PV on schools is such a no-brainer. Most K-12 schools are in use during daylight hours only. What perfect timing! Schools also act as emergency shelters. An energy system independent from utility power and vulnerable electric lines can keep emergency operations functioning. Middleton High School gets an A plus for their 10.5 KW installation with battery backup. Read more…
-Sam Kendall
There is much legitimate concern about the use of corn to produce ethanol: diversion of food sources, higher corn prices, continued use of water damaging fertilizers, energy-in versus energy-out. A professor at UF has developed and patented a technology to produce ethanol from yard trimmings, sugar cane waste and orange pulp. The governor and legislature have set in motion a revolutionary technology. Read More…
- Sam Kendall
We’re hearing some very welcome words from Governor Crist these days. He announced in his State of the State Address this month that Florida needs to be a leader in the fight against global warming. He went as far recently to say he wanted to see Florida become another California in terms of renewable energy policies. You can read more about it here. Perhaps now we have the renewable energy champion we’ve been needing for so long.
-Craig Williams
State Senator Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, recently expressed his frustration with Florida’s investor-owned utilities at a Public Service Commission meeting for not making more progress in developing renewable energy sources. The utilities are claiming it would increase cost to customers. Historically, in other states, that has not been the case. When coupled with energy efficiency, the exact opposite is true. Perhaps our greatest potential today in Florida is what we can save with energy efficiency as shown in this study from the Florida Solar Energy Center.
Craig Williams
Florida Tech now has a group of senior students who are working on an electric sprint vehicle similar to a Formula One racer. The car is called a “Racing Electric Vehicle” or REV. It will have many small lithium ion batteries that will produce 144 volts at up to 120 amps. Check out the concepts at their website, http://my.fit.edu/rev/.
Here’s a sample,
“REV, the Racing Electric Vehicle, is a Florida Tech original design project dedicated to creating a successful project with strong leadership and team support. The REV promotes community awareness, publicity, and expands knowledge of electric vehicles.
This project comes from a tradition of Motor Sports at Florida Tech. For years now FIT has been competing in the Formula SAE and Mini Baja competitions. This year we hope to begin a new tradition at FIT as we introduce Florida Tech to the growing field of electric racing. From here we don’t know where it will lead. To an electric SAE competition? To years of future electric Florida Tech Race Cars? We hope for both, but first we need your help to make this inaugural year a reality and a shining success”
This isn’t a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) similar to a golf cart. The REV will likely reach 60 mph and will have an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in four seconds! The design has passed the preliminary design review and the cost is approximately $20,000. Sponsors will be welcomed.
Frank R. Leslie,
Adjunct Professor,
Florida Institute of Technology, DMES
James Hansen, a prominent NASA climate scientist, claims that we now only have ten years to get a handle on man-made climate change before catastrophic consequences occur. Take a look at this sobering report at MSNBC.
Craig Williams
The new Florida energy bill passed this year by the state legislature sets up a nine-member advisory board for the governor and legislature known as the Florida Energy Commission. Most of the appointments have already been made as reported in this article from the Palm Beach Post. The board is to advise on how best to establish a secure and affordable energy future for Florida including the development of alternative sources. Unfortunately, the first report from the commission is not due until December 31st of 2007. It certainly seems like a loss of precious time.
Craig Williams
This weekend, Friday, August 11 & Saturday 8/12, this movie opens at the RegalWinter Park Village 20 Cinemas in Winter Park. There will be at least two electric cars outside.
Mr. Charles Whalen is driving his vehicle, a RAV4-EV, from Delray Beach to Winter Park. These are not hybrids, but true electric cars that plug into the “Grid”. This is a good chance to speak with an owner and also learn more about the Florida Electric Automotive Association.
In the future, there will be pluggable hybrids that use electricity for around town, but have unlimited range using a fuel like gasoline, ethanol, cellulosic methanol, compressed natural gas, or hydrogen. But that’s a movie yet to come . . .
Frank Leslie
The Tallahassee Democrat offers a good history lesson today in this article on Florida’s second attempt to deal with energy dependence. It also mentions a disturbing fact that I’ve recently seen in a California newspaper but it doesn’t seem to have gotten much print here:
Florida ranks second nationwide among states with the largest increase in emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary global warming pollutant, caused by auto emissions and from coal- and oil-driven utilities.
I believe it was Texas that beat us out. Not really something you want to be known for. I think it would sound much better if it were: Florida ranks first nationwide in the conversion of sunshine to electricity.
We have to start setting goals.
Craig Williams
