By Bill Johnson
Commentary
Manatee and Sarasota counties have displayed long-standing leadership on clean energy, clean air and clean energy job creation.
In Manatee County these efforts began in the 1990s due to air pollution concerns from Tampa and a planned, highly polluting oil-fired power plant at Port Manatee.
Today, Port Manatee has an opportunity to be a hub for renewable energy.
The Manatee County Commission recently approved plans by Florida Power & Light to construct a 75-megawatt solar thermal plant. This plant will be similar to the one under construction in Martin County, which has created a thousand construction jobs.
It must be satisfying for county leaders like Commissioner Joe McClash, who successfully fought the oil-fired plant at Port Manatee, to now be part of approving a state-of-the-art renewable energy plant at the same site.
However, this wonderful opportunity is contingent upon the Florida Legislature passing meaningful renewable energy legislation during the 2010 legislative session. Last year the Legislature failed this test.
The good news is there are two bills filed in Tallahassee that would allow the Port Manatee solar thermal project as well as projects such as a 75-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant at Babcock Ranch. The even better news is these bills are sponsored by our local delegation of Sens. Mike Bennett and Nancy Detert.
Both senators are actively seeking ways to develop the clean energy economy our region is poised to lead, creating economic diversification and the next generation of jobs and profits.
Sen. Detert has introduced SB 596, which mirrors the “Clean Energy” bill that passed overwhelmingly in the Florida Senate but did not pass the House. This bill would require utilities to generate 20 percent of their power from nuclear and renewable energy sources by the year 2020.
Sen. Detert’s bill would create thousands of local jobs across the state; it is a jobs bill first and an environmental bill second.
Wisely understanding that one of the impediments to the passage of last year’s legislation was the 20 percent mandate, Sen. Bennett has crafted legislation designed to bridge that political divide and position Florida to maintain its national leadership in clean energy.
SB 1186 would not force anyone to do anything, but it would allow the Public Service Commission to authorize 735 megawatts of renewable energy over the next three years. This would represent a game-changing investment in renewable energy.
One of the smart elements of Sen. Bennett’s bill is that the legislation advances distributed solar power in an unprecedented manner.
As part of the 735 megawatts, Bennett’s bill authorizes 35 megawatts of distributed rooftop or ground-mounted solar projects.
In the realm of distributed solar, 35 megawatts represents a rapid expansion of small-scale solar, the likes of which Florida has never experienced.
To provide a clear picture of what 35 megawatts represents, imagine 180 20,000-square-foot roofs in our local cities being covered with solar panels in a mere three short years.
For a local solar contractor like me, this is a huge opportunity to create jobs and provide energy security for the communities in which we live and work.
Florida cannot afford delay. Renewable energy is a proven job creator, but this opportunity rests with Florida legislators and their ability to work together for the people of Florida.
Entrepreneurs like myself stand ready all across Florida to be a pivotal part of Florida’s economic resurgence.
Bill Johnson, is president of Brilliant Harvest, a solar energy company based in Lakewood Ranch.
