The Pickens Plan

[Here4Good]

I am frustrated that we have not heard more about solar power solutions in Florida. Just like Brazil can grow sugar cane for ethanol, we Flori-duh-ans can put some of those rays to good use. One would think that mass production of solar panels would bring the costs down, but I don't know anything about the business.

You know, it's really surprising, but we really don't get as much sunshine here as you would think. There is a website out there which shows the solar capabilities of all of the status, and we rank middle-ish.

 

[30ashopper]

The Oil PR machine is all over this, and their arguments about cost of building infrastructure could easily be applied to new drilling in the gulf and ANWR requiring a massive investment in infrastructure.

The best approach is obviously a diverse alternative energy market, not focusing on one source. That, and some faith in American ingenuity and innovation. I'm so sick of hearing, "NO, we can't" about everything except more drilling and opening up coastal drilling and ruining our beaches.

I agree. Although I'd one caveat - as long as his plan involves a private investment in a new, risky venture, and doesn't involve massive government subsidies, I'd say, more power to him.

 

[30ashopper]

I am frustrated that we have not heard more about solar power solutions in Florida. Just like Brazil can grow sugar cane for ethanol, we Flori-duh-ans can put some of those rays to good use. One would think that mass production of solar panels would bring the costs down, but I don't know anything about the business.

I've been researching residential solar solutions lately in case I decide to buy something north of the bay. The state has good a good incentive, a $20,000.00 florida refund on investment (currently a little backlogged on payouts). However, residential investment is very long term - the break even point on a plant for a house is probably around 15 years assuming you're not an energy hog. If energy costs increase though that may be shortened.

State wise, there's a new commercial solar plant going in down in the southern part of the state. (I think near the Cape) It's not going to be huge but it's 'something' people are doing to help.

Overall Florida isn't the best place in the U.S. for solar in terms of radiation, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Southern California are the best. But we are in the top ten or so in terms of potential energy production per area.

Florida has a reasource site that's good on the whole subject - the Florida Solar Energy Center which has more information.

 

[scooterbug44]

I was looking at solar power for when I built my house and was told that for a residence, you would be much better served from a price/conservation standpoint to skip the solar and focus on other ways to conserve/use less energy like insulation, siting, materials, etc.

If you've got $ to burn it's a good idea, but from a budget standpoint, not so much.

 

[Here4Good]

Here's a pretty good solar map, about 1/2 way down the page:

http://www.eere.energy.gov/states/alternatives/resources_fl.cfm

The conclusion for Florida is, "For concentrating collectors, Florida could pursue some types of technologies, but large-scale thermal utility systems are not effective with this resource."

This page reviews the possibilities for all major alternatives in Florida.

 

[Jdarg]

I received an e-mail this morning from my friend Gary, who is currently posted in NZ. His e-mails are always newsy, but after reading this energy thread, his comments about wind power caught my attention.



Like everywhere in the world, New Zealanders are feeling pain at the pumps. Gas here is $6/gallon and going up. Ingrid tells me that the price is about the same in Haiti. In Tahiti, gas is $9/gallon! So those of you in the U.S., count your blessings. It could be worse.

In response to the growing energy costs, the New Zealand government is in the process of installing approximately 100 wind turbines in the hills not far from Wellington ? one of the windiest locations on the planet. Almost 200 more will be placed on New Zealand?s South Island. Each turbine, including the tower, will stand around 450 feet high. Each blade of the 3-bladed turbines will be 125 feet long! Can you imagine? The government is also experimenting with generators that harness ocean tides and currents. About 70% of electricity generated in the country is from renewable resources (hydroelectric, geothermal and wind), and New Zealand has announced the intent to become completely ?green? in electricity production within a few decades.

 

[30ashopper]

I was looking at solar power for when I built my house and was told that for a residence, you would be much better served from a price/conservation standpoint to skip the solar and focus on other ways to conserve/use less energy like insulation, siting, materials, etc.

If you've got $ to burn it's a good idea, but from a budget standpoint, not so much.

Who did you talk too scooter, was it the builder, power company, somebody else?

 

[scooterbug44]

Other - they weren't discouraging it for everyone, just said there were better ways to be green/energy efficient considering the size of my house and my budget.

 

[Matt J]

fulltime I have to ask why they would have to build transmission lines from the wind generators? My understanding was that we have a national power grid. I understand upgrades, but I don't understand the argument that it would require brand new lines.

As to Nuclear power I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to give the 3 thumbs down.

 

[Miss Critter]

From today's Florida Trend:


Crist Announces Spain/Florida Solar Deal
By Miami Herald - 7/23/2008


Gov. Charlie Crist's trip to Madrid has borne fruit, at least in writing. On the last of his 12-day European trade mission, Crist toured Spain's largest solar power plants and announced the manufacturer, Renovalia, has signed a "non-binding" agreement with Seminole Electric in Tampa to build a thermoelectric plant and sell the electricity to the Florida municipal utility company.
No details were released about the size and location of the plant and, based on the statements from the officers involved, and the emphasis that the agreement is non-binding, the idea is still on the drawing board: ?Keeping in focus our core objectives of maintaining competitive rates and reliable service while being good stewards of the environment, we look forward to working with Renovalia USA, INC. on the possibility of adding a new thermoelectric power plant to our portfolio,? said Tim Woodbury, CEO of Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Renewable energy experts lauded the move by the governor to seek out renewable energy but emphasized that for Florida to reach the success in solar power that European countries such as Germany and Spain have seen, the state needs to open the door to independent companies, and even homeowners, to be able to generate solar power and sell it back to the traditional utilities.
"Until you get a domestic market in Florida the same size and scale you have in place like Spain, we're not going to see the great take-up in renewable energy we all hoped,'' said John Burges, an energy investor and volunteer consultant for Environmental Defense.
Burges is a member of the Alliance for Renewable Energy, which pushes for policies that encourage governments to allow everyone from homeowners to farmers to generate their own solar power and sell it back to utility companies on fixed, long-term contracts. He calls it the "democratization of energy" and says that Germany, the largest solar producer in the world, built 1100 megwatts of solar energy production last year under those agreements and has many more cloudy days than Florida. "The potential for solar in Florida is twice that in Germany and Germany has 55 percent of the world's capacity,'' Burges said. "The governor has been very successful in creating a great environment. What he needs to do now is move to the next step, which is to look at policies that allow everyone to engage in this whole process."