A bill making it OK for local government to set up tax bill financing of small scale solar, wind, efficiency, and even hurricane hardening, passed the Legislature on the last day of the session. The Senate took up HB 7179 passed earlier in the week in the House and passed the bill to allow local governments to create a volunteer program for homeowners and businesses to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.
The concept, first started in Berkeley California, is pretty simple. Most people cannot make a huge investment in major renewable energy systems in their homes and businesses (or major efficiency investments for that matter) because of the heavy up-front cost. They get trapped into the "payback period" concept where you figure out how many years it will take to recover your initial investment. A better way of evaluating these improvements is through a "return on investment" model. Property Assessed Clean Energy programs (PACE for short) allows a ROI model instead of payback. So would a home equity loan, but here's the advantage with PACE - the loan rides with the property, not the owner. Since these are often substantial permanent investments into the structure that provide benefits that stay with the property, it makes sense that the repayment of the loan stay with the property that is receiving the benefit. With bank lending at a near standstill, this type of program will give local governments a tool to really boost local investments and job creation. And property owners will have a new tool to help them make that final commitment to serous energy improvements.
Finally, a decent piece of energy legislation out of Florida.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Efficiency Study: South could meet future demand through agressive efficiency investments
From the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance:
According to a new study released today by a team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Duke University, aggressive adoption of energy efficiency programs in the South would lower utility bills by $41 billion, create 380,000 new jobs, reduce the need for new power plants, and save 8.6 billion gallons of fresh water by 2020.
Total energy demand in the South, where per capita energy consumption is already higher than average, is projected to increase 16 percent from 2010 to 2030. At the same time, many Southern states spend less on energy efficiency programs than their peer states in other parts of the country. The research strongly indicates the South's projected growth in energy consumption need not materialize if the region begins to tap into its tremendous energy efficiency potential.
"An aggressive commitment to energy efficiency could be an economic windfall for the South," states Dr. Marilyn Brown of the Georgia Institute of Technology and co-lead researcher of the study. "Such a shift would lower energy bills for cash-strapped consumers and businesses and create more new jobs for Southern workers."
Read the study: Southeast Energy Efficiency Study: Energy Efficiency in the South is a recent report by a team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Duke University’s Nicholas Institute that uses state-of-the-art economic modeling to evaluate the potential impact of energy efficiency policies on Southern states. The energy efficiency policies examined by the research team fall into three broad categories: residential, commercial and industrial. The report also includes state profiles for each state in the region (including the District of Columbia) and the economic and employment impacts of energy efficiency for each individual state.
According to a new study released today by a team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Duke University, aggressive adoption of energy efficiency programs in the South would lower utility bills by $41 billion, create 380,000 new jobs, reduce the need for new power plants, and save 8.6 billion gallons of fresh water by 2020.
Total energy demand in the South, where per capita energy consumption is already higher than average, is projected to increase 16 percent from 2010 to 2030. At the same time, many Southern states spend less on energy efficiency programs than their peer states in other parts of the country. The research strongly indicates the South's projected growth in energy consumption need not materialize if the region begins to tap into its tremendous energy efficiency potential.
"An aggressive commitment to energy efficiency could be an economic windfall for the South," states Dr. Marilyn Brown of the Georgia Institute of Technology and co-lead researcher of the study. "Such a shift would lower energy bills for cash-strapped consumers and businesses and create more new jobs for Southern workers."
Read the study: Southeast Energy Efficiency Study: Energy Efficiency in the South is a recent report by a team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Duke University’s Nicholas Institute that uses state-of-the-art economic modeling to evaluate the potential impact of energy efficiency policies on Southern states. The energy efficiency policies examined by the research team fall into three broad categories: residential, commercial and industrial. The report also includes state profiles for each state in the region (including the District of Columbia) and the economic and employment impacts of energy efficiency for each individual state.
Sun Sentinel: Clean energy measure slammed for "benefiting" utilities at customers' expense
- by Julie Patel on April 26, 2010
The Florida Renewable Energy Producers Association -- made up of clean energy companies, construction companies and others -- slammed a House bill to increase the state's renewable energy production because of its costs, among other things.The group announced Monday that it has filed to the state its intent to create a ballot initiative to create renewable energy requirements (so-called RPS standards) that would allow independent clean energy producers to compete with utilities for building renewable energy plans and selling the energy.
FREPA leaders say the competition could lower costs to utility customers -- a major issue in the legislation this year.
The measure, HB 7229, is scheduled to be considered Tuesday in the House.
The bill "transparently allows investor owned utilities to bypass the Public Service Commission review process with regard to cost while encourages self building of plants by utilities," FREPA said in a statement. The group said it would boost the state's renewable energy supply but it would be "mostly to the benefit of...utilities' bottom line while not creating a competitive market in Florida."
Thursday, April 22, 2010
New clean energy report puts Florida a distant 13th in "clean energy leadership"
A new (free) report by Clean Edge, Inc. commissioned for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center shows the tiny New England state second only to California in fostering a favorable environment for the development of clean energy businesses.
Florida managed to make the top 15 (the extent of the report) just barely with slightly more than half the number of identified effective policies and programs as the top ranked states - California, Massachusetts, and Oregon.
Download the report
Florida managed to make the top 15 (the extent of the report) just barely with slightly more than half the number of identified effective policies and programs as the top ranked states - California, Massachusetts, and Oregon.
Download the report
Florida Shines in Solar Decathlon Qualifying round
The US Department of Energy announced on April 15th the finalists for the 2011 International Solar Decathlon. Florida Universities will be prominent in the competition with five public universities chosen to go toe to toe with some of the world's best.
Florida fields the most Universities by far with Florida International University - a competitor in 2005 - again fielding a team, and Florida State University, University of Central Florida (home of the Florida Solar Energy Center), University of Florida, and University of Southern Florida comprising "Team Florida." All of Florida's competitors are State Universities.
Congratulations to all of the teams selected for this intellectually grueling competition.
Hopefully our State Legislature will take note and get serious about a renewable energy policy. There is clearly strong interest from our future engineers, architects, and environmental design professionals to support a renewable energy renaissance in Florida.
About the Solar Decathlon:
For more on the 2011 competition and to check out the prototype houses each team submitted for the competition, visit the announcement on the DOE website: solardecathlon.gov
Florida fields the most Universities by far with Florida International University - a competitor in 2005 - again fielding a team, and Florida State University, University of Central Florida (home of the Florida Solar Energy Center), University of Florida, and University of Southern Florida comprising "Team Florida." All of Florida's competitors are State Universities.
Congratulations to all of the teams selected for this intellectually grueling competition.
Hopefully our State Legislature will take note and get serious about a renewable energy policy. There is clearly strong interest from our future engineers, architects, and environmental design professionals to support a renewable energy renaissance in Florida.
About the Solar Decathlon:
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends cost-effectiveness, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.
The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002; the competition has since occurred biennially in 2005, 2007, and 2009. The next event will take place in fall 2011. Open to the public free of charge, the event takes place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Visitors can tour the houses and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money today.
For more on the 2011 competition and to check out the prototype houses each team submitted for the competition, visit the announcement on the DOE website: solardecathlon.gov
Friday, April 9, 2010
Miami Herald: Concern raised over nuclear waste storage at Turkey Point
Nuclear regulators are questioning spent-fuel issues at Turkey Point as FLorida Power & Light squeezes more waste into holding pools.
BY JOHN DORSCHNER
jdorschner@MiamiHerald.com
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has called a special meeting next week to discuss three apparent violations involving a spent-fuel pool at Turkey Point -- a critical issue as the long-held plans for storing waste in Nevada have collapsed.
Technically, the meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday involves the degradation of ``a neutron-absorbing material called Boraflex in the Unit 3 spent-fuel pool.''
Used nuclear fuel has been building up at Turkey Point for the 35 years of its operation.
The degradation involves systems intended to cram more spent fuel into the pools, according to Lawrence King, a former NRC inspector.
More than two million pounds of waste now sit at the South Miami-Dade site in pools of water -- although Florida Power & Light spokesman Michael Waldron says it's more accurate to think of the spent rods as occupying a 16-foot cube if bunched together
Read more: miamiherald.com
.
BY JOHN DORSCHNER
jdorschner@MiamiHerald.com
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has called a special meeting next week to discuss three apparent violations involving a spent-fuel pool at Turkey Point -- a critical issue as the long-held plans for storing waste in Nevada have collapsed.
Technically, the meeting in Atlanta on Wednesday involves the degradation of ``a neutron-absorbing material called Boraflex in the Unit 3 spent-fuel pool.''
Used nuclear fuel has been building up at Turkey Point for the 35 years of its operation.
The degradation involves systems intended to cram more spent fuel into the pools, according to Lawrence King, a former NRC inspector.
More than two million pounds of waste now sit at the South Miami-Dade site in pools of water -- although Florida Power & Light spokesman Michael Waldron says it's more accurate to think of the spent rods as occupying a 16-foot cube if bunched together
Read more: miamiherald.com
.
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