An article that I wrote in November, 2009 about President Obama’s visit to FPL’s solar field in DeSoto County, FL -has created an ongoing conversation amongst my readers. The history can be found here:
President Obama, FPL Solar Array, and Me.
“FPL’s token solar project” – a response from a reader.
FPL’s response to a reader on the DeSota solar project
We took a group from Charlotte NC to Gainesville FL where they are DOING what you talk about in your remarks….and making it work really fast (less than a year!) I met with Gainesville Regional Utility Strategic Analyst, John Crider, and he spent a couple hours explaining how it works using local distributed solar from small business/resident sources. A group of us from Charlotte later met with the Utility, their Mayor (Copenhagen attendee), a local business and his solar installer/financier for several hours. Their municipal owned electric company has eliminated the need for a new coal plant PLUS brought all sorts of green JOBS and prosperity to their City! Their Mayor, Pegeen Hanrahan, and City Council, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and everyone in town were part of their rapid success!
Last week, Joel Olsen of o2energies, as a Director of NC Sustainable Energy Alliance, presented a panel to Charlotte area business/legislative/energy people. Gainesville Mayor, Mecklenburg County Commissioner and the head of Duke Energy’s Charlotte Operation were on the panel (had been to Germany to study their use of feed-in-tariffs being employed there also). The event went well, EXCEPT that the Duke people made the same tired comments about it being too expensive and not feasible because the sun doesn’t always shine, the price is way too high, etc. Notably, they kept comparing the costs of such a plan against OLD prices for existing coal and nukes. As Joel points out, even the newspaper article bought into it although the TRUE COSTS must be compared with NEW construction….and then solar WINS. ( I understand from GRU‘s Strategic Analyst, that solar will achieve grid parity within 5 years using this financing tool versus 15 years without it).
We need something like this for Florida. ( Do you )Know of other electric coops or municipal power companies in FL? As I recall, Seminole Electric is a group of Coops in Northern Florida. We should start working on them first.
I am excited about my Peedee Electric Coop in Wadesboro, NC because we can easily do this with our own power lines!
Even Duke, FPL and Progress need to be required to commit to a simple program that uses local distributed energy. They can charge enough to make it profitable with administrative costs, Smart Grid, etc. To me, the real stumbling block is these insane subsidies both NC and FL have (and now Obama) for nuke plants that will evaporate millions of gallons of fresh water per reactor per day in times of drought! Not to mention the Weapons, Waste and Wall Street-won’t-touch-the-risk issues being foisted on an unsuspecting public.
On a level playing field, solar and wind would quickly overtake fossil fuels and new nukes. When I get back to NC in April, I have lined up a few members of my electric coop and some state officials to push for a feed-in-rate plan that will empower my local area.
This is one sure path to solving not only energy problems, but many of the economic, political, environmental and social issues we face. It works because it is simple, honest and sustainable.
Deb Arnason, Wadesboro, NC
-Member of Greenroots Community Group formed at Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant public meetings in November 2009, met with Charlotte Mayor Foxx in December, 2009. We traveled to Gainesville Florida Jan 29, 2010 to bring back information on their successful Rooftop Revolution model similar to Germany using Feed-In-Rates. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2009/0903.blake.html
Articles in the Gainesville Sun on the day of our visit:
Vision of the Future – Innovative Gainesville Economic Development Plan Unveiled
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100129/ARTICLES/1291014
Jobs Created in 2009 Highlighted at Chamber of Commerce Event http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100129/ARTICLES/1291012
I don't see why people are so worried about the sun not shining. When you have solar stations connected to an energy grid that spans whole states, the sun is bound to be shining somewhere. Although I, personally, believe that PV solar energy is somewhat inefficient, it is definitely a step in the right direction. If it eliminates coal power plants, it has to be good!
This is great! I wonder how it could work in Tallahassee though…Anyhow, there is some really great info in this post and I am tweeting it out to the masses.