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Obama promotes energy plan in visit to Arcadia

Pool photo

President Obama gave his speech in front of an array of solar panels at a Florida Power & Light facility.

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By MARK  DOUGLAS | News Channel 8

Published: October 27, 2009

Updated: 10/27/2009 12:17 pm

ARCADIA - After a brief tour of the nation's largest solar generating plant,President Barack Obama today praised Florida Power & Light, the town of Arcadia and anyone else who had anything to do with building the project.

"It's an honor to be here on a very big day," the president told a waiting crowd of about 50 invited guests and several dozen reporters and photographers.

Moments earlier, the president toured a 130-acre array of solar panels that just began generating today. It supplies enough electricity to supply about 3,000 homes - enough for the city of Arcadia - and saves enough emissions to account for about 4,500 cars on the road.

The president spoke in lofty terms about his alternative energy goals and said the solar plant is just part of a larger investment plan in alternative energy - the nation's largest ever - that includes hybrid cars and other alternative energy sources.

He also spoke about developing a national "smart grid" for power that he equated to construction of the nation's interstate system 60 years ago during the Eisenhower administration.

"It's time to make the same kind of investment in the way energy travels," Obama said.

He also touted the use of "smart meters' in homes that will allow consumers to monitor and manage power consumption on an hourly basis if they wish. The president said such a system of meters in hundreds of thousands of homes will "reduce demand by 20 percent on hot summer days,"

Obama said smart grids and meters will save consumers $20 billion on utility bills.

The president announced 100 grants amounting to $3.4 billion that companies, cities and other power generators can use to develop smart grid systems.

Before exiting the makeshift stage after his 20-minute speech, Obama gave a familiar wave to the crowd, congratulated those in attendance and said "Thank you Arcadia, thank you Florida"

FP&L customers pay an extra 6.3 cents on their monthly bills to pay for the $152 million solar energy center.

Reporter Mark Douglas can be reached at (727) 536-9603.

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