Owl's Head

[ASH]

And this from the River Group: Note the location is near Freeport. I can't help but believe this is what's about to happen with Owl's Head. Up on a hill...not a tree in sight...:roll:

08/04/2010

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]New solar power plant planned for Fla. Panhandle[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]FREEPORT (AP) ? A fledgling solar power company says it plans to build its first photovoltaic plant in the Florida Panhandle.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Shelton Stone, president of Energy Farm Inc., said Friday the $300 million facility capable of supplying 12,000 homes will be built on 550 acres near Freeport in Walton County.[/FONT]
Stone, an architect, said the Grayton Beach-based company in about 45 days expects to announce a deal for selling more than half of the 74-megawatt plant's electrical output to a Florida utility he declined to name.
He said Energy Farm is negotiating with Florida and out-of-state utilities for sale of the remaining capacity.
Some of the solar power will produce hydrogen for fuel cells to generate electricity after sunset.

 

[Koa]

On another thread, I read that the solar farm will be located in the area b/tw Owl's Head and Plantation at Freeport. No idea if it's true.

 

[Rita]

I havn't heard of such a project. Any additional info?

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There was a good thread a while back on this.:

http://www.sowal.com/bb/business-go...solar-company-build-74-megawatt-facility.html


.

 

[30ashopper]

.
There was a good thread a while back on this.:

http://www.sowal.com/bb/business-go...solar-company-build-74-megawatt-facility.html


.

I wonder what happened, seems they never made the announcement.

 

[austin101]

instead of passing an alternative energy bill during the special legislative session that would have required power companies to purchase a percentage of power from solar providers, the republican controled florida house ended the session after 45 min.

 

[30ashopper]

instead of passing an alternative energy bill during the special legislative session that would have required power companies to purchase a percentage of power from solar providers, the republican controled florida house ended the session after 45 min.

Because.. it would have raised our rates in the middle of a major recession? Really it's pretty common sense. The same republican lead legislature also passed an energy bill in 2008 that gave us, the tax payer, the best solar subsidies of any state in the nation, topping states like California. They also passed reforms that insured HOAs couldn't restrict solar installations, and mandatory net metering agreements with power companies, which took effect in 2009.

 

[austin101]

you asked what happened...

 

[30ashopper]

you asked what happened...

So they couldn't operate their business without the help of taxpayer subsidies? When that didn't come true they called the whole thing off?

 

[austin101]

not exactly sure what status is of Freeport solar company, but am aware of several other proposed solar farms around the state that need the legislature to mandate utility companies purchase a percentage of their power from solar providers in order to obtain construction financing. Purchase commitments equal funding.

There have been several articles about solar farms in the Florida Trend daily update during the past year.

I hope the guys in Freeport are able to deliver...one day the numbers will work and it could be a great asset to Walton County.

 

[scooterbug44]

I emailed and asked if they were still going ahead w/ the project.

"yes" is the extent of the response I got.