area and looking at the environmental impact of placing up to 100 turbines there. The location’s wind resource are projected as good given the site’s location near the Atlantic Ocean, while it also gets west-to-east breezes off the Gulf of Mexico on Florida’s other coast. Newer model wind turbines can also capture more energy from slower wind speeds.
Monday, June 13
FAIL: FL LEGISLATOR'S GRADE ON SOLAR THIS SESSION
From Recharge News comes the dismal report of our Florida Legislature and their inaction over a group of bills that would have promoted development of biomass, solar and other clean sources for commercial, residential and utility-scale power.
For the third year in a row Legislators have failed to address climate change and revise the state’s carbon-heavy energy portfolio. In addition, Governor Rick Scott says he wants to abolish the Florida Energy & Climate Commission (FECC), which coordinates energy and climate change policy among state agencies.
What did not pass were bills in the House and Senate that would have allowed the state’s four big utilities to raise electric rates by hundreds of millions of dollars through 2016 to cover the cost of developing renewable energy.
Also, Florida Power & Light Company (Juno Beach, Florida) was recognized by the Solar Electric Power Association as the utility with the second-most solar capacity added in 2010.
The report goes on to say that natural gas generates about 40% of Florida’s power, coal 13%, nuclear 12% and oil 7%, with imported electricity covering most of the balance.
For the third year in a row Legislators have failed to address climate change and revise the state’s carbon-heavy energy portfolio. In addition, Governor Rick Scott says he wants to abolish the Florida Energy & Climate Commission (FECC), which coordinates energy and climate change policy among state agencies.
What did not pass were bills in the House and Senate that would have allowed the state’s four big utilities to raise electric rates by hundreds of millions of dollars through 2016 to cover the cost of developing renewable energy.
Also, Florida Power & Light Company (Juno Beach, Florida) was recognized by the Solar Electric Power Association as the utility with the second-most solar capacity added in 2010.
The report goes on to say that natural gas generates about 40% of Florida’s power, coal 13%, nuclear 12% and oil 7%, with imported electricity covering most of the balance.
Sunday, June 12
SOLAR GROWS AS COST COME DOWN, BUT. . .
If investment does not come to Florida for large solar projects, utility companies say it's because solar is still very expensive. If there are no large investments in solar, then the cost of solar remains high. How to untangle this dilemma? Seems to have been addressed in other countries like Germany. As more news emerges about the meltdown of Japan's nuclear facilities, it seems, yet again, Florida is headed in the wrong direction.
Read the full article here.
Meanwhile, the Georgia Public Service Commission called this week for Georgia Power to present options to expand solar energy projects in the state.
Seems a study from Arizona State University’s school of business looked at how much solar energy a state can generate and how much it costs to do it. Georgia came in third behind Colorado and Arizona. The full study, “Optimal Deployment of Solar Index,” including the rankings of all 50 states, can be found here.
Look for Florida in this list:
The Top 10 states that would benefit from solar deployment through generating and exporting energy to other states are:
1. Arizona
2. Colorado
3. Georgia
4. Texas
5. Hawaii
6. Arkansas
7. Wyoming
8. Alabama (tie)
8. Missouri (tie)
10. California
"In a place known as the Sunshine State, it would seem solar electricity would be natural." Ivan Penn, a writer for the St Petersburg Times takes a look this week at Progress Energy's lack of 'progress' toward committing to solar.
"We do see very positive signs in regard to cost and technology," said Scott Sutton, a spokesman for Progress Energy. "One of the biggest obstacles to solar is that it is much more expensive."
Read the full article here.
Meanwhile, the Georgia Public Service Commission called this week for Georgia Power to present options to expand solar energy projects in the state.
Seems a study from Arizona State University’s school of business looked at how much solar energy a state can generate and how much it costs to do it. Georgia came in third behind Colorado and Arizona. The full study, “Optimal Deployment of Solar Index,” including the rankings of all 50 states, can be found here.
Look for Florida in this list:
The Top 10 states that would benefit from solar deployment through generating and exporting energy to other states are:
1. Arizona
2. Colorado
3. Georgia
4. Texas
5. Hawaii
6. Arkansas
7. Wyoming
8. Alabama (tie)
8. Missouri (tie)
10. California
