The PSC took Florida's largest utility to task for squandering the majority of the $9.6 million raised through their volunteer subscribers on marketing the frigging program. Green Mountain, the contractor charged with running this program, blew 74% of the $8.6 million they received from FPL on marketing.
Read the synopsis on the Florida PSC website
The Sunshine Energy program was supposed to support the purchase of 1000 kWh of green energy for the customer's voluntary $9.95 contribution to FPL. On top of that, the Utility promised to install 150 kW of solar energy somewhere in Florida for every 10,000 members. They are over the 30,000 subscriber mark, so they should be well on their way to installing 450 kW of solar power in Florida - just through this program.
The PSC found that FPL fell way short. And I find that they're fudging the numbers even more than the PSC will admit. For example, here's the list of solar project that FPL can point to as examples of their good-faith effort:
- 8 kW of solar installed in cooperation with SunSmart Schools – 2 kW at 4 schools
- 2 kW of solar installed at the Miami Science Museum
- 54 kW of rooftop solar installed on homes at The Quarry residential subdivision in Naples, Florida
- 250 kW solar array at Rothenbach Park in Sarasota
- 75 kW Publix Supermarkets project – 50 kW complete, 25 kW in progress
- 124 kW of solar photovoltaic systems under the Sun Funds Program
Here's the catch - SunSmart schools was funded by taxpayers through a FDEP grant. The Sun Funds Program, according to the information provided by the PSC (I've never heard of it) is a minor incentive of $1.50 per installed watt for FPL customers on top of the $4 the State provides for solar PV installations. So FPL seems to be taking 100% credit for 15% of the contribution, or in the case of the SunSmart schools grants, 100% of the credit for no financial contribution to the projects at all.
As for the green tags, it looks like only 21% of the funds that went to Green Mountain actually went to buy Renewable Energy Credits.
What a shame.
Palm Beach Post: Bulk of FPL money for renewable energy goes to start-up costs
