Uncategorized

Published on May 27th, 2008 | by Shirley Siluk Gregory

8

Will the Sunshine State Become a Major Source of Wind Energy?

A wind turbine in Hawaii — similar sights coming to Florida soon? (Image credit: Harvey McDaniel at Wikimedia Commons under a Creative Commons license.)I’ve always wondered why wind energy in Florida never seemed to get much attention. After all, there’s a good steady breeze every time I go to the beach and, even in my backyard (which is 2 miles off the coast), I have a little colorful garden spinner that’s whirring almost constantly.

Still, every wind-energy potential map of the U.S. I’ve seen appears to leave the Sunshine State a pure blank. Some maps don’t even note any potential for offshore energy, which strikes me as especially odd.

Turns out, wind energy in Florida might have some promise after all. This year’s renewable energy technologies grants from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection include two note-worthy investments in wind: $2.5 million for Florida Power and Light (FPL) to build the state’s first wind-energy facility in St. Lucie County, and $123,868 to Progress Energy Florida to install small-scale, inland wind-evaluation turbines at five different locations in the state.

The planned six-turbine installation on FPL property in St. Lucie County could generate up to 22 million kilowatt-hours of electricity — enough to serve the energy needs of more than 3,600 residents, according to the utility. Based on data from the American Wind Energy Association, that’s more energy than is currently produced by more than 200 existing wind farms across the country.

“The roughly $45 million total cost of the project works out to about 33 cents a year for the average FPL customer, or less than the price of a postage stamp,” said Eric Silagy, FPL vice president and chief development officer. “Given its strong environmental attributes, very reasonable cost and local economic benefits, we think the project deserves serious consideration in St. Lucie County.”

An FPL poll of St. Lucie County residents earlier this year indicates Floridians are ready to explore wind-energy in their backyards, with 86 percent supporting investments in Sunshine State wind power.

Progress Energy Florida sees similar potential in wind power.

“We believe small-scale wind generation could play an important role in meeting Florida’s renewable-energy needs,” said John Masiello, director of alternative energy strategy for Progress Energy Florida. “We appreciate the state’s support and partnership as we add the potential of wind power to our dynamic renewable-energy portfolio.”

It’s encouraging to hear that Florida isn’t as much of a wind-energy dud as some wind-power maps have made it out to be. Personally, I could live with the sight of offshore turbines at the beach I visit, if I knew it was providing me and my neighbors with a source of renewable, carbon-free energy.





MAKE SOLAR WORK FOR YOU!





Next, use your Solar Report to get the best quote!

Tags:


About the Author

Shirley Siluk Gregory, a transplanted Chicagoan now living in Northwest Florida, represents the progressive half of Green Options' Red, Green and Blue segment. She holds a bachelor's degree in Geological Sciences from Northwestern University but graduated in 1984, just when the market for geologists was flatter than the Florida landscape. Just as well, though: she had little interest in spending her life either in a laboratory or, heaven forbid, an oil field. So, of course, she went into journalism. After extremely low-paying but fun and educational stints at several suburban Chicago weeklies and dailies, Shirley and her then-boyfriend/now-husband Scott found themselves displaced by a media buyout and spending the next several years working as freelancers. Among their credits: The Chicago Tribune, a publication for the manufactured-housing industry, and Web Hosting Magazine, a now-defunct publication that came and went with the dotcom era. Shirley's always been concerned about nature and conservation (and an avid pack-rat, as her family can attest to), but became even more rabidly interested in the environment primarily due to two factors: the growing signs that global warming was real and threatening, and the birth of her son, Noah, in 2003. Suddenly, the prospect of a world that might not be quite as habitable in 40 or 50 years took on a whole new, and personal, meaning. Living where she lives now also helped light the fire of Shirley's environmental awareness: her hometown was severely damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and beaten up again by Hurricane Dennis in 2005. That, and the fact that she and her family were vacationing in New Orleans until the day before Katrina -- and spent 12 hours driving home for a trip that normally takes 3 -- has made Shirley deeply appreciate how fragile our lifestyles are, and how dependent they are on sound management of natural resources and sustainable living practices. That's why she's become a passionate reader and writer about all things green and sustainable.


Related Posts



  • Thomas Steinruck

    Wow the author doen’t have a clue!
    It’s windy in my backyard! OMG!
    FPL said themselves there wasn’t enough wind until they wanted to curry favor with Charlie Crist. 2 days AFTER they got shot down for the coal plant.

    Below are some quotes of Commissioner Charles Grande from an email to
    one of the Indian River Dr. Freeholders

    ” FPL lost just about all of their credibility during the coal plant
    fiasco and nobody in authority takes them at their word on anything
    anymore. Moreover, during that same coal plant fiasco, FPL themselves
    repeatedly told us that wind turbines would not work anywhere in
    Florida, including our barrier islands. How foolish do they seem now
    saying they can actually do it? FPL should be a dream opponent.”

    “The opposition is championed by some real, credible people like
    Kevin Stinnette, calling for all of the data to be thoroughly
    analyzed and published in a full blown Environmental Impact Statement
    before any commitments are actually considered. There is also a great
    case to be made that public lands purchased for active or passive
    recreation should not be used for other purposes. I think Doug Coward
    is doing a great job making that point.”

    “FPL tried to bamboozle us with a really bad coal based proposal.

    – Other than a fairly good record with nukes, FPL has very little
    credibility left locally.

    – FPL is on record that wind energy is not workable in Florida.

    – The change from Jeb to Charlie in Tallahassee has increased
    subsidies to companies investing in renewables.

    – After the coal plant fiasco, including a turndown by Tallahassee on
    environmental grounds, FPL needs some green projects.

    – FPL approached us, unsolicited, with a proposal for “a couple” of
    windmills on their property on the Island.

    “If, as Adam, Julie and so many others believe, this too is a bad
    proposal by FPL, I am confident it will not be approved.”

    Chris Craft, formerly one of the leading proponents, has come out completely AGAINST turbines in this county because he has become infinitely more knowledgeable about the subject. He now understands that this is a FALSE GREEN project that will hurt the environment of St. Lucie County far more than it will help the area or the world. He now understands that this is an ENRON devised scam to avoid taxes and will only produce a trickle of undependable, un-needed electricity at a huge cost. He gets it; anyone who doesn’t at this point hasn’t been paying attention.

    • GERI

      NO TURBINES IN FLORIDA HOW DISGRACEFUL, I’VE LIVED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS FOR MANY MANY YEARS AND THERE IS A CONSTANT WIND THERE, I HAVE ALSO LIVED IN PALM BEACH COUNTY WHERE THERE IS ALSO WIND. ORIGINALLY FROM WISCONSIN, WHERE THERE ARE PLENTY OF WINDMILL TURBINES IN FARM FIELDS, NOW WHERE EXACTLY DOES ALL THAT WIND COME FROM. LISTENING TO THE OPPOSITION IS LIKE LISTENING TO THE OIL MEN WHO DON’T WHAT TO LEVEY MORE TAXES ON THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY CAN’T AFFORD IT. COME ON WAKE UP

  • http://www.windandsolarnow.com April

    I am the founder of Skyecrafts solar store in Hudson, FL. We don’t have any wind generators that will operate with the amount of wind we have in Florida. I am on the Gulf coast and we average 1-2 mph wind speed, sometimes we have gusts up to 11 on an average day but they are only gusts. Actually, it was hard to even keep up to 1 mph in my backyard.
    The smallest amount of wind needed for most wind generators I have seen was 4.5 mph and this is a new sphere design. We may have luck with VAWT wind generators which are a verticle design but nothing has come yet for us.
    The more blades, the more power, so we should look for a design like that however I think our strength in Florida is in solar. Now, how about a solar air conditioner? That would be great for us if one existed that worked in hot , humid climates.

  • beaches

    hey stupid person #1 and #2… you both know nothing. Wind is already happening… read the paper… there are several projects propsed right here in florida. there is wind. so do yourselves a favor and put your uneducated opinions to rest..before you embaress all of us.

  • Thomas Steinruck

    Beaches, where are your facts? oh that’s right you either don’t have any to support your position or you are so intellectually lazy that you can’t be bothered to argue your point with anything more than name calling.

    The proposed projects of which you speak are being considered mainly to appease the irrational Greenies and because of the incredible tax advantages that will pay for virtually the entire project. Even if the wind farm on Hutchinson Island never produces any useful amount of power FPL will come out ahead because they will be using tax and rate payer money.

    It takes winds of at least 30mph to produce the rated power claimed by FPL. At 15mph a velocity much more common even on our beaches, when the wind blows at all, they produce 1/8 the rated power. Below 9mph they produce absolutely NOTHING.
    Florida is 48th out of the 50 States in wind resources. But of course someone with a superior mind like yours must have already known all that.

  • Thomas Steinruck

    Some of FPL’s own word in a form required by the the State of Florida

    7. Given the substantial cost differential between wind and solar projects, why
    hasn’t the program favored the installation of wind energy projects as opposed to
    solar?
    “The presumption that wind is less expensive than solar in Florida, may not necessarily be
    the case, due to the need for the wind turbine Manufacturers to develop a wing turbine
    generator that will withstand hurricane winds and as well as the corrosive saline coastline
    environment. Typically the wind resource needed to build a wind power project requires
    that the wind blow constantly at a minimum of 7.5 mls with a net capacity factor of at
    least 38%. In Florida, offshore coastline wind resource is approximately 6.5 mls, and is
    reduced on the coast and further reduced inland. The resulting net capacity factors off of
    Florida’s coast are most robust at approximatley 25% and reduced further on the coast to
    below 19% and further reduced inland.
    Solar installations have additional benefits for the Sunshine Energy program. First, solar
    PV is essentially modular, starting at about 130 Watts per panel. These panels are
    ganged to produce the size installation needed. Commercial wind turbines are basically
    in the 1.5 MW size or larger at the present time.
    Sunshine Energy provides 150 kW of PV installations for each 10,000 customers who
    sign up. If commercial wind installations were used, we would need 100,000 customers
    per wind turbine to achieve a similar ratio.
    The smaller scale of the PV installations eases the process of acquiring and permitting a
    site. Additionally, it enables the program to further encourage the general public’s
    knowledge and exposure to renewable energy by allowing a number of sites to be.
    established throughout our service territory, reaching the widest possible audience with
    an education about renewables.

    8. Identify the specific Florida locations where FPL has previously attempted, or is
    currently attempting, to site wind energy projects (provide reference documentation
    substantiating all permitting denials).
    Commissioned three wind studies of the State of Florida (i.e. Florida; SW FL; NE FL).

    “Lessons learned:
    Overstated wind resource potential (echoes provide false wind resource
    potential.
    Wind resource limited to coastal area; wind resource declines significantly
    inland.
    Wind resource limited to winter season (October through March) whereas
    FPL load peak is in the summer.”

    Even FPL doesn’t really7 think wind will work in the Sunshine State.

  • http://www.sficopetro.com David Fiala

    Low wind/small wind generators will work in Florida. These units can be sold for indiviual use as well as setting up small wind farms. I represent Wind Manufactuer for USA, Canada, Mexcio, Latin America. any information as to whom I can contact at local and state level to understand the regulations would abe of great help. These units are set at 18 to 20 meters in the air, not much more than some trees. These units can be placed and co-exist with all the other systems that are in the market place. Any information that anyone can provide me on Florida Wind policy would abe of great help as in the rest of the USA Wind Generation is not an issue and welcomed.
    thanks
    sfico@sficopetro.com

    • Cheryl Durham

      David Fiala, Please provide me with more information. I live in the SE orlando area and am currently planning to build a new home that can stand alone off the power grid. There are already wind turbines here and, they are working.

Back to Top ↑

  • Other IM Network Sites

  • Connect w/ EcoLocalizer

  • Advertisement

  • Featured: City Planning

    Intersection Design to Make Cyclists Safer

    Cemeteries and the Future of Death in Urban Planning

    Making Urban Planning More Democratic

  • Featured: Urban Renewal

    Detroit to Build Massive, 150 Acre Urban Farm on Abandoned Land

    Should Low-income Housing Be Next to Go Green?

    Chicago Selling Vacant Lots For $1, Hopes to Turn Them into Urban Gardens

  • Featured: Bike / Walkability

    Swedish City Planning Strategy Saves Lives

    Art of the Bicycle Exhibit at Chicago MSI

    Community Bus Stop Project Transforms Brazilian Transit

  • Search the IM Network

  • The content produced by this site is for entertainment purposes only. Opinions and comments published on this site may not be sanctioned by, and do not necessarily represent the views of Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc., its owners, sponsors, affiliates, or subsidiaries.


© 2014   Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc.



Back to Top ↑