Florida Taking Advantage of Being the The Sunshine State
In July 2008, Governor Charlie Crist of Florida led a Team Florida Trade and Business Development Mission that toured the Renovalia photovoltaic solar energy facility in Puertollano, Ciudad Real, Spain where Renovalia CEO Jaime Galobert and Seminole Electric announced the beginning of negotiations for a new solar plant in Florida. The Puertollano facility is being developed in two stages. During the current initial phase, 47.6 megawatts and 240,800 photovoltaic sun panels are being built. The facility is requiring an investment exceeding $628 million, and the plant is expected to cover an area of 150 hectares [370 acres]. Once the plant is at full capacity, power generation will be equivalent to the electricity of about 39,000 homes.
Governor Crist recently signed a bill that is the most comprehensive energy and economic development legislation in Florida’s history. The legislation will increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy throughout Florida, while adopting a strategy for businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to develop a cap-and-trade regulatory program. It also creates a renewable fuel standard and a renewable portfolio standard that gives added weight to wind and solar energy over other forms of renewable energy. Building codes for newly constructed buildings and appliances for new commercial and residential buildings will also be more energy efficient.
