“Clean Energy” – sound good to you?  FPL which has spent billions of dollars on nuclear power and plans to spend billions more, prefers that the State of Florida have a “clean” standard, rather than a “renewable” one as it seeks to limit greenhouse gasses. FPL likes the word clean because nuclear is not renewable.  Renewable energy sources are solar and wind, for example. Even calling nuclear clean is a subject of much debate. I’m not clear on how something that produces toxic waste with a life span of millions of years can be called clean. Because nuclear energy production emits no greenhouse gasses it is less dirty than other sources perhaps, but clean?  Well, the State’s Public Service Commission was unable to decide what green is so now the debate goes to the legislature. Palm Beach Post article.

Filed under: Health & Safety

The project is only nine months old, but county officials report they are pleased with what is happening at Brevard’s largest landfill west of Cocoa. The new plant at the landfill uses the methane produced from rotting garbage to power Caterpillar engines. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, landfills are the nation’s second-leading human-influenced source of methane, accounting for 23 percent of emissions in 2006. (Agriculture has the distinction of being in first place.)

While we’re on the subject of trash & energy, did you know that in Brevard County curbside tires picked up by waste management are transported to Wheelabrator Ridge Energy in Polk County where they are turned into energy?

Filed under: Energy Efficiency

Taken directly from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Center for Ocean Energy Technology, here are some bullets helpful in outlining Florida’s energy crisis:

• Florida is the nation’s fourth most populous state and ranks third nationally in total energy consumption.
• Florida’s population is over 19 million with nearly 1,000 new residents arriving daily. The state’s energy demand is expected to increase by 30% in ten years.
• Natural gas, coal and other emission-causing fossil fuels compose more than 81% of Florida’s electricity-generating capacity, and all near-term (10 year) expansions will be hydrocarbon based.
• During peak demand, Florida’s electricity consumption exceeds its generation capability.
• Florida is completely reliant on out-of-state fuel sources for electricity generation.
• In markets like South Florida’s, demand is quickly outpacing capacity and there is no land available to build new power plants.

Florida Trend recently reported that the State of Florida awarded FAU a $5-million grant to test whether the powerful Gulf Stream off the coast of south Florida might be able to generate electricity for Florida homes and businesses in the future.

Filed under: Energy Efficiency