Charles Grande: How FPL can start a rooftop revolution

For some time, Florida Power & Light has been trying to join the green energy revolution. Prodded first by the governor's direction to diversify its fuel sources, and later by the governor's incentive programs for green energy, FPL has tried a variety of projects with mixed results at best.

First there was the "clean" coal plant turned down by every county contacted as a possible site. The technology proposed by FPL was not the latest gasification design and was, in fact, anything but clean.

Next came FPL's wind proposal. In the face of its own assertions that wind was not practical in Florida, and the independent studies showing there was enough wind for the latest model turbines only on the oceanfront, FPL persisted in proposing wind turbines at its St Lucie nuclear site.

Clearly, the 5 or 6 turbines that might fit on its existing property would not make a dent in our energy needs, and the cost of purchasing additional oceanfront land never could be justified by any rational analysis, so that proposal is rapidly going the way of the "clean" coal fiasco.

The thermal solar hybrid plant in Martin County may be a step in the right direction but there is a green energy model that could really succeed if FPL is willing to think outside the box a bit.

If there's one thing we have, in abundance here on the Treasure Coast it is rooftops. Residential rooftops, commercial rooftops and government building rooftops. These rooftops bake in our abundant sunshine most of the hours of most of our days. We need to get FPL to think beyond the old model of centralized energy generation and consider what the industry is calling "distributed" solar power generation.

If FPL were willing to work with St Lucie County, the model might look something like this:

Using its business incentive programs, the county would entice a state-of-the-art photo voltaic solar panel company to locate here. It would combine research and manufacturing in or near the County Research and Education Park and would be guaranteed a minimum sales volume by FPL, its priority customer. The solar company's research and FPL's volume guarantees would provide the lowest possible prices for the most advanced rooftop PV systems.

All government buildings would be required to participate in the program. All new buildings would be encouraged to participate, and a separate program for existing buildings of all types would be run by FPL.

For new buildings of all types, the PV installation and solar hot water costs would be included in the cost of construction and passed on to the buyer.

With local suppliers, a mass market, efficient products, federal tax credits and state incentives, the increase in the financed cost of the building would be more than offset by the reduction in the utility bill and, in some cases, the sale of generated power into the FPL grid through net metering.

For existing buildings, the PV installation and solar hot water costs would be financed through FPL. Federal tax credits and state incentives would be assigned to FPL and the remainder amortized over 20 years. The monthly payment would be added to the utility bill. Again, the model shows that monthly payment would be more than offset by the reduction in utility costs and the amounts generated by selling excess energy back to FPL.

In addition to the savings for each customer, we would end the ongoing costs of new plant construction. Combine that with the move away from fossil fuel dependence, fuel surcharges, and carbon emissions and we really start to see savings.

The area also reaps the additional benefits of green research, manufacturing, construction and installation jobs.

We are the "Sunshine" state. Isn't it time we put our best minds, our largest and wealthiest local business, and our elected officials together in a program to harness our most abundant resource to save us from ourselves?

Grande is the St Lucie County commissioner for District 4. He has served on the boards of many environmental groups including a term as president of the St Lucie County Conservation Alliance.