Critics warn of rate hikes for customers
March 04, 2010|By Julie Patel, Sun Sentinel
The Sunshine State is poised to be the second largest solar energy producer in the country, thanks to three large solar plants Florida Power & Light will complete this year.
FPL kicked off operations at a solar plant in DeSoto County in October with great fanfare, including an appearance by President Barack Obama. Just two years earlier, former President Bill Clinton helped the company unveil its plans to build large solar plants.
When finished, the DeSoto plant and two others in Martin and Brevard counties to be completed this year will generate 110 megawatts of energy — enough to power 35,000 homes and prevent the emission of an estimated 575,000 tons of greenhouse gases over the 30-year life of the facilities.
Solar energy proponents say the benefits of switching from polluting fossil fuels to renewable sources are substantial – creating jobs, providing clean power sources and diversifying Florida’s power supply. But some consumer advocates and utility critics are raising concerns about the costs of solar energy – now many times higher than for other sources – and proposals to allow utilities to pass on the costs of such projects without traditional state regulatory oversight.
Grammy winning pop artist and renowned playboy John Mayer wrote the song “Waiting on the World to Change” and was a commercial success because it resonated with what many Americans are feeling or doing in their daily life. They don’t feel they have control over decisions being made politically, locally at their jobs and to keep it relevant, with their energy bill. And while strumming to the beat of John Mayer’s guitar they tag their email signature or Facebook status with a quote from Ghandi “Be the Change you want to see in the world”.
The first state in our nation to require solar water heating systems to be installed all new construction homes is… Hawaii! Starting January 1, 2010 home builders are required to design homes with solar water heating as a main source of energy.
Like it our not organizations are popping up world wide to support the reduction of carbon emissions by corporations and people. 350.org is an organization that is committed to bringing carbon levels to 350 parts per million, which is the safer upper limit level of carbon scientists and climate experts are now saying will keep our global climate balanced, a task that can only be successful if we are able to hold that number strong.
