Gainesville Solar Feed-in Tariff a Done Deal
Florida, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]
Gainesville Regional Utilities announced that its board of directors, the Gainesville City Commission, gave unanimous approval last week to adopt a solar photovoltaic (PV) feed-in tariff, the first of its kind in the U.S.
Based on highly successful models in Europe, it offers GRU electric customers a chance to invest in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and sell all the electricity that they produce directly to GRU.
Pending expected Florida Public Service Commission approval, GRU customers can sign up for the feed-in tariff as of March 1. Participants signing up during the first two years of the program will be guaranteed a fixed rate of US $0.32 per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced for 20 years.
GRU estimates that investors will see a five percent return on investment for large-scale projects. The order from the Gainesville City Commission does however set a total installation cap of 4 megawatts (MW) per year. The entire state currently has approximately 2 MW of capacity installed.
REW.com contributer Paul Gipe is a renewable industry analyst and proponent of what he calls Advanced Renewable Tariffs of which a solar PV tariff is just one part. "Gainesville knew what it wanted and set about doing it. They didn't spend years in endless discussions. Gainesville could well become the model for action elsewhere in the U.S.," he said.
Gipe doesn't see the cap as an obstabcle to PV uptake in any way. "As GRU's Ed Regan explains, the 4 MW is a 'soft cap'. It's a reasonable number for a muni's first foray into a true solar PV feed-in tariff in the U.S. As it is, the 4-MW cap is an order of magnitude greater than the timid limits in Wisconsin. And that's 4 MW per year. The weak Wisconsin tariffs don't compare at all," Gipe said.
Ed Regan, GRU's assistant general manager for strategic planning, visited Germany to study European PV models prior to proposing the Gainesville program.
“The feed-in tariff is more attractive to solar investors than traditional solar rebate programs because it guarantees that the utility will buy all of the electricity produced by the PV system at a fixed rate for 20 years. It offers investors a reliable and predictable source of income," Regan said.
Last week, RenewableEnergyWorld.com reported that a delegation from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) visited Gainesville to support the tariff adoption and to promote the use of solar energy in Florida. EPIA members represent 80 percent of the worldwide PV manufacturing industry.
“Our goal here is to promote the uptake of solar so that the United States, within three years, becomes the largest market of solar on the planet,” said Dr. Murray Cameron, vice president of EPIA. “In the difficult economic times that we are going through now, there are few safer havens for a stable return on investment than solar.”
For more information on the Gainesville feed-in tariff, click the links below.
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/02/gainesville-solar-feed-in-tariff-a-done-deal
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Feed-in-Tarifs: Momentum for a US FIT policy is building!
July 30, 2009 Washington DC: Hosted by The World Future Council, Congressman Jay Inslee from Washington state and Congressman William Delahunt from Massachusetts held a briefing on Feed-in Tariff renewable energy policy. In a packed briefing room at the House of Representatives Congressman Inslee stated "The two hottest things in America today are the iPhone and Feed-in Tariffs. In order to solve the security problems of the grid we need to foster multiple technologies and feed-in tariff policy accomplishes that goal"
Seventy-five 75 people attended including the staff from over 20 House Members. Inslee and Delahunt are planning to re-introduce the federal feed-in tariff bill, with some small changes. It was HR 6401 in the last Congress. They are also planning to add a section on Federal financing for municipal feed-in tariff projects.
James Woolsey, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, stated that "the grid is vulnerable to cyber and physical attacks. We [US] don't do renewable energy well and part of the problem is our focus on utility scale power plant instead of distributed generation. Let's give credit to the Germans for their approach. We have a chance if we get behind this policy. Vermont has it [Feed-in Tariff policy] right. We need to make a push and get busy."
Randy Hayes, World Future Council, and James Bradbury from Congressman Inslee's office opened the briefing and moderated the panel. One participant commented people were no longer asking how a FIT works. They were wanting to know how to get one passed.
Click here to read more about this briefing.
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Join one of our working committees today.
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Thank you for you continued support and interest in FARE. The renewable energy future of Florida is waiting to be created. Your efforts along with those of thousands of your fellow Floridians will make certain that future belongs to everyone.
Sincerely,
Mike Antheil
Executive Director
Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy
farenergy@gmail.com
Source book on Florida electrical power
In looking at revenues the following are listed. Here I'll just show 1990 and 2007. Below is total revenues of all generators in the State in Billions of $
Residential: 1990- 5.5 and 2007- $13.2 billion
Industrial/commercial: 1990 .8 and 2007 1.5
This is just the start of this study. The observations immediately
to be gleened.
1. residential users take in the bulk of cost/revenue increases
over time
2. Solar panels on homes, apartments and condos have the potential to make a big impact on the amount of coal and natural gas used to generate power in this state.
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.'' REGISTRATION# CH31394.
Checks to support Eco-Voice can be sent to Post Office Box 50161, Fort Myers, Fl 33994. 501c3 status with the IRS is in process.
Sahara Solar Power Project
Ginormous Sahara Solar Power Project to Produce First Electricity in 2015
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11. 2.09http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/11/desertec-sahara-solar-power-project-produce-first-electricity-2015.phpIt's been a couple of months since we've had an update about the mammothsolar power in the Sahara desert project otherwise known as Desertec. Lastwe left it, though the idea had been around for a while, a consortium tomake the dream real was just in the works. Well, another step forward hasnow been taken, with the official legal formation of DII GmbH:15% Europe's Electricity by 2050The long-term goal of supplying 15% of Europe's electricity by 2050 -- Thefirst electricity is now expected to be delivered, via power lines runningacross the desert and under the Mediterranean, by 2015.The twelve companies forming the consortium are: ABB, Abengoa Solar,Cevital, Desertec Foundation, E.ON, HSH Nordbank, MAN Solar Millennium,Munich Re, M+W Zander, RWE, Schott Solar, and Siemens. Headquaters of DIIwill be in Munich, with Paul van Son leading the way as CEO.It's a Question of Whether to Reduce Emissions, But HowSpeaking on the importance of this project in the context of mitigatingclimate change, Torsten Jeworrek of Munich Re said,The question is not whether we should do something, but how we can reducegreenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere and how this goal can be achievedin an intelligent manner, which results in a win-win situation for both theenvironment and the economy. With regard to the important UN climate summitin Copenhagen, this private sector initiative demonstrates how businesspotentials can be aligned with sustainability goals.More: Desertec
Comment: FP&L's token solar project
http://www.thenilonreport.com/2009/11/fp-token-solar-project-response-from.html*Normally, when I get a response from an article I have written, I postit in the comment section. But just the other day I received this responseto **my article*<http://www.thenilonreport.com/2009/10/president-obama-fpl-solar-array-and-me.html>* about the President's visit to FPL's Solar Array in Desoto County in myemail and I thought it deserved a little more attention. *Ms. Nilon,I read your article about FP&L's token solar project and the president'svisit and was inspired to make a comment. But first I'd like to preface mystatement by saying that any solar is good solar and even FP&L's less thancost effective attempt to dupe us into believing they actually have the bestinterest of Florida's environment and it's ratepayers in mind is still ababy step in the right direction so at least a little back slapping might bein order. But the real truth is being hidden by the fanfare of thisimpressive project.Large scale grid connected fields of photovoltaic is *absolutely *the leasteffective, most expensive application of renewable energy technologypossible! Solar energy by its very nature is an abundant but diffuse energyresource that that does not lend itself well to efficient centralization andredistribution. Solar energy technology gives you 10 times or more energyper dollar when applied on a small scale basis at the point source of use.Put simply we should be feverishly working toward putting a solar waterheater on every home in Florida long before we grid connect the first wattof photovoltaic to run all those electric water heaters! This woulddisplace the need to use the electricity before it is ever produced and helpliberate ratepayers from the tyranny of corporate imperialism that is theinvestor owned utility. (IOU)OK, my last statement is just a little over the top but my point is, thegoal to truly solve the environmental problems caused by over consumption ofconventionally produced energy is in direct contradiction to the businessmodel of investor owned utilities. Energy conservation and point sourceapplications of existing renewable energy technologies is the only way wecan achieve real energy independence but this approach will require atremendous transfer of wealth from the utility industry to the generalpublic and that's why it's not happening.Why can a utility company get subsidies from the federal government to buildinefficient projects like this while consumers can't even get low interestfinancing on a solar water heater, attic insulation, or a more energyefficient air conditioner? Why can IOUs (Investor Owned Utility) billconsumers in advance for unnecessary nuclear power expansion when, for afraction of the cost, we could be eliminating our need for that electricitythru conservation, efficiency upgrades, and low cost solar thermalapplications?Feeding the inefficient, centralized energy infrastructure we have in thiscountry with renewably produced electricity will not solve the problem andis simply rearranging the lounge chairs on the Titanic.We have to fundamentally change the way we use energy, not just the sourceof where we get it!It's time to embrace this reality, shatter the strangle hold the utilitylobby has on our legislature and get down to making Florida a true leader ina new green economy and share the potential abundance with everyone.That's my energy rant for today.Carter Quillen, P.E.* Registered Professional Engineer** **Certified Master HVAC Technician*
Geothermal Energy
Recovery Act Announcement: Department of Energy Awards $338 Million to Accelerate Domestic Geothermal Energy
October 29, 2009
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $338 million in Recovery Act funding for the exploration and development of new geothermal fields and research into advanced geothermal technologies. These grants will support 123 projects in 39 states, with recipients including private industry, academic institutions, tribal entities, local governments, and DOE's national laboratories. The grants will be matched more than one-for-one with an additional $353 million in private and non-Federal cost-share funds.
"The United States is blessed with vast geothermal energy resources, which hold enormous potential to heat our homes and power our economy," said Secretary Chu. "These investments in America's technological innovation will allow us to capture more of this clean, carbon free energy at a lower cost than ever before. We will create thousands of jobs, boost our economy and help to jumpstart the geothermal industry across the United States."
Full story
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This service is provided to you at no charge by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE). Visit the Web site at http://www.eere.energy.gov.
Our Opinion: Energy efficiency goals are needed now
marshmaid@gmail.com
Subject: Our Opinion: Energy efficiency goals are needed now (Tallahassee Democrat)
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20091025/OPINION01/910250303/1006/OPINION/Our+Opinion++Energy+efficiency+goals+are+needed+now
October 25, 2009
Our Opinion: Energy efficiency goals are needed now
Municipal electric services, including those in Tallahassee, Gainesville and Lakeland, are innovative in actively encouraging customers to be smart about their energy use. This also reduces the costs of utility production for the cities.
Yet the state's largest utilities are dragging their feet when it comes to encouraging energy efficiency.
The Florida Public Service Commission is even being advised by its own staff to go easy on Big Energy when it comes to meeting requirements of the Florida Energy Efficiency Conservation Act. By this law, the PSC must set and review utility conservation goals every five years.
Now 17 states require utilities to save at least 1 percent of their energy demand through efficiency, which is a minimal but reasonable standard for Florida. The state's largest utilities are saving just 0.2 percent or less, and the PSC staff is not pushing for anything more than a few pilot projects.
The PSC certainly has plenty on its plate just now, with an embarrassment of behaviors that suggest coziness between staff and utility lobbyists via their electronic gadgetry; strains among commissioners; and outbursts and lectures from advocates appearing before this appointed body.
It's hard to believe this quasi-judicial body is really quite up to the task of serious work regarding energy profits and rates — 30-percent rate-hike requests are on the table from Progress Energy and Florida Power & Light for later this fall — and efficiency standards.
Staff recommendations that PSC members will take into account at their Tuesday meeting even boldly fly in the face of requirements adopted last spring by the Legislature and championed by the governor on setting strong energy efficiency standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"Energy efficiency isn't the sexiest subject in the world," Susan Glickman of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and National Resources Defense Council said last week. "It is, however, accepted to be the most efficient way of cutting costs and also producing (green-industry) jobs at the same time."
Energy conservation would help offset the need for new nuclear plants, for instance, saving customers billions over the years. The utilities argue that they would lose too much revenue if they tried too hard to change consumer use, and then they'd have to raise rates anyway.
Three new commissioners will come on board at the PSC in January, appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist who — inappropriately, perhaps — recently made it clear he wanted to appoint only consumer-friendly commissioners. The business of energy is serious enough these days that judicial neutrality and both knowledge of the industry and of the consumer culture would be more appropriate. How commissioners are appointed and the relationship between rates and profits are issues in need of legislative reconsideration.
This week is nevertheless the time for the PSC to move ahead with setting interim conservation goals so the utilities can begin to ramp up programs that will help customers save via incentives or rebates for buying energy-efficient appliances and installing energy-saving lights, peak-use alternatives, and reducing electrical consumption via use of solar or other renewables.
The public is ready to find ways to reduce its personal energy use; the Legislature has dictated stronger efficiency standards must be implemented; much of the nation is already ahead of Florida. The ball is in the PSC's court on Tuesday, and it is time to put these modest new standards in play.
Plug in stations for electric cars: not here
France Invests $2.2 Billion in Electric Vehicle Network
10/19/2009 by asladirt
The Wall Street Journal wrote that the French government plans to spend EUR 1.5 billion (about USD 2.2 billion) on developing a network of one-million electric vehicle (EV) battery-charging stations by 2015. France hopes the station network will provide a massive boost to clean energy and battery technology development. The network will roll out in stages – new apartment blocks with parking lots will be required include charging stations by 2012; office parking lots will need to include charging sockets by 2015.
According to Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, the French government has pushed a group of public and private fleet operators to purchase 50,000 vehicles by 2015. The Green Car Web site notes the government is hoping that La Poste, EPA, Air France, EDF Energy, France Telecom will pool resources and commit to buying up to 100,000 vehicles in the same time frame. To encourage the public to get on board, France is offering a “EUR 5,000 grant to buy vehicles with CO2 emissions less than or equal to 60g/km until 2012. Hybrids, LPG or natural gas vehicles with emissions less than or equal to 135g/km may also benefit from a EUR 2,000 bonus.” The rapid expansion of EV car usage is crucial to making the massive EV infrastructure investment worthwhile.
Renault and PSA Peugeot-Citroen are all involved in the program, and may benefit as well. The Renault SA facility will build a new EUR 625 million-battery manufacturing factory, which will receive a EUR 125 million commitment from France’s strategic investment fund. The factory will supply some 100,000 batteries to French EV producers, including Peugeot-Citroen. The Wall Street Journal notes that Peugeot-Citroen will have four EVs on the market by 2010. Renault will also release four EVs by 2012.
Renault and Nissan together plan to invest a total of EUR 4 billion in EV technology.
Borloo argues that the EVs will generate “EUR 15 billion of business activity between now and 2030.” EVs will also reduce “France’s energy imports by 4 million tons of oil equivalent by 2020, while cutting carbon dioxide (C02) emissions by 17.5 million tons.”
Read the article and details on France’s 14 point EV plan.
FGCU seek ways to reduce its carbon footprint
FGCU continues to seek ways to reduce its carbon footprint, official says
By CHARLIE WHITEHEAD
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/oct/19/fgcu-continues-seek-ways-reduce-its-carbon-footpri/?print=1
Monday, October 19, 2009
Florida Gulf Coast University may take more steps to move the campus toward carbon neutrality, including reserving prime parking spots near buildings for hybrid cars, a school administrator says.
“Carbon neutrality is a goal that’s very, very difficult for a growing university like ours to meet,” Joe Shepard, FGCU vice president, told members of the Estero Bay Agency on Bay Management on Monday.
A new solar farm is expected to supply 18 percent of existing campus power needs. That will save $700,000 a year as it conserves fossil fuel.
Shepard said the most efficient way to reduce the carbon footprint is probably energy conservation, and with that and other options such as increased shuttle service, the school can move in the right direction.
“Some of us believe we should have done this in the beginning, back in 1995,” he said. “Quite frankly I think we just dropped the ball.”
The Estero Bay ABM was actually created indirectly by the university. Environmentalists protested the idea of building a new campus in what was then a remote swampy area. Part of the settlement called for the creation of the agency as an advisory voice for the bay.
The university has voices on the ABM, too. Environmental studies professors Win Everham and Nora Demers are both members; Demers represents the Responsible Growth Management Coalition.
Everham noted that carbon neutrality sounds a long way off.
“Will it happen tomorrow? No,” Shepard said. “Are we ahead of other universities? Yes.”
Shepard said he hopes the university’s new Backe Chair in Renewable Energy and new Innovation Hub, to be built on 538 acres between the campus and Southwest Florida International Airport, will help the process.
“We’re looking to have an influence on environmental sustainability,” he said.
© 2009 Scripps Newspaper Group — Online
2-gigawatt solar project in north China - German subsides cut
October 14, 2009
Next German gov't to cut solar subsidies
Germany's next government is considering slashing subsidies to renewable energy industries, particularly solar, an energy expert with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats said Tuesday.
Michael Fuchs, an energy expert with the conservatives, told reporters after the committees for the environment and commerce met to hammer out the details of a new government contract said the most successful technologies would be the first to see cuts.
"Where it makes sense, will may have to make cuts — for example where technology has led to a reduction in price, as with solar energy for example," Fuchs said.
Investors expected Germany to cut back on solar subsidies this year as the recession sapped demand and tightened government budgets, said Benedict Pang, an analyst with Caris and Company in San Francisco.
"During the downturn, the wheels started to come off" in Germany, Pang said. "A lot of solar companies have weaned themselves off of that market."
First Solar, Inc., one of the largest American companies installing panels in Germany, spent much of the summer peddling its services in China. The Tempe, Ariz.-based company was rewarded last month with a massive 2-gigawatt project north of the Great Wall.
"You need to be able to go to wherever the business is and get the projects," Pang said.
A section of the proposed contract leaked to the Handelsblatt daily Tuesday said that government money for renewable energy industry "must be critically reviewed," noting that given the drop in the price of solar panel production, subsidies for solar energy could be cut as early as 2010.
The junior party in Merkel's new coalition, the Free Democrats, are against the subsidies, arguing that they hurt competition by driving up the price of energy. Merkel is forming a new government with the Free Democrats following Sept. 27 parliamentary elections.
Germany has guaranteed renewable energy generators fixed payments for the power they produce to encourage the production of solar panels and several of the world's leading producers of the technology are based here.
Shares of Solarworld AG dropped 2.39 percent to 16.32 euros ($24.26) on the news. First Solar gave up $5.68 to close at $155.02 per share and SunPower Corp. lost 27 cents to close at $32.55 a share.
___
AP Energy Writer Chris Kahn contributed to this story from New York.
New appointments to Commission
Florida Governor names newcomers to Public Service Commission
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1261436.html BY MARY ELLEN KLASHerald/Times Tallahassee Bureau JOE RAEDLE / AFP-GETTY IMAGESWith his appointments, Gov. Charlie Crist rejected two commissionersoriginally appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush who were seeking secondfour-year terms.In a move designed to reshape the embattled Public Service Commission,Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday named a former newspaper editorialboard member and a sheriff's department finance director to theutility regulators' panel, ousting two incumbents. Crist appointed David Klement, former editor of the Bradenton Herald'seditorial board, and Benjamin ``Steve'' Stevens, the chief financialofficer for the Escambia County sheriff's department to serve on thefive-member panel. He rejected two commissioners originally appointedby Gov. Jeb Bush who were seeking new four-year terms: CommissionChairman Matthew Carter and Katrina McMurrian. Crist said Klement's experience ``will give him an appropriateperspective when considering business and consumer matters that comebefore the commission'' and said Stevens brings ``a strong trackrecord of integrity in fiscal management and understands theimportance of careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars.'' The PSC has come under fire in the last six weeks as the Herald/Timesand consumer watchdogs have revealed a series of potential ethicsviolations involving PSC commissioners and staff. The FloridaDepartment of Law Enforcement has questioned staffers. Two aides havebeen placed on administrative leave and another reassigned for givingtheir private messaging BlackBerry codes to Florida Power & Lightofficials. And the PSC lobbyist, a former division director, hasresigned under fire. Carter, 56, has been chairman of the board for the last two years andhas overseen its handling of three controversial rate cases. The panelis in the midst of requests by FPL and Progress Energy to increasetheir base rates by about 30 percent. In February, the panel approveda Tampa Electric rate increase -- which is now being challenged by theOffice of Public Counsel, which represents consumers. McMurrian, 36, a former staff aide at the PSC, was asked by a consumeradvocate in the FPL rate case to recuse herself from a decision in thecase because she dined with an FPL executive while the utility soughta rate increase. McMurrian refused, saying she remains impartial. With these appointments, Crist will have selected all of thecommissioners on the panel, replacing four who were originallyappointed by Bush and reappointing Lisa Edgar for a term that began inJanuary. He has said that he sought members who were ``people of goodintellect, great integrity, care and concern and compassion for thepeople that are in tune with the economic challenges that the peopleface right now.'' Klement, 69, and Stevens, 44, were chosen from a list of six nomineessent to Crist by the Public Service Nominating council, a 12-memberpanel that includes six legislators and six private citizens. Unlike the other four candidates, neither Klement nor Stevens had everheld a job with the PSC. They were the only two candidates Cristinterviewed personally. The commission job pays $133,000 a year. The newcomers will begintheir jobs Jan. 2, two weeks after the current PSC must decide whetherto reject or accept FPL's rate increase request. Two weeks later, itmust decide how to divide up any approved increase in the base ratesbetween FPL residential customers and commercial users. A decision on Progress Energy's rate request is due in November. When Crist was asked earlier this week how newcomers to the commissionwould be able to decide the rate cases, he said they should ``studyup.'' Crist has said he opposes the rate increases and that theutility companies should ``live within their means.'' No word yet onwhether Crist will ask the commission to delay a ruling on the ratecases until his appointees take office. Sen. Mike Fasano, a New Port Richey Republican who has called formajor reforms at the PSC, lauded Crist's decision. ``I'm very pleased with the governor's decision,'' he said. ``He hasalways put the consumer first, and what we have seen at the PSCrecently is they need a change from top to bottom, and this is just astart.'' Steve Stewart, a consumer advocate who has complained ofMcMurrian and Edgar's close ties to utilities, was also encouraged. ``This appears to be a fresh start,'' he said. ``However, new rulesand policies must be put in place to ensure that the changes aresubstantive.'' Klement retired from the Bradenton Herald in 2007 after serving as itseditorial page editor for 32 years. He is currently director of theInstitute for Public Policy & Leadership at the University of SouthFlorida. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from theUniversity of North Texas and a master's degree in communication fromthe University of South Florida. Stevens has been chief financial officer for the Escambia sheriff'sdepartment since 2001. Previously, he was budget analyst forEscambia's County Commission for seven years. He holds a bachelor'sdegree in finance from Florida State University. Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at meklas@MiamiHerald.com.
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