Miami Solar Forum

NY Times - U.S. Military Orders Less Dependence on Fossil Fuels

2010-10-14T20:32:00.003-04:00

Ok, so this article isn't Miami. Not even Florida, but important to us none-the-less.

Fuel supply convoys have been the Achilles heel of our military operations since the first Gulf War. The Defense Department knows this, which is why they are sinking tons of money into refining mobile renewable energy solutions including solar backpacks, tents, and other off-grid equipment. The Army actually pioneered an electric HUMVEE that outperformed the diesel version. Each wheel had an electric motor providing intense torque and silent operation. Pretty cool stuff.

The latest attack on fuel convoys makes finding ways to make our troops less vulnerable and protect these poor guys who have to drive these bombs on wheels all the more critical.

New York Times

By Elisabeth Rosenthal, October 4, 2010

With insurgents increasingly attacking the American fuel supply convoys that lumber across the Khyber Pass into Afghanistan, the military is pushing aggressively to develop, test and deploy renewable energy to decrease its need to transport fossil fuels.

Last week, a Marine company from California arrived in the rugged outback of Helmand Province bearing novel equipment: portable solar panels that fold up into boxes; energy-conserving lights; solar tent shields that provide shade and electricity; solar chargers for computers and communications equipment.

The 150 Marines of Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, will be the first to take renewable technology into a battle zone, where the new equipment will replace diesel and kerosene-based fuels that would ordinarily generate power to run their encampment.

Even as Congress has struggled unsuccessfully to pass an energy bill and many states have put renewable energy on hold because of the recession, the military this year has pushed rapidly forward. After a decade of waging wars in remote corners of the globe where fuel is not readily available, senior commanders have come to see overdependence on fossil fuel as a big liability, and renewable technologies — which have become more reliable and less expensive over the past few years — as providing a potential answer. These new types of renewable energy now account for only a small percentage of the power used by the armed forces, but military leaders plan to rapidly expand their use over the next decade.

read more

Governor, House "leadership" food-fight over energy efficiency and solar rebates

2010-09-17T19:03:00.003-04:00

The following appeared in the Miami Herald yesterday and I can't believe how insane our legislative leadership is. The Senate "budget chief" JD Alexander clearly talks out of his butt on a regular basis. He is quoted as saying that solar panels take "as much energy to make a solar panel as it likely generates in its entire life" which is the biggest pile of crap ever blurted out of someone's uninformed mouth in a very long time.

Energy rebates stalled amid tiff between Crist, lawmakers

There was plenty of heat over lawmakers' refusal to consider Gov. Crist's pitch to make Florida eligible for $31.5 million in energy rebates.

BY LEE LOGAN, Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau

TALLAHASSEE -- Payments for two popular green energy rebate programs are stalled because of a high-profile budget disagreement between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Legislature.

Florida is in line for $31.5 million in federal stimulus money for the 2006 solar rebate program and a new program that helps people modernize their air conditioners.

Crist had asked a special legislative commission to authorize the funding as it made adjustments to the state budget Wednesday. But lawmakers ignored the request, arguing that only the full Legislature, not the budget commission, could authorize the money.

``Florida has already received federal approval to use the funds,'' Crist said Tuesday in a letter to House Speaker Larry Cretul and Senate President Jeff Atwater. ``I continue to encourage you to act quickly so that these funds can begin flowing into Florida's marketplace.''

Crist said $13.9 million is available for the popular solar rebate program, which ran out of money because of tight budgets and owes Floridians $52.7 million in unpaid rebates.

Crist asked for money in this year's budget to reduce the backlog, but the lawmakers ``affirmatively declined'' the request, said Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales. He argues the program rewards rich people who can afford to buy solar systems. ``It takes as much energy to make a solar panel as it likely generates in its entire life,'' Alexander said. ``I really doubt that this is a good investment for the people of Florida.''

From Grist online mag: Florida governor’s race: Sink vs. Scott

2010-09-12T09:46:00.000-04:00

by Jonathan Hiskes, September 9th, 2010

Florida governor candidate Rick Scott is largely an enigma on energy and environmental issues. The hospital-chain executive, who eked out a surprise win over an establishment candidate in the Republican primary, has no record in public office to evaluate. His website's environment page consists of terse pledges to protect beaches and the Everglades. He hasn't been bringing up environmental issues on the campaign trail. When a reporter asked him about the scientific consensus on climate change, he said, "I have not been convinced," and was unsure what further evidence could convince him.

Scott would seem to be more certain on one issue: his support for offshore drilling. "It's a naïve, knee-jerk reaction to call for a ban on drilling," he says on his website in response to the Deepwater Horizon blowout that sent oil washing up on Florida Panhandle shores.

Yet Scott has backed off on this position too, saying in July, "We are not going to drill now. It's not safe. It doesn't make any sense ... [but] if we figure out some day that it's safe I think we ought to look at it.''

His opponent, Democratic state treasurer Alex Sink, has revealed more of her cards. She came out strongly opposed to offshore drilling when Republican lawmakers proposed opening state waters last year. She has released a detailed clean-energy plan centered on promoting efficiency, entrepreneurship, and partnerships between businesses and the state's universities.

"Right now, Florida's lack of a clear vision and a consistent energy policy is costing Floridians good jobs -- that ends when I am governor," she said in a news release.

So far, environmental issues haven't gotten much attention in Florida's jobs-focused gubernatorial race, despite the state's vulnerability to climate change and its largely untapped renewable-energy potential. Florida is particularly susceptible to sea-level rise, saltwater encroaching on its water supply, and hurricanes and tropical storms of increased intensity. And the Sunshine State would seem to be a natural hotspot for solar installations, yet it generates less solar electricity than New Jersey (even Massachusetts and Connecticut outperform it on a per-capita basis).

That's not for lack of effort from departing Gov. Charlie Crist, who became an unlikely climate leader, enacting a climate plan in 2007 and joining fellow Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger in organizing state-level action during the Bush years. But Florida's legislature prevented him from taking important steps, like implementing a renewable energy standard -- something 27 other states have used to attract cleantech businesses.

A renewable standard "is the holy grail of the [Florida] environmental community, something they've been working on for years," said Adam Rivera of Environment Florida. Sink supports one, while Scott hasn't made his position clear.

Florida's popular solar rebate program has a $40 million, 15,000-application backlog, and whether the next governor refuels it will be an early signal of his or her priorities, Rivera said.

The state also enacted a law last year that discouraged sprawl by making it easier for developers to build in dense urban areas. But a judge ruled it unconstitutional last month, and it could take leadership from the governor's office to pass a new version next year. [Update: A Florida commenter says the law wasn't clearly "anti-sprawl." While encouraged urban infill, it also made exurban growth easier; it's been called a sop to developers in response to the building-industry collapse.]

And, of course, Florida wields huge influence in national debates as a swing state and one poised to gain congressional seats in the upcoming redistricting process -- which the governor will oversee.

So it's worth knowing where the candidates stand on green issues, even if they aren't bringing them up.

Read the rest on Grist

Only UF makes Sierra "Cool Schools" list

2010-09-04T08:53:00.001-04:00

Sad but expected. Only the University of Florida seemed to even respond to the Sierra Club environmental performance survey and even then were near the bottom of the pile - #84 of 100.

FIU, UM, how come you didn't try to make the list? There's a good push at both schools to remake their image as "green" universities. Hopefully they'll buck up and try to make the list next year.

A telling comment from someone else (not me) on the University of Central Florida - home to the nationally recognized Solar Energy Center - says:

...the conservation efforts of the students for a whole year are simply blown away by "Light up UCF" a light show for 50 nights from November 20 through January 8 with Ice Skating (in Florida), Ferris Wheel, Carousel, Ice Slide, Santa's Workshop, Free Holiday Movie Screenings, etc. They invite the whole state in and provide free parking. Thanks to the rest of the country for taking global warming and the attendant sea level rise seriously. Here in the most vulnerable state, a peninsula sticking out into the slowly rising ocean, we do not seem to care enough to even dim our lights.

To view which schools DID make the cut, go to Cool Schools

St. Pete Times: State owes Floridians $52.7 M in unpaid solar rebates

2010-08-09T18:07:00.001-04:00

This is how you kill an industry, promise something and then reneg. Such behavior - by the State and from less than honest installers - will shred credibility and make everyone in the business seem to be a shyster. Shame on the State for consistently underfunding the program and knowingly letting it get this out-of-control.

______________________

By Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, August 3, 201

The state owes Floridians $52.7 million in unpaid solar energy rebates and has no immediate plan to honor its financial promise. More than 15,800 people await the rebates, which were dangled before homeowners and businesses to encourage greater investment in solar energy technologies such as solar-power water heaters and electric systems. The state's new fiscal year, which started in July, marks the second consecutive year that the Florida Legislature has refused to fund the popular program. Some people have been on the waiting list for years, said Travis Yelverton, deputy director of the Governor's Energy Office.

read the rest of the article here

Alex Sink unveils renewable energy plan in Miami

2010-08-01T16:47:00.001-04:00

Alex Sink paid a visit to local solar products distributor, Sun Electronics, this last week to announce her energy strategy for Florida. Not surprisingly based on the backdrop of a warehouse full of solar panels, her plan calls for a serious push into renewables and to open the grid to homes and commercial establishments.

For too long, mega-utilities have dominated the "market" for solar, wind, etc by making it difficult to connect to the grid, insisting on outrageous insurance riders, and sucking the oxygen out of renewables by latching their massively subsidized nuclear ambitions onto the tiny little toe-hold that solar, wind, biomass, and efficiency have in the energy mix.

The gubernatorial hopeful sees the struggling solar industry as a gateway to new Florida jobs and a clean/green tech hope for a diversified economy too heavily dependent on tourism, agriculture, and other lower wage jobs.

I've read a number of comments attached to the story in the Miami Herald and the Tampa Tribune (same story by Mary Ellen Klass ran in both papers) that attack solar as being "too expensive" and the usual nonesense about it "only working when the sun is out" by the usual know-nothings. What CFO Sink calls for is a smart suite of policies that will encourage the growth of an industry that is absolutely exploding throughout the rest of the world. Even within the US, Florida is competing with California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Tennessee, and about a half-dozen other states that are all vying to be the economic center of the new green energy economy. South Florida cities and counties are already jockeying to compete for these naescent industries, but the State has been the biggest impediment. With better policies - like adopting legislation enacting the solar property tax protection amendment to the state constitution, an agressive RPS that the formerly Republican Governor and the State PSC called for, fully funding the rebate program through a tiny public benefit trust fund, and tax credits for expansion and relocation for solar and wind manufacturing firms - we'd have a chance to compete.

Read more
Story in the Miami Herald

Blog post on Naked Politics

Feds screw up local innovation - PACE on hold throughout the country

2010-07-11T09:54:00.001-04:00

I've tried to keep this blog confined to city, county, and state solar news, but I can't keep quiet about the infuriating stupidity coming out of Washington DC these days.

The mortgage Goliath Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have taken a very serious swipe at the David of solar financing - PACE. The newly hatched plan by local governments to use their taxing authority to come up with clever ways to break through the "first cost" barrier for energy efficiency and small scale solar, wind, geo, etc. was dealt a huge blow back in March when Fannie/Freddie announced that they wouldn't buy any mortgage with a PACE lien on it.

This is an extraordinary over-reach into the taxing authority of local governments. Basically, the mortgage giants are determining which government taxes they believe are worthy and which aren't. It really isn't that simple, but it is potentially precedent setting. Fannie/Freddie don't like this tax lien "cutting in line" in front of the mortgage repayment in case of default. That would be fine if PACE were truly a traditional loan instrument, but it isn't. It behaves like a taxing district like a storm-water, garbage collection or street lighting improvement district. The improvement is passed along with the property instead of having to be paid off upon sale of the property.

Having Fannie/Freddie dis PACE like this had an immediate chilling effect on these programs everywhere. Boulder backed out of their next bond issue and returned deposits to people, San Francisco just launched and then aborted their PACE program.

Other PACE programs in the works, including local governments here have been waiting for the promised "clarification" from the mortgage backer's regulatory parent - Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA) - but were shocked when the agency made a bigger mess of things with their letter.

Most people in the business see the FHFA letter as the final blow to an administrative fix and now believe the only way to fix this once and for all is to seek a legislative remedy - Congress. That should be quick and easy right?

The Department of Energy - a backer and early proponent of the widespread implementation of PACE - now is telling block grant recipients that were using those funds for PACE start-up to rethink that strategy.

All is not lost though. The PACE concept is readily accepted by both political parties, so it actually has a shot in Congress unless it gets stuck to a more controversial bill. And FHFA doesn't touch the commercial market, so PACE could still be used to help improve office parks, industrial buildings and other non-residential properties. This isn't the major focus of PACE, but could keep it alive long enough to show that it is a successful model for the rapid deployment of efficiency and small scale renewables.

Enough ranting for now - next time I hope to have information about local plans to deal with this mess.

Related articles:

New York Times, July 3rd -Loan Giants Opt to Block Energy Programs

Grist, July 6th -Fannie and Freddie to clean-energy program: Drop dead
Environmental Leader, July 7th - Fannie, Freddie Kill PACE Program

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Gov. Crist signs PACE bill

2010-05-29T22:17:00.001-04:00

Good news for solar and other small scale renewable energy - Governor Crist signed the Property Assessed Clean Energy bill yesterday. The issue wasn't really in doubt with significant bipartisan support from the Florida Legislature (as rare as a spotted owl nowadays) and with no notable opposition. Repubs like it because its a "voluntary tax" - the only type they tend to support. And Dems like it because of the blue-collar job creation implications.

Everyone else likes it because it makes sense.

There's drips of news out there on this, but I found a News Release from the Florida CFO (running for Governor herself) on the matter:

CFO Sink Commends Governor Crist for Signing Energy Efficiency Legislation

Gov. Charlie Crist weighs bill to help cities go green

2010-05-18T22:43:00.003-04:00

Gov. Crist is reviewing a bill passed by the Legislature last month that would help establish a `green corridor' PACE program among several South Florida cities. The measure would allow the communities to purchase clean energy systems for residents' homes

BY HOWARD COHEN

Going green could extend to consumers' wallets if Cutler Bay Mayor Paul Vrooman's plan passes muster with the governor.

The program Vrooman has championed, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), enables property owners to borrow money to buy solar panels, wind generators, insulation or shutters for their homes with little upfront expense.

The program would establish a municipal ``green corridor,'' consisting of Cutler Bay, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, South Miami and Coral Gables. The five cities would lend money for a homeowner to install a proven energy-saving device -- say, $30,000 in solar panels or $3,000 for solar plumbing.
In return, the cities would place a lien on the home until the loan was paid off by the homeowner, who would be assessed a monthly fee for the loan's duration.

Link to the rest of the Miami Herald story

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Well, there's a bunch the Herald got right and a bunch they totally munched with this story. I know there's a drive to make all stories have a local angle, and there's a good one with what the cities in the southern part of Miami-Dade are trying to do, but it isn't everything. PACE is an umbrella name for using tax-bill financing to get around tight credit markets and the uncertainty of investing in something that may take longer to "pay back" than the homeowner may actually live there. With Floridians notorious for uprooting themselves every half-dozen years, it is exceedingly difficult to get the average joe-homeowner to invest in their property beyond the granite countertop or whatever Realtor friendly improvement will immediately bump resale value. So PACE is a tool to get past that since you don't have to settle the debt like you would with a second mortgage or other "traditional" financing vehicle.

Where the Herald totally goofed was mixing the "green corridor" idea with PACE. The former is a way for small cities like Cutler Bay and its neighbors to bring enough volunteers together for the issuance of debt to start the latter. That's it.

The County is also pursuing this. I think there's a report out from the Mayor in response to a Commission directive to come up with a set of options on how to pursue a PACE program for those of us living in the unincorporated area and maybe even the cities. I'll see if I can find it and will post that here as well.

Update: here's the link to the report. Summary: County administration thinks PACE is a great idea but they want to bring in a company to do most of the work because of they're cutting budgets and jobs and they don't have the people to manage the program.

South Florida Business Journal: Florida’s popular solar rebate program may fade into the sunset

2010-05-13T19:46:00.001-04:00

One step forward and two steps back. Florida was close to catching up with the rest of the States that have been competing for new green solar energy jobs through tax incentives and through a mash of local programs. The most effective tool in Florida's kit was the creation of the solar energy rebate program four years ago. The program provided rebates worth about half of the installed cost of solar photovoltaic systems for homes and businesses and a token $500 rebate for solar thermal heating systems.

But, as usual, the Florida Legislature wouldn't let a good program last, and they neglected to put any funds into the program this year, leaving thousands of Floridians who already installed systems and awaiting rebates in the lurch. The program would have probably died last year if the Governor and the Florida Energy Office hadn't squirreled away $10 million in Federal stimulus funds for the program.

What's really needed is a public benefits fund - a trust fund of sorts (protected better than the State operated trust fund) - that would be used to fund PV and solar thermal rebates for residents and small business installations. It could fund testing and permit streamlining efforts and more. Instead we have a push for offshore oil drilling only on hold long enough for our collective memories of the Deepwater Horizon to fade, massive subsidies for nuclear power, and legislators inserting language calling synthetic gas made from coal ash "renewable."

The following piece about the loss of the rebate program and the budding businesses that will probably be crushed by its demise appeared in the South Florida Business Journal - and NOWHERE ELSE. Thanks to our local papers for missing this story entirely. I guess they were too busy running "Earth Day" advertising from FPL as "news."

After four years of successfully spurring investment in solar energy, Florida’s solar rebate program is facing its final sunset.
The popular program, which paid homeowners up to $20,000 and businesses up to $100,000 for installing electricity-producing solar photovoltaic systems, is another victim of Florida’s budget crunch.

Read the rest at South Florida Business Journal

Tax bill financing for efficiency and renewables passes Fla Legislature

2010-04-30T21:58:00.000-04:00

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.

Efficiency Study: South could meet future demand through agressive efficiency investments

2010-04-30T21:55:00.001-04:00

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.

Sun Sentinel: Clean energy measure slammed for "benefiting" utilities at customers' expense

2010-04-30T20:57:00.005-04:00

- 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."

(Read the rest on Sun Sentinel online)

New clean energy report puts Florida a distant 13th in "clean energy leadership"

2010-04-22T22:45:00.000-04:00

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 Shines in Solar Decathlon Qualifying round

2010-04-22T07:36:00.001-04:00

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:

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

Miami Herald: Concern raised over nuclear waste storage at Turkey Point

2010-04-09T08:42:00.005-04:00

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

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From Florida Today: Job-killing mistake; Legislature's failure on farsighted energy policy hurting Florida's future

2010-03-31T11:01:00.002-04:00

State lawmakers are halfway through a legislative session they say is all about creating jobs. But when it comes to passing a comprehensive energy policy to make Florida a major player in renewable energy, they’re failing miserably. That’s a job-killing mistake that’s preventing the creation of new businesses and industries, and Florida will pay a steep economic price unless they change course. It’s particularly harmful to the Space Coast, where 9,000 NASA workers at Kennedy Space Center may lose their jobs with the shuttle fleet’s retirement and cancellation of the Constellation moon program. Their high-technology skills make them a perfect fit for the solar, biomass, wind and other renewable industries taking root, an industry that grew three times faster than the U.S. economy in 2007.

There’s also a local foothold:

Florida Power & Light’s new $78.9 million solar power project on 60 acres of old citrus field south of the KSC Visitor Complex. It’s one of three solar plants the company is building in Florida and has already created 100 jobs.

Lawmakers block action

But Republican lawmakers consumed with wrong-headed moves to open the state’s coasts to oil drilling, or who contend that state government shouldn’t take a major role in building a renewable energy market, are blocking action.

That’s sending businesses to other states and nations at a time when Florida — with a 12.2 percent unemployment rate, a 35-year high — should be pulling out the stops to plug in.

For example, eight renewable energy companies that have expressed an interest in Brevard County say they won’t come unless the state moves forward, says Lynda Weatherman, CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast.

Another casualty is a FPL proposal to build a much larger, 100-megawatt solar plant at KSC.

That could bring 1,000 temporary construction jobs and 50 long-term science and engineering jobs here. The facility also could become a hub to attract companies that manufacture solar components.

more on Florida Today (highly recommend the read)

Miami-Dade looks into tax financing of solar for homeowners

2010-02-26T07:56:00.002-05:00

Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson pushed a piece of legislation through the Commission calling on the Mayor to develop the "Berkeley model" for renewable energy financing. Basically a person who lives in an area offering this type of service (currently the City of Berkeley and Palm Springs County, California, Boulder Colorado and a couple other places in the country) can "op-in" to a taxing district like you have for street lights or landscape maintenance. But instead of mowing the commons of a development, the property owner can use funds to install solar or do major efficiency enhancements like super-efficient windows or an A/C or cool roof and pay back the loan through an assessment on their tax bill.

The resolution calls for a plan to come back for the legislative body's review in three months.

You can read the resolution here

and if you really want a glimpse of what nonsense the Board of County Commissioners can be, watch how long the "debate" dragged out because perennial opponent to Sorenson - Natash Sejas tried to kill the idea and ended up voting against the item along with allies Diaz and Martinez: Video and click on item 11A9 on the left.

County developing sustainability plan - comments wanted on first report

2010-01-07T20:43:00.001-05:00

Miami-Dade County is developing a comprehensive sustainability plan. Hopefully it will go from plan to action instead of a shelf collecting organic dust.

I won't let the pessimist in me rule the day, so I'll be one to dig into the report and send some comments. The County released an "assessment report" a couple weeks ago and is looking for comments ASAP. Please take a look at the site and see what you think, let them know if you like the measures they're using to determine "where we are" and send ideas on what you want to see in the report if it isn't there.

Climate change and energy are two major subject areas in the report.

miamidade.gov/greenprint/milestone_one.asp

Here's some additional info from the County's Sustainability office:

Please note that the purpose of the Assessment Report is to identify how County residents / businesses / governments / organizations are doing with regard to sustainability (environmental/economic/social equity) issues and to identify existing challenges. In addition to trying to get a snapshot of where things stand with regard to sustainability, the function of the Assessment Report is also to identify metrics that can be used in the future to assess how much (or how little) progress we make each year with regard to identified challenges.

The purpose of the Assessment Report is not to set goals or decide which initiatives should be a priority – these will be different steps of the sustainability plan process, and we will be requesting public input for these steps in the future.

Miami-Dade College PV installation and design workshops - January 15, 16, 22, 23

2010-01-07T11:32:00.001-05:00

Workshops for basic and now advanced photovoltaic installation and design are available again at Miami-Dade College through the Earth Ethics Institute. Classes from January 15 through the 23rd. Visit their site for details and how to register: www.earthethicsinstitute.org/pvworkshops.asp

Miami-Dade Gets first Solar PV manufacturer soon according to Beacon Council

2009-12-24T15:59:00.000-05:00

At a recent "key ceremony" hosted by the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County's economic development corporation, one of the companies honored is a solar photovoltaic manufacturer.

The firm, Cuantum, is a transplant from Spain and this would be their first facility in North America. It would also be the first PV manufacturer to set up shop in Florida.

The company projected a $5 million investment in the production facility just west of Miami International Airport and is expecting to hire over 100 new employees as they start production in early 2010.

Additional details when I get them, but this is big news - green solar jobs right here in Miami.

Cuantum Solar America's website

Nuke Regulators Reject FPL's choice of Plant Maker over structural flaw

2009-10-18T12:01:00.004-04:00

I'm a bit off topic here, but since FPL seems to think nuclear should be given the same due as solar in the RPS legislation, I figured I'd cover a bit of rather alarming news about the company slated to build the new Turkey Point nuclear units:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently rejected the Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactor design over flaws in the shield building design. The shield building is the outermost structure around the reactor.

It appears that the NRC deemed the building insufficiently tough enough to withstand natural disasters - a rather important performance measure in hurricane prone South Florida. The design flaw also seems to stem partially from the manufacturer's attempt to make the construction "modular" - making the structure in sections elsewhere and shipping them to the final destination to be connected together like Lego blocks. While that aspect of the design is probably overcome by slowing down construction and pouring concrete on site, a bigger issue might be the passive cooling design. The Westinghouse unit stores millions of gallons of water above the reactor so an emergency shut-down would not require energy to pump water into the containment area. Structural concerns there would be harder to work around.

Even though this will likely impact the construction timeline for FPL, the PSC just gave the go-ahead to pre-charge us for these new reactors just this past week. I wonder if the utility informed the PSC about the problems with the design when they were asking for early cost recovery.

The New York Times: Agency Rejects Westinghouse Plant Design

The Wall Street Journal: NRC Rejects Nuclear Plant Design

The Miami Herald: Nuclear Reactor Design Has Safety Flaw

The Charlotte Business Journal: NRC rejects Westinghouse Reactor's Shield Building Design

Solar Energy Industry group calls for oil drilling!

2009-10-18T11:35:00.004-04:00

FlaSEIA, whom I have referenced numerous times in this blog as the "go-to" group representing solar in Florida recently shocked pretty-much everyone by endorsing oil drilling in Florida. The supposition of their support resting on the notion that the new revenue from royalties and taxes on the found oil and gas could be used to subsidize solar and other alternative energy production.

Setting aside the revolting idea that an alternative energy organization would push for more of their dirty carbon competition, I have some serious concerns about the economic conclusions being reached by the solar group.

The Florida legislature has not adequately funded education, much less the State's solar rebate program. Without stimulus money from Washington this year, the school system state-wide would have been adding thousands of teachers to the ranks of the unemployed, but would have completely emptied the coffers for the rebate program and probably left thousands of solar installations in the lurch.

Even then, to "balance" the budget this year, the State swept hundreds of millions of dollars from "trust funds" into the general fund. The trust fund idea that FlaSEIA thinks will provide support for solar, didn't protect programs designed to clean up toxic sites or build affordable houses, so to assume that alternative energy funding is untouchable is absurd.

The group should return to advocating for solar by passing a renewable portfolio standard with a solar carve-out and pushing for their "permanent funding source" through a public benefit fund like every other state has been doing.

Just because Florida is one of the most backward places in the US when it comes to energy policy (amongst many), doesn't mean we should embrace stupid.

Here's a link to the FlaSEIA position paper, and a link to the story in the South Florida Business Journal

Bacteria breakthrough: Team honored for turning dirt into a battery

2009-10-18T11:28:00.003-04:00

Wicked-smart folks working with rudimentary materials to create "batteries" for the dirt-poor areas of Africa by harnessing the electrical discharges of bacteria in - ironically - dirt.

Cross post from The Fueling Station (alternative energy blog from the Tampa Tribune)

Designing and Installing PV workshops coming up at MDC

2009-09-15T21:05:00.002-04:00

Miami Dade College Earth Ethics Institute is offering their Designing & Installing Photovoltaic Systems classes once again.

Participants can earn 7 CEUs for each of the 7-hour courses.

More info or to register:

Intro to Designing PV, Sept 25, 2009

Intro to Installation of PV, Sept 26, 2009

It also looks like the College is preparing to offer a new set of more advanced courses in the near future too. I'll post info about any course offerings when the information becomes available.

Electricity for newbies course offering at MDC

2009-09-15T20:56:00.003-04:00

The Earth Ethics Institute of Miami Dade College is offering a course for novice electricians on September 19th (sorry for the late notice).

This is a 7-hour course that 'introduces basic electrical concepts for those who wish to obtain a basic understanding of electricity before taking more advanced courses in designing and installing photovoltaic systems." Sounds like a good idea for homeowners who want to be better consumers too.

For more info or to register for the course, visit www.earthethicsinstitute.org

Cash for Clunkers "borrows" from Energy Dept Innovative Loan Program

2009-08-28T20:54:00.005-04:00

From Solar Nation:

"The Obama Administration has diverted one-third of the $6 billion allocated to the DOE Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program to the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program, which has proved so popular that it was in danger of running out of money. The rationale of the Administration and Congress is that DOE will not be able to spend that part of its funds before the end of the year, so will not miss it in the short term. And White House staffers have assured concerned clean energy supporters that the Loan Guarantee Program fund will be replenished by that time."

As popular as the cash for clunkers program has been, pilfering the funds from the solar R&D fund seem a wee bit short-sighted don't you think? Why not raid funds set aside for the oil and gas industry or nuclear programs instead?

The way to fund this program so that it doesn't keep collapsing under the weight of its own success is to create a "fee-bate." Gas guzzlers - SUVs and trucks included - would pay a premium for the privilege of crapping up the planet and making us choke on excessive smog. That premium would subsidize purchases of highly efficient cars (and even SUVs and trucks if they are as fuel sipping as the top tier cars).

Not my idea by any stretch. The concept has been advocated by Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute for decades.

Miami-Dade to fast-track solar installation permits

2009-07-11T12:36:00.003-04:00

As a result of the Building Code meetings with industry representatives, Miami-Dade County got the Board of Rules and Appeals to agree to a number of changes that will benefit solar.

For one, solar equipment will be considered "green" for the purposes of qualifying for the free "fast-track" of building permits in the unincorporated county. I hear the County is in talks with interested cities to get them to adopt similar fast tracking for green buildings and solar.

Another biggie is that the County will now consider solar panels as being "non-permanent" equipment so they can be installed as designed instead of being treated like air conditioning equipment and other "permanent" rooftop equipment.

Now if we could get a couple more products through code approval. The County may have a plan for that too. We'll have to wait and see if the Department of Energy approves the recent energy efficiency block grant program list, but there's a strong chance that the County may get the green-light on a project to reduce "market barriers" and help companies with the cost of getting product approval.

Florida Renews Solar Rebate and adds loan program for Thermal (updated)

2009-06-01T21:35:00.006-04:00

I was recently at the Green Cities conference in Orlando where some numbers were presented by a representative with the NRDC that stated that the Solar Rebate program was replenished with $5 million from the Florida portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka the stimulus bill) and will be using another $9 million for some sort of revolving loan fund for solar thermal to provide micro-loans up to $4500 for up to 5 years at a rate of 2-4% interest.

- update: There seems to be another pot of money to be used to replenish the rebate, doubling the total amount available, which would provide the funds to make good on the backlog and provide new funding for this fiscal year. This post has been edited to reflect that change.

There's another $20 million for solar schools / shelters which was a pretty successful program for getting demonstration sized solar onto schools for a couple years under Governor Bush. This would be a significant bump in funding and if FSEC is involved, I know they were trying to up the size of the installations to 10 kw so they could provide some off-grid emergency shelter functionality too.

You can find the details on the Florida Energy and Environment Commission website page on ARRA and an explanation on all the ways the State wants to spend $126 million on energy programs on this adobe document from the same web page.

The good news is all those nail-biting solar customers who went out on a limb and installed approved solar systems last year and applied for a rebate should get a check, but we're now relying on stimulus money to keep the program alive for just another year.

We need a public benefit fund in this State. Connecticut spends more on solar PV than Florida for goodness sake! And we need to provide a separate funding block for efficiency and thermal or PV will continue to eat up all the funds. As much as I love PV, thermal will have a much faster penetration into the market because of faster payback, less complicated installation and maintenance, and way less roof needed to go solar. Maybe the loan program concept will work since it will take the sting out of the initial up-front cost, but there's nothing like reducing your total out-of-pocket to pump up interest.

Solar thermal is the one part of the Florida alternative energy industry that struggled and survived through the down decades, and they need a fair shake when it comes to the incentives too. There's my shout-out for our scrappy solar thermal companies out there.

On that front, news to report about the Miami-Dade code recommendations. Post to follow soon when I get details. Good news for thermal and PV installations in Southeast Florida.

Miami Herald Drops Ball on Secretary of Labor visit

2009-05-17T11:08:00.003-04:00

The AFL-CIO Executive Council had a big meeting in Miami back in early March. I'm not in the solar business directly (just a big advocate), so I didn't hear a peep. Hilda Solis, then recently confirmed as Secretary of Labor, visited the group as one of her first acts on the job.

Why is her visit a solar energy story? Well, after addressing the Executive Council, she went to visit a training center for the IBEW where they're preparing future electricians to be the skilled "green jobs" workforce we need to successfully install solar photovoltaic and other "new" technologies.

Did you read about it in the Herald? I didn't. I found a link by accident to an online video of the visit on the IBEW's website: Sec Solis Visits LU 349 I have no idea how I got there, but glad I found the video none the less.

Curious how I'd missed such a big deal since I'm pretty good at scouring the local rag for energy stories, I ran a search of the Herald online and could only dig up a story in the Business Section (beacuse there's no such thing as a labor section) that came close: Labor secretary inspires union crowd in Miami, March 3, 2009

That story is just a bunch of piffle - no substance - about a rally of union members just happy to have someone at the DOL that might actually advocate for labor (organized or otherwise).

Nice to see the local electrical workers union wasn't waiting for stimulus funds or for the local markets to catch onto solar before they started their training programs. Very encouraging, even in the absence of the local press.

Miami Solar installation and design courses coming up soon

2009-05-17T10:44:00.004-04:00

Miami-Dade College Earth Ethics Institute has been hosting photovoltaic training classes for a couple years now with the help of PV evangelist and FAU professor emeritus of electrical engineering Dr. Roger Messenger.

From their website:

Designing PV Systems, June 5, 2009

This is a 7-hour course that introduces the process of PV system selection, PV system site selection, types of PV systems, PV system electrical design considerations, PV system structural design considerations and PV system permitting and paperwork. It is intended primarily for design professionals (architects and engineers) but should also be of interest to code officials and contractors. Electrical and solar contractors who have taken the Installing Photovoltaic Systems course and want to understand more about the PV system design process may also be interested in this course.

Installing PV Systems, June 6, 2009

This is a 7-hour course that introduces the process of PV system installation and focuses, in minute detail, on how to install a PV system that someone else has designed. It includes understanding the electrical design, siting and structural considerations, safety considerations, system commissioning and programming as well as permitting and paperwork. It is intended for electrical and solar contractors as well as for electrical and structural inspectors and plan reviewers.

These courses qualify for 7 CEUs each for those who need continuing ed credits, and they're NABCEP certified too.

Thanks to the emailer who reminded me to post this.

Solar VS the South Fla Building Code - round 2

2009-03-07T18:56:00.003-05:00

Alright, so it ain't a prize fight, or any kind of fight for that matter. I just needed something catchy to grab a reader or two.

The second meeting of the joint Dade/Broward building code appeals boards is set - this time in Broward. I got word that the meeting will be on March 23 at 10 AM at the West Broward Regional Library in Plantation.

A bunch of industry reps showed up the first time, and I expect that there will be a similar turnout - maybe better since many of the participants came from Broward or points north. Miami's indigenous solar industry being small enough to count on one hand. Getting these code issues straightened out could change that.

Miami-Dade looking to fix Building Code for solar - industry input needed

2009-01-24T09:19:00.006-05:00

A bit of local news of big interest to our local solar energy companies sent in by by an alert reader with the Miami-Dade County Sustainability Office:

The Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office (BCCO) has been working with Broward County counterparts on issues related to the installation of alternative energy devices - primarily solar energy products - in residential and commercial structures.

A joint Broward/Miami-Dade Boards of Rules and Appeals (BORA) Sub-Committee meeting will be held on February 9, 2009 beginning at 10:00 am. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss issues with industry representatives to see what recommendations (both administrative and legislative) can streamline future renewable energy projects in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Recommendations from the joint Sub-Committee must, ultimately, be endorsed by both respective Boards.

The meeting will be held at 140 West Flagler Street in the BCCO 16th floor conference room.

Subsequent meetings will alternate between Broward and Dade venues until all issues have been resolved. Questions may be directed to Miami-Dade BORA Secretary, Yvonne Bell. Her office number is (305) 375-2047 or Yvonne@miamidade.gov.

To recap:

Who: The Building Code Compliance Offices in Miami-Dade and Broward

What: First of several meetings to see how they can make it easier to put solar on your home and business.

Where: 140 West Flagler, Miami - 16th Floor conference room

When: 10:00 AM

And I have at least 1 reader!

Solar Power trade show goes international

2008-10-19T09:32:00.004-04:00

I was lucky enough to get to the Solar Power conference in San Diego this year, and boy has the event grown. The preimenent solar energy event of the year is a co-production of SEPA and SEIA and was launched in 2004 as a combination trade show and policy forum to discuss all things solar.

As the interest in solar energy has grown in the US and abroad, so has this conference. About 20,000 people were in attendance. Manufacturers, installers, and suppliers of solar PV, thermal, and even wind were in abundance. I was floored by the size of the show - 400+ companies with amazingly elaborate displays were there. Germany had an entire section of the show floor, as did Taiwan. There were flat plate, thin film, evacuated tube, and good 'ol glass and copper thermal products as far as you could see.

It was great to see the exponential growth of this industry and I'll try to post some reflections on what this means for Florida and Miami in particular.

Solar Tax Breaks Survive

2008-09-24T14:04:00.003-04:00

So the Senate (after what, nine tries?) finally passes the solar investment tax credit. Now it looks like solar energy companies may be the only bright spot in the stock market. See Reuters report: Solar stocks enjoy rally as US tax breaks renewed

So solar wins out for once, but it can't win without giving big wads of cash to good-ole' Big Oil. It looks like the leadership in the Congress is buckling under the pressure of an uninformed electorate that insists that punching holes in the American coastline for more global warming juice is going to give them a break on the price. It probably will - in a decade. By then gas will be $5 a gallon anyway.

So is this a win for Florida? I guess so, as long as we don't consider the detrimental effects of continued growth in the combustion of fossil fuels and that Florida is the State that will suffer the most from sea level rise. The Florida Congressional Delegation also secured the extension of the moratorium for Florida.

At least we can now get closer to serious about solar energy production in this country. Hopefully Florida will take advantage.

MIami Herald: PSC OK's deals on electricity fed back to grid

2008-09-04T18:31:00.001-04:00

BY JOHN DORSCHNER

jdorschner@MiamiHerald.com

After months of discussion, the Public Service Commission on Thursday approved agreements from the state's five investor-owned power companies so that customers can receive credit for electricity that they feed back to the grid from solar panels and other forms of renewable energy on their property.

The concept, called net metering, is to promote the development of customer-owned renewable energy by minimalizing costs. Excess power that the customer generates and doesn't use will be allowed to go into the grid, and then the utility will give the homeowner a credit for that power.

''By making it more attractive for customers to use renewables, we are promoting fuel diversity and reliability and increasing development of renewable generation in Florida,'' said PSC Chairman Matthew M. Carter II in a prepared statement. ``Today's approval will encourage eligible customers to reduce the electricity purchased from their utility -- saving money for the customer and increasing grid capacity for the utility.''

The discussion about net metering has been taking place in PSC workshops and commission meetings for a year and a half.

The new measure applies to customers of Florida Power & Light, Progress Energy Florida, Gulf Power, Tampa Electric and Florida Public Utilities.

Under a previous rule, only renewable systems of 10 kilowatts or smaller were eligible. That has been expanded to two megawatts, meaning large businesses with solar panels occupying rooftops can now qualify for the program.

Also on Thursday, the PSC approved FPL's request to build another generator powered by natural gas in western Palm Beach County.

Some thoughts on drilling our way out of our fossil fuel dependency

2008-08-17T19:34:00.003-04:00

For some reason, I never actually posted the following screed. Probably because it didn't deal directly with solar. It's a bit dated now that gas has come all the way down to $3.85 or so, but the nuts-and-bolts remain the same.

________________________

Since the amount of oil available throughout the world has increased over the last year, while demand has begun to decline (everywhere - not just in the US), the run-up in oil prices has been entirely driven by speculators doing classic pump-and-dump market manipulation. Thanks for this newest artificial crisis goes to the Repubs for deregulating the commodities market in 2005.

Even the frikin' Saudis say that there's no rational explanation for the price of oil - THEY think it's overpriced.

So drilling for a tiny quantity of oil off Florida's coast (most of what's out there is believed to be natural gas) gets us what?

If ANWR was opened up tomorrow, it would lower prices by a couple pennies in 10 years (straight from the Federal Energy Information Agency). For those who say that if we opened it when Cheney first sneered about conservation being a lifestyle choice not worthy of real Americans, we'd still be two years off from dropping gas prices from $4.12 all the way down to $4.10 a gallon. And that's assuming that "supply and demand" had ANYTHING to do with oil prices right now.

We consume 10-13 million barrels of oil a DAY in this country. Our domestic production peaked in 1974 for no other reason than we're running out of the easy to reach stuff. What remains is much harder to get out of the ground (ie way more expensive extraction and in much lighter volumes) and is often dirtier stuff requiring more processing (additional cost). In the not too distant future, domestic production will reach the point where it will take a barrel of oil to extract a barrel of oil. And that first barrel will be better quality stuff.

People who say that we can drill our way to energy independence remind me of those RedBull contests with the home-made flying machines - "if only I flapped my arms harder I could fly."

Oil will remain an important commodity for a long time to come, but without significant investments in efficiency and alternative energy development this country's economy will be crushed on the shoals of the oil age.

Remember, "the Stone Age did not end for lack of stones." They found a better tool and moved on.

FPL has some 'splainin to do

2008-07-06T20:36:00.006-04:00

The Florida Public Service Commission - not really known as the most rabid watchdog of the public trust - really clamped a fang into FPL over their shockingly inept management of their green energy program called Sunshine Energy.

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

FPL green energy program under questioning by PSC, asks to be shielded from the public

2008-06-20T19:08:00.004-04:00

There was a disturbing article about the PSC audit of the FPL Sunshine Energy Program published in the Miami Herald on June 6th: State audit of FPL 'green' program remains secret

The crux: FPL may not be all that forthright about how it's spending the funds that their customers are forking over to buy green tags and install new solar in Florida.

Word is that they're coming with a "revised" program to the PSC in the coming months. Possibly as early as July.

FPL is a private monopoly. The only way they exist is through the State legal framework giving them monopoly status. They shouldn't be able to shield audits of their activity from the public.

My concern is twofold - 1) they may be buying green tags worth significantly less than they charge for the "service" of buying them from green energy producers and/or 2) they've been gaming the system by including new solar projects that are actually funded through other sources like state grant programs and counting that toward their promised new solar project capacity.

Neither worry is founded in anything more than guesswork, but since they refuse to release the audit to the public, all we can do is speculate.

FPL making excuses instead of clean energy?

2008-06-20T18:56:00.004-04:00

Re: “Solar Still a Tough Sell” by John Dorshner

See original story in the Miami Herald (if you must)

Solar is getting to be less of a “tough sell” by the day. FPL just recently announced that they were going to ask the Public Service Commission (PSC) for a 16% rate hike to offset the spike in fuel costs. Add to that, the Utility’s plan to charge ratepayers 6% now for a nuclear power plant only in the early planning stages and we have all the more reason to look to renewable energy options like solar.

Solar may be a “tough sell” for big energy companies because most solar energy technologies do not fit well within their standard model of large centralized power plants. FPL Energy, sister company to the utility, has managed to make large-scale solar work in the projects they own in the Southwest United States, but the utility’s plans for Florida were new – at least for our State where no concentrating solar power facilities exist.

Where solar energy does work well, and is making increasing economic as well as environmental sense, is on individual homes and businesses. Homeowners can now power a sizable portion of their home energy needs through on-site power, and through State mandated agreements, the local energy utility must provide connection to the power grid. Because of recent rules adopted by the PSC, all energy utilities must now compensate small “green energy” systems dollar for dollar for excess power supplied to the grid as well.

As for cost, the solar industry has received pocket change compared to oil and gas and nuclear power’s share of Federal Research and Development funds. Yet the industry has made amazing advancements with dramatic improvements in efficiency and functionality in recent years. By way of comparison, the two additional nuclear reactors proposed for Turkey point have been reported to cost $16 billion, assuming no unforeseen cost overruns. These proposed reactors are expected to produce 2200 megawatts of power. That’s a construction cost of more than $7 per watt. Solar for your home costs about $8 per watt to install and the State will reimburse you $4 of that.

Finally, the solar energy industry is one of the fastest growing energy sectors in the Country, with double digit growth in production and job creation. According to the US Department of Energy, the industry posted a 26% annual increase in jobs for 2006, and is expected to continue this rapid growth to feed the world-wide demand for solar energy products. International companies from Germany and China are now looking to establish manufacturing facilities in the US, bringing more clean energy jobs here. Florida should wholeheartedly embrace solar energy and become a world leader in the development and use of clean, sun power. It may not be a good fit for FPL, but it will work great for the rest of us.

Interesting Blog about local solar installation

2008-05-21T22:16:00.004-04:00

I came across the blog of Ken Fields - a local inhabitant of Miami Beach and something of an entrepenerial spirit from what I can see.

He's undertaking the installation of a solar photovoltaic system on a flat-roof home using AGT FlexLight Solar Modules. These are solar laminate strips instead of the classic panel systems. The advantage that AGT has is that their product meets Miami-Dade product approval making permitting much simpler. The downside? You need more roof to produce adequate power.

Mr. Fields installation looks like its about 5 kW and is already generating power.

Way to go!

Check out his blog to see some of his experiences during the installation (and now operation) of one of the first solar electric systems in Miami Beach.

Congratulations! You're the proud owner of a $10,000 timeshare in a nuclear power plant!

2008-05-17T08:16:00.006-04:00

The following post is a message from Dr. James Fenton, Director of the Florida Solar Energy Center. He makes a compelling argument about our State's twisted energy priorities. We're investing billions in nuclear power that is no sure bet and won't provide even one electron in new power for more than a decade. That same funding put into energy conservation would produce new energy now, save rate payers money AND create tens of thousands of local jobs all over the State. Making power available by reducing demand on existing capacity is the same as building new power plants. This doesn't make economic sense to the energy utilities who's profits are linked to power production, but other states have been able to decouple profits from energy production so that energy utilities become "energy services companies."

Enough of me blathering, here's Dr. Fenton's article:

Florida Should Invest in Energy-Efficient Homes, Not Nuclear Power Plants

Florida is planning to build more large-scale nuclear power plants to help reduce the state’s carbon footprint.

This means Florida will not be building any new coal power plants, which is good news. On the other hand, ten years will pass before these nuclear power plants even turn on, and we’ll be using more energy from natural gas plants in the meantime. While natural gas power plants leave a much smaller carbon footprint than coal power plants, the rising price of natural gas will cause our electricity costs to skyrocket. Today, we pay about 12 cents per kilowatt-hour. How much will we be paying five years from now? Can we afford to wait ten years for a nuclear power plant to provide our electricity, even if it produces little to no carbon emissions?

We should focus on using less energy rather than trying to find alternative ways to produce energy. Since 51percent of Florida's electricity needs come from our homes, we should make our existing homes more energy-efficient rather than building more power plants.

You can increase your home’s energy efficiency without drastically changing your home or lifestyle, and the results are immediate. Simple changes, such as installing high-efficiency windows and air- conditioning units, upgrading home insulation systems, using compact fluorescent light bulbs, and installing solar hot water systems and Energy Star appliances, can make a huge difference in your home’s energy consumption. Plus, you don’t have to wait 10 years to start seeing the advantages of having an energy-efficient home. Once your home is made more energy-efficient, you’ll start seeing the savings right away.

FSEC was recently awarded the Energy Star® for Homes, Leadership in Housing Award for training the home energy raters who rated almost 1,400 energy-efficient homes in 2007. These 1,400 energy-efficient homes are equivalent to eliminating emissions from 972 vehicles, saving 533,376 pounds of coal, and planting 139 acres of trees, all with a savings of $620,883 on the homeowners’ annual energy bills.

This is a tremendous amount of savings for improvements to less than two percent of Florida’s existing homes. If all of Florida’s 8.5 million homeowners made a number of small energy-efficient improvements, at the end of a 10-year period, each home will save more than 70,000 kilowatt-hours, cutting back energy costs by $13-14 billion. Before any of the proposed nuclear plants start generating power, enough energy will be saved to eliminate the need for 10 nuclear power plants, totaling 10,000 megawatts.

A state full of energy-efficient homes would not only significantly reduce energy costs – which are expected to rise considerably – but it would help Florida’s economy. Money would be spent within the state on the installation of energy-efficient technologies instead of shipping money out of the state to purchase fossil fuels. Keeping money in Florida and using it to reconstruct our existing homes would stimulate the state’s ailing economy and cause employment rates to rise with the increase in demand for labor as more homes are made energy-efficient.

You’re probably thinking, “That’s all well and good, but where’s the money to do all this coming from?” Look at it this way:

Proposed nuclear power plants in Florida will take ten years to build and cost each consumer $10,000.

The estimated cost of two proposed nuclear plants in Florida, which would serve 1.7 million customers, is $17 billion. The utility company would charge customers “advance recovery costs” of about $9 per month during the next 10 years to pay for the capital carrying costs – almost 10 percent of total estimated costs – while the nuclear plants are under construction. Over the approximate 30-year lifetime of the nuclear power plants, the cost to the consumer is about $10,000 – paying $1,000 as a “construction loan” before the plant is built, and then $10,000 after it’s built, like a 30-year mortgage.

If we used that same method of financing, a 30-year loan to you, for $10,000 of cost-effective, energy-efficient modifications on your home, your monthly loan payment and new electric bill combined would be far less than your existing electric bill. Rather than owning a “timeshare” in a nuclear power plant, you’ll retain your wealth in your home, pay lower energy bills, contribute to Florida’s economy and create new jobs, and do your part to alleviate global warming.

So if the financing aspect of energy efficiency is the only thing holding you back, don’t let it! Think of where that money will go if we don’t make our homes energy efficient – straight toward a “timeshare” nobody will want. Will that large power plant arriving in ten years lower your monthly energy bill? Will it lead to energy independence? Will it save the planet?

More articles available from the "Energy Chronicle" newsletter from FSEC

Solar Power Conference & Expo opens registration for October event

2008-05-05T21:20:00.005-04:00

Well, this post isn't South Florida centric, but important none-the-less.

The 2008 Solar Power Conference & Expo is now open for registrants. The conference, the uber-conference for solar proponents, will be in San Diego from October 13th through the 16th.

For more info, visit their official website at: solarpowerconference.com

The agenda is rather detailed well in advance of the event, with tracks finance, policy, marketing, and technology, plenary sessions and workshops.

From the Miami Herald Action Line (May 3, 2008) - Out $4500 on Solar Installation

2008-05-03T14:23:00.006-04:00

Under Action Line "Spotlight" today, we had the following:

Q: In December, my wife and I signed a contract with Florida Solar to install a hot-water system for our house and a salt purification system for our pool. We put down a $4,500 deposit. Since then, no work has been done, and our calls and letters go unanswered. Can Action Line help?”

The answer from Action Line was “nope.” And “go file a complaint.” I looked, and there aren’t any filed with Florida DBPR yet.

What the Herald should have also said was what anyone should do before hiring a company to do expensive work on your home. 1) Get references 2) Get references 3) Get references. After that, it’s wise to look into the track record of the company to see how long they’ve been in business doing that TYPE OF WORK.

In the world of solar, it’s becoming the “wild west” again because there is a growing interest from the public with little knowledge of what they actually want, how it works, what permits are needed, you name it. Now realize that there is a very small contingent of experienced solar contractors, and couple that with the horde of pool service companies that think they can install solar panels. It’s a recipe for disaster.

I want to take a quick detour for a second to complain about another thing with this Herald story. $4500 is enough to pay for an expensive solar water heater - the whole thing, not a down payment. Now the story talks about a “salt purification system” too. I have no earthly idea what that is since I don’t own a pool, but I’m guessing it is an alternative to nasty ol’ chlorine. So why was the story about “solar installations” and not about a “pool filter?” Could it be that the word “solar” gets our attention?

Now that I’ve had my rant, here are a couple additional tips when hunting for a qualified solar contractor:

Look for company professional affiliations. This company does not show up on the list of members for the industry trade group, the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association.

Another good way to see if you’re hiring someone with knowledge and expertise is to ask if they are registered with the State of Florida (DBPR again) as a “Certified Solar Contractor.” Now you don’t have to be a “Certified Solar Contractor” to do installations in Florida, but it is certainly a plus. This info is also online through myfloridalicense.com. “Certified Solar Contractor” is a license type within the “Construction” category.

For the case of Florida Solar, based out of Sanford (about 40 minutes north of Orlando – thank you Google Earth), they were actually in the pool business as Olympian Pool Services according to the Florida Division of Corporations. As best I can tell from the info from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the company tapped into the solar business about four years ago.

Multiple searches on DBPR’s license info site revealed nothing. The only record I can find of the company seems to be on sunbiz.org, so probably wouldn’t have been my first choice to do this job. None of this isn't to say that there was some ill-will on the part of the business. I'm not sure what caused them to fold, but based on the info I could find (or really lack-of) it didn't seem like a safe bet.

PV Design & Installation Courses at MDC, May 9th & 10th

2008-05-01T19:20:00.004-04:00

Miami-Dade College has been trying mightily to boost the number of qualified solar installers in South Florida. They offer regular courses through the Earth Ethics Institute for the Design and installation of solar photovoltaic systems.

The classes qualify for 7 continuing education credits for Architects and Engineers attending for the entire day-long course.

Seems like a pretty good deal for $150 for each class. North American Board of Certified Energy Providers Approved even.

Check it out at www.earthethicsinstitute.org

Governor's Climate Change Summit returns to Miami

2008-05-01T00:23:00.001-04:00

Last year Governor Crist made national headlines by becoming the second Republican Governor (after California's Schwarzenegger) to admit that climate change was real, and that his State would lead if Washington DC would not.

That was big news then. The Governor backed that up with a call for a Renewable Portfolio Standard and signed off on some modest, but symbolically important executive orders.

The first conference headlined Schwarzenegger as well as his cousin Robert Kennedy Jr. and Theodore Roosevelt IV. Other notables included Sun Microsystems founder and now venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope.

Now Governor Crist just announced that the Summit would be returning to Miami on June 25-26.

Based on the tidbits of info on the website, there seems to be a focus on job growth and alternative energy:

"...in a discussion to explore opportunities for expanding Florida’s renewable and alternative energy marketplace.
Florida’s businesses continue to demonstrate that there is gold in green, and climate-friendly energy sources – like ethanol and solar energy – are bringing new prospects for our state. Stimulating investment in new technologies and building a strong alternative energy market in the Sunshine State will strengthen our state’s energy future and protect our natural environment for generations to come."

For more info, check out the official Climate Change Summit websit e.

Legislature finally provides some funds for solar rebate program

2008-05-01T00:18:00.000-04:00

In this terrible budget year where Florida State legislators seem all too eager to kick little old ladies to the curb so they aren’t perceived as “raising taxes,” everyone in the solar business was biting their nails over the solar rebate.

After two successful years of the program wherein the State of Florida offered a $4 per watt cost-match for solar PV installations(up to $20,000 for residential systems), the Florida Legislature seemed prepared to knee-cap the fledgling PV installer industry, but alas, tucked somewhere in the morass of the four zillion page energy bill, the legislature has provided a lifeline of sorts for the solar rebate program.

It looks like next year the solar industry rebate fund will be replenished with $5 million. That’s certainly more than the $3.5 million allocated last year, and I guess I shouldn’t be so grumpy in such a lean budget year. But I’m going to be a grouch anyway because once you deduct the $3 million already owed as pending payments for installations already completed and qualifying for rebate, that leaves less money for 2008-2009 than when the program started in 2006. And it wasn’t exactly a national showcase for solar rebates.

Hell, the tiny city of San Francisco bonded $100 million for solar. The fourth largest State in the union (with a $60 billion budget) can only muster $5 million? So with the fate of the PV rebate (by far the largest chunk of the funding) at the mercy of a notoriously erratic Legislative funding process, the industry will likely retrench into what they know best – solar thermal pool heaters – and wait out this mess until somebody gets serious about providing incentives for solar electricity in the Sunshine State.