Lake Butler Chain (photo by Susan Sun Nunamaker, presented at: WindermereSun.com))
Below, is a re-post from a sister publication, Windermere Sun:
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
With the Florida Sun, low cost of solar and improved battery technology, even without pro-solar policies such as renewable portfolio standard or power purchase agreements, Florida currently ranks 12th for cumulative solar capacity installed and is expected to continue to advance its position in light of the dramatic drop in cost of solar and improved battery technology.
Below are data gathered from FLSEIA (Florida Solar Energy Industries Association), on Florida Solar Industry:
Solar Installed: 725.1 MW (404.7 MW in 2016)
State Homes Powered by Solar: 79,000
Percentage of State’s Electricity From Solar: 0.31% (that % keeps increasing)
Solar Jobs and Ranking: 8,260 (5th in 2016)
Solar Companies in State: 492 companies total; 69 manufacturers, 261 installers/developers, 153 others
Total Solar Investment in State: $1,459.85 million ($523.64 million in 2016)
Price Declines: 64% over the last 5 years
Growth Projections and Ranking: 2,559 MW over next 5 years
Florida Annual Solar Installations between 2010-2017 (with forecast into 2021) (credit: FLSEIA)
Some Notable Solar Installations in Florida, below:
Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center: It is the solar parabolic-trough component of an integrated solar combined cycle 1150 MW plant, in western Martin County, Florida, just north of Indiantown, built by Florida Power & Light Company in 2010, with enough electricity to power 8,216 homes.
Several large retailers in Florida have gone solar: 6th Street, Ace Hardware, Bronson and AMJ, Inc., General Growth Properties had installed one of the largest solar installations with 1 MW of solar capacity at their Altamonte Springs location.
TIA Solar in Tampa also installed 1 MW of solar capacity in 2016, among the largest solar installations in Florida, with capacity to power more than 175 homes.
Florida State Solar Policy Resources, below:
Florida Public Service Commission-(FPSC) regulates investor-owned electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater utilities. In the telecommunications industry, the FPSC facilitates competitive markets, has authority over intercarrier disputes, and oversees pay telephones, the federal Lifeline Assistance Program and Telecommunications Relay Service. The Florida Public Service Commission consists of five members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Commissioners serve four-year terms. One commissioner is a designated Chairman, elected by the Commission for a two-year term.The commissioners are Chairman Julie I. Brown, Ronald A. Brisé, Art Graham, Jimmy Patronis, and Donald Polmann. In essence, FPSC learn about the governing body that regulates electricity rates and services of Florida Public Utilities.
Florida State Legislature-It is the two houses that act as the state legislatureof theU.S. state of Florida. TheFlorida Constitution states that “The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida,” composed of a Senate and House of Representatives. The legislature is seated at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. Both chambers have been under Republican control since 1996. The Legislature is composed of 160 state legislators (120 in the House and 40 in the Senate). Members are term-limited to eight consecutive years; however, there is no limit on the total number of terms (after sitting out two years, a member may run again). The state legislature meets beginning in March for a period not to exceed 60 calendar days. Special sessions are called as needed. In essence, FSL track pending legislation affecting solar energy, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up to date on current legislative issues in Florida.
Florida Energy System Consortium-The Florida Energy Systems Consortium (FESC) was created by the Florida State government to promote collaboration among the energy experts at its 12 supported universities to share energy-related expertise. The consortium assists the state in the development and implementation of an environmentally compatible, sustainable, and efficient energy strategic plan. The Consortium was charged to ‘perform research and development on innovative energy systems that lead to alternative energy strategies, improved energy efficiencies, and expanded economic development for the state‘. The legislature appropriated funding for research at five of the universities as well as support for education, outreach, and technology commercialization. The Consortium reports to and provides guidance on an as needed basis to the Florida Legislature, Executive Office of the Governor, and the Florida’s Office of Energy housed in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In essence, it assists the state in development and implementation of an environmentally compatible, sustainable, and efficient energy strategic plan.
DSIRE Incentives Database Florida-It is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility,and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. DSIRE was established in 1995 and funded by the US Department of Energy and is an ongoing project of the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. It is essentially a public clearninghouse for specific solar energy incentives in Florida and across the United States.
EnergySage Solar Data Explorer-Florida-It reviews the costs and benefits of installing solar panels in Florida, based on real price data from solar quotes.
More posts on solar topics will be coming in our future posts at Windermere Sun.
Photographed, gathered, written, and posted by Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker
More about the community at www.WindermereSun.com
Dear Friends, Visitors/Viewers/Readers, (Please click on red links below)
Source: N.C. Solar Center at N.C. State University, Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (accessed July 2012). (Correction: Amended source corrects the source listed in original publication of February 3, 2012.) Note: The map includes West Virginia as a State with a Renewable Portfolio Standard, although the Interstate Renewable Energy Council categorizes it as a goal State rather than an RPS State.
I came across a video with Ralph Nader‘s commenting on Feed-In-Tariff, uploaded by Paul Kangas at paul8kangas, below:
In the video, Ralph Nader (the famous consumer advocate) referred to FIT(Feed-In-Tariff) as price based whereas RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) as quota based.
This led to a discussion between myself and another Renewable advocate on whether RPS will limit renewables. Folks, here is my response, below:
I don’t think RPS will limit renewables. It does, however, set the minimum mandatory goal for renewables. For example, a student who wants to at least pass all of his/her courses may end up getting a straight A. But a student who doesn’t even have a goal or desire to pass any or all of the courses is far more likely to fail one or all of his/her classes. Without any goal/RPS, that is why state of Florida is not leading in solar deployment. I’d much rather that FL has RPS than nothing. I’d much rather that FL has both RPS and FIT. But as the cost of solar continues to drop and improvement in storage technology increases, there will be more solar deployments even without any RPS or FIT.
I think before asking anything, we seriously need to find out what the true Value of Solar and/or the true Value of Wind is in order to decide what FIT rate needs to be asked. I don’t think we would want to set the FIT rate below the true Value of Solar or Wind (because then we’ll have clean energy subsidizing the dirty energy). I think Karl R. Rabago has been working on Value of Solar for quite some time and gives a very good presentation in this interview: www.sunisthefuture.net/2014/01/01 and the synopsis of the Value of Solar is in www.sunisthefuture.net/2014/01/04. I wonder if the true Value of Wind has been figured out at this point. At this point in time, there may be sufficient data and technology to enable the algorithm for Value of Wind or Value of Biofuel or Value of Geothermal to be worked out for different regions.
Finally, I am optimistic that the planet earth, as a whole, is heading in the right direction-transitioning into the Renewable Energy Age. As long as Northern Hemisphere manages to stay away from any serious global military confrontation, the planet earth will reach Renewable Energy Age, slowly but surely. Of course, I would have liked to see Florida to be at least in the top 3 or 5 of the solar deployment states within USA, given that we are number 3 in terms of population and we do have the name of Sunshine State. This is much more likely to occur if Florida implements both FIT and RPS, I believe. What do you think? This keeps me motivated in learning and posting about solar/renewable energy.
~have a bright and sunny day~
sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Written, gathered and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any of your comments/suggestions/questions will be welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on solar energy topics:
Dear Friends, Visitors/Viewers/Readers, (Please click on red links below)
Florida Sunset (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
In light of the upcoming Florida gubernatorial election this year, I hope all candidates would consider these matters, below:
Greetings,
Please help state of Florida to:
1. Set goal for Renewable/Solar Energy, given that Florida is one of the few states left that had not yet officially set any goal for renewable/solar energy (RPS, Renewable Portfolio Standard).
3. Request state regulators to look into The Value of Solar (www.sunisthefuture.net/2014/01/01 & www.sunisthefuture.net/2014/01/04) for this is the final missing link that will enable solar to be spread fairly, effectively, and quickly, for rich and for poor alike, for consumers as well as for utility. Ultimately, this would translate into a collaborative relationship between the utility and consumers, leading to a more stable grid for all consumers while increasing the longevity of the utility.
4. Streamline the permitting process of solar PV and solar thermal so to reduce the cost and amount of time in completing the process. Residents at Broward County are now able to get a solar energy system permit online in just half an hour;please refer to Jefferey Halsey, Broward County of Florida’s Director of Pollutioin Prevention, Remediation, and Air Quality Division during the video clip at Sun Is The Future at www.sunisthefuture.net/2013/02/22 .
5. It seems feasible/optimal to introduce regulation to require solar thermal (solar hot water heating systems) when/where it is already a foregone conclusion that this would be an economically feasible approach in building design. Perhaps it is time to start the discussion in considering implementing this as part of the building code.
~have a bright and sunny day~
Written, gathered and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any of your comments/suggestions/questions will be welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on solar energy topics:
SEIA Joins BlueGreen Alliance in Calling for Renewed Efforts to Create Jobs WASHINGTON, DC — Calling job creation in America a “shared goal,” the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today joined other trade associations, labor unions, environmental groups and business and community advocates in pushing for new efforts to address climate change, rebuild America’s aging infrastructure and foster innovation. Members of the BlueGreen Alliance, which represents more than 15 million members and supporters nationwide, held a press conference today on Capitol Hill to discuss ways to jumpstart job creation. One important way, they said, was to dramatically expand the use of renewable energy, including solar. “Today, solar is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, providing good-paying jobs for more than 119,000 American workers,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “Over the past five years, the U.S. solar energy industry has experienced sustained growth
Solar Energy Industry Growth
thanks to rising demand, falling costs and new financing options. Since 2008, the amount of solar powering our homes, businesses and military bases has increased six-fold – from 1,100 megawatts to more than 7,700 megawatts today, which is enough to power more than 1.2 million American homes.” Resch went on to say, “Some of this growth is attributed to the fact that the cost of a solar system has dropped by nearly 40 percent over the past two years, making solar more affordable than ever for consumers. If we want to create new jobs, foster innovation and ensure prosperity for future generations of Americans, we must expand our commitment to using clean, renewable energy sources in the U.S. and around the world.” In a related development, The Solar Foundation (TSF), an independent nonprofit solar research and education organization, today announced the release of its State Solar Jobs Map (www.solarstates.org), a web-based tool providing the first-ever solar jobs numbers for each of the 50 states.
Did you know that a few cloudy days don’t hurt us as much as poor policies? Please allow me to share part of a letter/email I’ve just received from SEIA’s Carrie Hitt, below:
Dear Susan Sun, Today, the Solar Foundation released their State Solar Jobs Map, a web-based tool providing the first-ever highly credible solar jobs numbers for each of the fifty states. . These new state numbers build upon TSF’s National Solar Jobs Census 2012, which found that the U.S. solar energy industry employs 119,016 Americans and that solar employment grew 13.2 percent over the prior year, making it one of the fastest growing industries in the country. The interactive map features detailed profiles with state jobs figures, rankings of industry subsectors by employment, key state policies supporting solar, and much more. Check it out. See how your state compares and show off your home state on Facebook! Share this image on Facebook and help us spread the word! The top ten solar jobs states all have public support and smart policies that spur solar development, including renewable portfolio standards
Every where I go, there are folks worried about the rising cost of fuel, CO2 emissions, global warming, and depleting fossil fuel. My visiting friends from Denmark and Germany commented that there are far more installations of solar panels in their countries (with less sunshine) than here in Florida (the Sunshine State).
Solar Panels under Florida Sun
The reason is: they have FIT (Feed-In-Tariff) for renewable energy and we, the Floridians, do not. So, I will do my part, and I hope those of you out there who are residents of Florida, will also do yours.
Let’s Spread Our Glorious Florida Sunshine!
Please be sure to visit our tomorrow’s post: April 19, 2013, at www.sunisthefuture.net, for the opportunity for us to collaborate toward a brighter future for Florida ! Let’s move up from rank 28!
~have a bright and sunny day~
Gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any of your comments or suggestions will be appreciated.
There are still more valuable interviews to be shared with you from my trip up to the Philadelphia, PA last week. Today’s post is an interview with Carmine A. Tilghman, Director of Renewable Resources & Programs at Tucson Electric Power, during PV America East 2013, in Pennsylvania Convention Center of Philadelphia, PA.
Mr. Tilghman commented on how Tucson Electric Power (a UniSource Energy Company) worked collaboratively with University of Arizona, Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy (aka AzRISE), and various other entities for grant opportunities (such as IBM and other universities, research institutes and developers). Such collaboration is very instrumental in promoting solar and renewable energy use to the next level. He also mentioned a recent “leasing model” that addresses the main concern or challenge of consumers in dealing with cost effectiveness of implementing solar energy. Furthermore, the dramatic drop in cost of solar energy makes it much more affordable for every one. Therefore, the larger integration of distributed generation as well as utility scale projects will continue to provide plenty of opportunities and challenges to utility companies. As the utilities move forward to meet the various RPS standard in different states, utilities will continue to operate the grid while meeting reliability criteria and providing the reliable service enjoyed by consumers. Some challenges faced by installers or developers, such as regulatory uncertainty, back lash, or recession have been overcome.
Mr. Tilghman mentioned that AZ RPS is based on certain percentage of sales for each of the regulated utilities, with expectation of 15% renewables by 2025. AZ RPS started its infancy in 2000, then through public process, corporation commission hearings, was designed in 2006 and finally implemented in 2007. This lengthy process was well worth it for the state of AZ. In five years, AZ Public Service (largest investor in utility serving greater Phoenix area) as well as Tucson Electric Power & UNS Electric Inc. have all reached beyond the minimum requirement set by AZ RPS. Mr. Tilghman observes that implementation of distributed generation programs, when successfully implemented (as has been the case in AZ), solar installations will continue without any incentives. On behalf of Tucson Electric Power, Mr. Tilghman expresses their acceptance in meeting the challenge in moving forward to renewable energy and have demonstrated their success and willingness in sharing their trials and tribulations with other utility companies throughout USA.
Any states or utility companies interested in learning more about lessons learned from the process of obtaining AZ RPS or successfully integrating distributed generation into the utility or grid, please feel free to contact Mr. Carmine A. Tilghman of Tucson Electric Power via ctilghman@tep.com
Thank you, Mr. Tilghman, for sharing your experience with our viewers/visitor.
~have a bright and sunny day~
Interviewed, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker, sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Any of your comments/suggestions/ questions are welcomed.
Homepage: http://www.sunisthefuture.net
