TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
Rules Brighten For Solar Power
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Published: March 27, 2008
Florida isn't the Sunshine State when it comes to energy. It still relies far too heavily on fossil fuels and draws but a fraction of its energy from the sun.
The dynamic could start to change, though, thanks to a smart move by the Public Service Commission.
The utility-regulating panel has approved a rule that requires power companies to give customers credit on their bill for excess power generated by solar systems.
Florida is one of the few states that has lacked a "net-metering" system for solar. The rule change, along with skyrocketing oil prices, should create powerful incentives for residents to invest in solar energy, which is clean and readily available.
Solar systems are not cheap. They can cost upward of $20,000 for the average house. But if consumer demand increases, prices should go down.
Bruce Kershner, spokesman for the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association, told The Orlando Sentinel that the rule change "should open the marketplace to solar in Florida."
Scientists say our state is well-positioned to harness the sun's power, perhaps even export solar-derived power. Though we see more cloudy days than the Southwest, where conditions are most favorable for solar, Florida still has more than enough sunny days to keep solar batteries charged.
Perhaps with more enlightened policies and a more receptive public, this abundant and clean source of energy will finally find its day in the Florida sun.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( FrankDell ) on March 27, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I looked into solar, and it is not cheep. Our house on average only consumes 45 kilowatts a day (or about a $145 monthly bill) and when I looked online to price out a solar alternative, all quotes were over $30K and that was just to generate roughly half the power I needed. at that rate it would take over 20 years to see a cost benefit. Pricing needs to come down before it will be a viable solution for home use. I think what needs to be done is Tecoe needs to institute a plane that would use the roof tops of ware houses and office buildings as solar farms all that space is just wasted and could be used to help generate power without oil or gas.
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