Utilities: Not easy being green (FL)

[jpak]

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080507/met_189119021.shtml

Keeping lights glowing and air conditioners blowing could be a challenge under the governor's order to green up the growing state electric grid.

<snip>

Arguing fossil fuels such as coal produce more electricity for less money, some engineers question whether the mandate can be carried out.

Florida is projected to grow by roughly 1,000 people a day throughout the coming years. In Jacksonville alone, electric needs are projected to multiply by 10 within the next decade.

Renewable fuels "no way can provide the electric the citizens of Jacksonville need for the future," said Randy Stroupe, director of electric production for JEA's Northside Generating Station, which produces about 40 percent of Jacksonville's power by burning 1.4 million tons of solid fuel a year.

<more>

[phantom power]

1. Hmm. I wonder what they're going to do about that.

[jpak]

2. I can think of a few things...

1. Florida utilities could replace existing refrigerator/freezers, AC units and heat pumps with the most efficient Energy Star models on the market - and employ interruptible rate programs to shave peak loads.

2. Florida utilities could purchase and install residential solar hot water heaters (they have built-in storage systems too).

3. Florida utilities could purchase and install residential and commercial PV systems.

4. Florida utilities could build and operate PV and/or solar thermal electric farms.

4. Florida utilities could build and operate biomass power plants (that could be operated intermittently to balance loads from wind and PV systems).

5. Florida utilities could build off-shore wind farms (yes, they can withstand hurricane force winds).

There is no technical reason why they can't achieve a 20% RPS in short order...

[4dsc]

3. in short order??

Heck, looks like you're describing a major turn in the way people think and do thing in this country and what you have proposed would take decades at best!! Besides, people don't move too fast in FL!!

[jpak]

4. For 20% RPS - 10 years or less

n/t

[phantom power]

5. Yes, but the topic of the article was more about that other 80%.

[jpak]

6. No, it was about implementing the state's 20% RPS

When that is accomplished, the naysayers will see the error of their ways...

:evilgrin: