Two weeks ago, CL reported on a recent task force's report on efforts to make the city of Tampa more energy efficient.
The task force was a group of 18 individuals who teamed up with Tampa Electric Company on making recommendations regarding clean energy and combating climate change, and was created after citizens had called for the city to delay agreeing to a new 25-year franchise agreement with the local utility.
After our story was published, TECO reached out to CL with a request to comment. Unfortunately, we were out of town when that happened.
But what I promised officials there was that we would reproduce a lengthy section of a press release they sent out just prior to Earth Day last week on what they say they're doing on the environmental front. So, listed below, is their response:
In March, Tampa Electric filed for approval from the Florida Public Service Commission to expand the company’s lineup of energy-efficiency programs for customers. In addition to the proposed programs and enhancements to existing programs, $1.5 million in incentives will be offered by Tampa Electric each year for five years to help customers install renewable technologies, such as photovoltaic (PV) solar systems and solar water heating. These new programs come as the company is completing its 10-year, $1.2 billion environmental investment program, significantly improving the region’s air quality and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
In 2009, more than 76 Tampa Electric customers installed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in their homes and businesses, an increase of 200 percent over 2008.
Of the 76 PV systems, 62 were installed at residences and 14 at businesses. The systems range from 1.3 kilowatt (kW) to 74 kW. In 2009, these 76 systems delivered more than 106,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity to the grid. As a result of bi-directional net metering, the owners of these systems received full retail value from Tampa Electric for that energy.
The 76 systems have a potential to generate over 900,000 kWh per year, enough to power 62 homes for one year and offset 800 tons of carbon dioxide. The company supports PV systems such as these and provides interconnection to the grid through a special bi-directional net meter installed at no cost to customers. To date, more than 600 kW of customer-owned PV has been interconnected with Tampa Electric’s grid.
