Thursday

Largest Solar Array in Southeast Powers Up in Orlando

Well next week is a big day for Sunny Florida :-) Congrats to Orange County Convention Center on GOING SOLAR!!

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Largest Solar Array in Southeast Powers Up in Orlando May 20th

Central Florida Mayors, Senator Constantine, Others Kick Off Green Cities Florida With Historic Unveiling

05.14.2009 – ORLANDO, FL – Florida will solidify its position as a front-runner in sustainability next Wednesday morning with the unveiling of the Orange County Convention Center’s new one-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) system, the largest rooftop solar installation in the Southeast. Solar panels will span the length of five and a half football fields, generating 1,300 megawatt-hours of electricity per year - greatly reducing the center’s carbon footprint and electricity costs.

The new PV system was made possible by a $2,500,000 grant provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Renewable Technologies Grant. Additional support for the project was provided by the OUC, EDC and US Dept of Energy bringing the total amount of funding to $8.8 Million.

SEE VIDEO HERE of Project here from FOX News

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Bob Gentile Solar Energy Consultant with Abundant Energy Inc. www.Solar-FL.com 561.732.5181

Abundant Energy Inc. is Florida's leader in Solar Energy, celebrating 23 Years of Service.

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Biggest rate increase ever by a FL utility company.

''Wow,'' said Charlie Beck of the Office of Public Counsel, which represents utility customers, when he heard the numbers. ``Wow. This is the biggest rate increase I have ever seen requested by a utility in Florida. This is really something.''

Customers of Florida Power & Light will pay a base rate of $12.40 a month more next year if the state approves the company's rate-hike request.

FPL's base rate is currently $39.31. If the request is granted, the base rate next year will be $51.71. That's a 31 percent increase.

Fpl rate increases - solar energy florida

SAVINGS IN FUEL

In a press release, FPL estimated that customers will save about $5 a month overall starting Jan. 1, but that change included anticipated declines in fuel charges. The bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month would drop on Jan. 1 from $109.55 to $104.63, according to that estimate.

In a follow-up e-mail, Villafaña wrote that those numbers include an estimate from February that 2010 fuel prices will allow a bill reduction of $17.83 a month. ``Actual 2010 fuel costs could vary from this projection.''

Looks like it might be a good time to look into solar energy as an alternative to these never ending rate increases by FPL.

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