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Council Ponders Solar Plant In East Tampa

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By KATHY STEELE

ksteele@tampatrib.com

Published: March 13, 2009

TAMPA - The city council is thinking green - as in green-collar jobs from a solar manufacturing plant in East Tampa's community redevelopment area.

"It would be a win, win, win," Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena said Thursday during a meeting of the Community Redevelopment Board, composed of city council members. "We as a city should be hustling to build a plant there."

Specifically, Saul-Sena said the city needs to seek federal money set aside for energy projects in the $787 billion stimulus package.

The board directed the city's economic development administrator, Mark Huey, to report in two weeks on the potential for luring a solar manufacturing plant to East Tampa. Solar plants manufacture solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity.

The area is among nine community redevelopment areas within the city. It is bordered by Hillsborough Avenue, interstates 275 and 4, and the city limits. A portion of local property taxes collected in the redevelopment areas are used to pay for community projects.

In a general discussion about pursuing federal stimulus money, Councilwoman Mary Mulhern said, "You're not going to get anything if you're not asking for it."

She cited White House data showing Florida is near the bottom of a list of per-capita stimulus money allocated to the 50 states.

Saul-Sena said East Tampa has land and tax breaks to entice green businesses such as a solar plant.

"We need to go after those dollars for this community," she said.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

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