A multi-million eco-project stands to transform Florida into the Silicon Valley of solar energy
By Jack Fairweather : Apr 21, 2009
Solar power has been, ironically, slow to catch on in the sunshine state. But developers of a new city aim to catapult Florida to the forefront of solar innovation. Babcock Ranch, a new housing and commercial development on a swath of rich swampland outside Fort Myers promises to be the world’s first city to be powered only by solar energy. Residents will rely for power on a 75 megawatt, $300 million solar-powered generator.
The new solar city will be home to 8,000 homes and an industrial park. The developers, Florida Power & Light and development firm Kitson & Partners intend for Babcock Ranch to serve as a lightning rod for new state legislation that aims to turn Florida into a green pioneer.
Help is on the way. This month the state’s Governor Charlie Crist is pushing lawmakers to pass an ambitious bill that would mandate 20% of Florida’s power comes from renewable energy sources by 2020, with raft of incentives and tax breaks for the green sector.
The state’s nascent solar energy industry is likely to be the prime beneficiary of changes in the law.
Until a few years ago no solar energy was produced in Florida. But small solar installations have tripled in less than three years, and Progress Energy customers recently surpassed 1 megawatt of solar installed. Nearly 250 megawatts of solar projects have been announced statewide, although the financial downturn has led to delays for some projects (Babcock Ranch insist they will be breaking earth next year, and have already got their funding in place).
Still, Florida is projected to have more solar power installed than every state except California by this time next year.
“Solar is starting to come of age,” said Eric Silagy, vice president and chief development officer for FPL, who sees Florida becoming the Silicon valley of the solar business.
Despite rapid growth in recent years, solar power accounts for less than 1 percent of United States electricity use. Solar power is more prevalent in European countries such as Spain and Germany, which have promoted its development with strong incentives called feed-in tariffs, which require electric utilities to buy solar power at a high, fixed price.
Last month Gainesville, Fla., became the first US city to provide higher payments for solar power, which is otherwise too expensive for many families or businesses to buy. City leaders, who control their electric utility, unanimously approved the policy after studying Germany’s solar-power expansion.
Crist commends utilities for “change of attitude” on renewable energy
By Posted by Julie Patel at 1:09 PM | January 15, 2009
Gov. Charlie Crist commended the state’s electric utilities today at a Florida Energy and Climate Commission meeting in Tallahassee. “I want to thank people in the utility industry not only for their open-mindedness but also for their leadership” in pursuing alternative energy projects, Crist said. “It really lifts my heart to see that kind of change of attitude.” Crist described himself as being “at odds” with utilities a few years ago as Florida’s Attorney General but said “it’s a completely different picture” now. Last week, the Florida Public Service Commission recommended the state legislature require 20 percent of the state’s energy supply come from renewable sources by 2020.
Florida to mandate greater use of renewable energy
The Associated Press, By David Fischer
Published: August 8, 2008
Talking about renewable energy is nothing new in the Sunshine State, but the push for cleaner energy could soon become a legal mandate. For the first time, Florida is about to require that part of the state’s power come from renewable sources. The state has been promoting that idea with grants and tax exemptions for several years, but renewable power makes up less than 3 percent of the total in Florida.
Maine, by comparison, gets roughly 18 percent of its power from renewable sources, mostly hydroelectric, the state energy office says. But 100 percent of the power used in Maine’s state buildings is from renewable sources.
Florida’s total was unacceptable to Gov. Charlie Crist. He said 20 percent of the state’s energy should be coming from renewable sources like wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energies by 2020 when he issued a series of goals regarding climate change last year.
Fast forward to this summer. The governor signed a major energy bill, part of which directed utility regulators to draft rules for increased renewable energy production. The legislation that passed this spring doesn’t specify the 20 percent Crist was looking for, but he believes that goal is still something the state should attempt.
“We have goals that are clearly achievable and within reach, but at the same time, we want to continue to push forward and stretch,” Crist said.