Florida solar power

Some Florida electric utilities are experimenting with solar power. Here is a roundup of activities.

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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 1999

Some Florida electric utilities are experimenting with solar power. Here is a roundup of activities.

Lakeland Electric -- Installing solar-power systems on portable classrooms in Polk County. The utility will own the systems, and schools will use them as educational tools.

Total kilowatts: 30.6

Utilities Commission of New Smyrna Beach -- Mounting solar panels on public buildings. Residents may contribute $5 or $10 a month to the program. The utility also is helping customers buy solar-power systems for their homes.

Total kilowatts: 152

Jacksonville Electric Authority -- Installing solar-power systems on 24 schools in Duval County. Power produced by the systems will be credited to each school.

Total kilowatts: 96

Florida Power & Light Co. -- Installing a 10-kilowatt unit at a power-plant site in Martin County. Also studying the feasibility of a green energy program in its territory.

Total kilowatts: 160

Florida Power Corp. -- Researching the possibility of a green energy program for its customers. The utility would like to have a minimum of 10,000 participants. Florida Power also plans to study how to install solar panels on manufactured buildings.

Total kilowatts: 158

Tampa Electric Co. -- Studying the feasibility of a green energy program that would include solar.

Total kilowatts: 50

Gulf Power -- Looking at developing solar power within a green energy program. Gulf is working with other utilities also owned by the Southern Co. of Atlanta. The utility also is testing solar panels at schools.

Total kilowatts: 500

Source: Florida Solar Energy Center

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