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Author	Topic: Florida's biggest solar-energy plant far from realizing its potential	Post a Reply Back to Topics

bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:9,172 Points:1,300,170 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 12:26:00 AM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse The mirror-covered behemoth that constitutes Florida's largest, and one of the nation's most ambitious, ventures into solar energy has been producing a small fraction of the power promised by its owner. An Orlando Sentinel review of production data on file with state regulators reveals that, during its first year of operation, the Florida Power & Light Co. solar plant in Martin County has not come close to producing enough electricity to meet the demand of 11,000 homes — the output that FPL continues to claim for its one-of-a-kind facility. Instead, it generated enough power last year for only 2,056 homes, according to the Sentinel's analysis of monthly reports filed by FPL with the Florida Public Service Commission. Company officials said the lagging performance was caused by the Visit Orlando Sentinel for full article

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The mirror-covered behemoth that constitutes Florida's largest, and one of the nation's most ambitious, ventures into solar energy has been producing a small fraction of the power promised by its owner.

An Orlando Sentinel review of production data on file with state regulators reveals that, during its first year of operation, the Florida Power & Light Co. solar plant in Martin County has not come close to producing enough electricity to meet the demand of 11,000 homes — the output that FPL continues to claim for its one-of-a-kind facility.

Instead, it generated enough power last year for only 2,056 homes, according to the Sentinel's analysis of monthly reports filed by FPL with the Florida Public Service Commission.

Company officials said the lagging performance was caused by the
Visit Orlando Sentinel for full article

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,643 Points:1,611,470 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2012 5:03:47 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse vtr: I agree, at least there is less reliance, and most FL homes in that area use a lot of energy due to high cooling usage.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,643 Points:1,611,470 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 14, 2012 5:02:54 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse northeast: b/c greed drives the actions.
gasokie Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:3,448 Points:1,326,225 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Mar 12, 2012 12:50:52 PM Ignore gasokie Report Abuse It has been said "There is nothing new under the Sun."
northeast2 Champion Author New York Posts:3,849 Points:1,007,200 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 12, 2012 11:59:41 AM Ignore northeast2 Report Abuse "According to an FPL report filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, an estimated 46,000 gallons of fluid sprayed into the air for two hours, raining down on 25 acres of power-plant property. The fluid, while not highly hazardous to people, is extremely toxic to fish and aquatic organisms, and the plant overlooks the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee, Florida's largest lake." Why do these systems always seem to fail a "common sense" test?
vtroger Veteran Author Vermont Posts:284 Points:562,720 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 12, 2012 12:04:13 AM Ignore vtroger Report Abuse So fix the issue and work out the financial details later. This is still 2,056 homes that didn't need to reply on gas or oil.
GLCSHADOW Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,616 Points:1,887,310 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:54:51 PM Ignore GLCSHADOW Report Abuse So they give glowing projections that they know are false to get financing. Sounds like they are just as bad as other rip off artists.
mindrisa Veteran Author Denver Posts:380 Points:134,830 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:54:47 PM Ignore mindrisa Report Abuse ok
mindrisa Veteran Author Denver Posts:380 Points:134,830 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:54:37 PM Ignore mindrisa Report Abuse ok
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,038 Points:1,700,375 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:53:31 PM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse Slow and studdy wins the race. They will get there.
frostyWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,339 Points:519,235 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:53:25 PM Ignore frostyWV Report Abuse they will get the bugs worked out.
HEBster Champion Author Kentucky Posts:8,798 Points:2,375,975 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:51:44 PM Ignore HEBster Report Abuse Guess they're workin' the bugs out...
sabob Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:12,519 Points:1,130,220 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:50:15 PM Ignore sabob Report Abuse It's a start
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,630 Points:3,496,655 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:49:01 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse Solar still has major problems in being the primary provider of commercial energy.
autohio Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,785 Points:821,425 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:47:51 PM Ignore autohio Report Abuse Goodie
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:10,906 Points:2,133,555 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:43:35 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse Clouds and high humidity derate concentration plants. Clouds darken and humidity (haze) disperses sunlight. Both are bad for power production.
PontiacFan All-Star Author Gary Posts:776 Points:434,775 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:41:49 PM Ignore PontiacFan Report Abuse Gotta start somewhere, don't shoot the idea down yet.
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:5,972 Points:1,277,725 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:41:25 PM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse Give it more time.
nomad228 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,117 Points:575,140 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:33:07 PM Ignore nomad228 Report Abuse i thought the idea was to use these to super heat a type of coolant and then use that to generate electicity so there is loss of power during the heat exchange.odd that this has been working for others since 1984.www.solarpaces.org/CSP_Technology/docs/solar_trough.pdf - Similarto Solar Parabolic Trough nine large commercial-scale solar power plants, the first of which has been operating in the California Mojave Desert since 1984. ... a total of 354 MW of installed electric generating capacity. ... cooling is provided by mechanical draft wet cooling towers. ... in parallel with the solar heat exchangers, provide this capability.
ItsMorph Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:33,451 Points:3,188,105 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:32:14 PM Ignore ItsMorph Report Abuse The earth's getting cooler, maybe the solar panels can help heat it up!
animal63 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:950 Points:1,032,050 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:31:35 PM Ignore animal63 Report Abuse At least they are trying something that doesn't cause more global warming!
LanguageMan1 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,733 Points:1,663,740 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:30:35 PM Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse Considering what I use my solar panels for and when I'm able to use them, they're doing just fine. I suggest they get the kinks out of their system. Seems like some at the top there along with some between the top and a few at the bottom need to be replaced if they can't get it working fully. That's the problem with many companies.
yakstar Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,430 Points:480,845 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:30:28 PM Ignore yakstar Report Abuse sunkist...
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:5,998 Points:1,114,940 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:30:07 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse "According to an FPL report filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, an estimated 46,000 gallons of fluid sprayed into the air for two hours, raining down on 25 acres of power-plant property. The fluid, while not highly hazardous to people, is extremely toxic to fish and aquatic organisms, and the plant overlooks the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee, Florida's largest lake." Another reason to use rooftop solar panels on every roof...
BWJM Champion Author KW Posts:1,113 Points:303,780 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:29:46 PM Ignore BWJM Report Abuse ok
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:8,756 Points:1,978,600 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:28:28 PM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse Give FPL a break, this is something new and there is a learning curve as well as experimentation in any new and different enterprise.
LilRedWagonIN Champion Author Indiana Posts:7,786 Points:1,557,085 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:28:01 PM Ignore LilRedWagonIN Report Abuse Making promises like that qualifies him to become a politician and run for office.
lyons_coop Veteran Author Kansas Posts:411 Points:156,810 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:27:45 PM Ignore lyons_coop Report Abuse It's a start. Let's be realistic, no attempt on the mass commercial level is going to be perfect out of the shoot. Give them some time, let the bugs get worked out of it.
mrbee Champion Author Little Rock Posts:3,765 Points:2,468,450 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:27:18 PM Ignore mrbee Report Abuse Another farce.
bcok Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,126 Points:1,544,495 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:27:10 PM Ignore bcok Report Abuse Solar is the only way to go, if the best.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,863 Points:1,614,950 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:24:50 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse “. . . characterized its operation so far as marred by ‘learning-curve’ issues rather than any flaws in the technology.” Let’s hope that is right. We should all want this to work effectively. Integrating it with an existing steam plant seems like a good way to go.
heartbroken2010 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:4,354 Points:899,485 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:22:23 PM Ignore heartbroken2010 Report Abuse really ??
Bubba44612 Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,406 Points:1,879,030 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:20:12 PM Ignore Bubba44612 Report Abuse Well when you are a first it takes time to get everything right.
bdlewis Champion Author Colorado Posts:1,384 Points:382,905 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:17:22 PM Ignore bdlewis Report Abuse Wow - Thats a whopping 18.7% of projection. Alternative energy sounds very convincing way to go.
WVUtailgater Champion Author Cleveland Posts:8,446 Points:1,700,635 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:17:18 PM Ignore WVUtailgater Report Abuse let's get this right the first time
herndonks Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,116 Points:211,685 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:16:32 PM Ignore herndonks Report Abuse Xxxxx
nd73 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,082 Points:489,450 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:15:57 PM Ignore nd73 Report Abuse If Obama funded this one too, it should go belly-up any day now!!
millerin Champion Author Orlando Posts:2,322 Points:483,315 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:15:33 PM Ignore millerin Report Abuse hope it'll work better later.
abs578 Sophomore Author London Posts:148 Points:366,030 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:14:54 PM Ignore abs578 Report Abuse good
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,836 Points:1,432,700 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:14:51 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Florida is where reality meets fantasy. This power plant should be named after Walt Disney...
Bonito Champion Author Dayton Posts:15,766 Points:3,009,845 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:14:11 PM Ignore Bonito Report Abuse Super --- anything is better than Oil!
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:10,547 Points:1,860,320 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:14:07 PM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse It's a start.
herndonks Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,116 Points:211,685 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:13:25 PM Ignore herndonks Report Abuse Ok
umitb Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:3,681 Points:844,415 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:11:45 PM Ignore umitb Report Abuse ok
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:11:44 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Lying does not help the green goal.
LoneGuy Champion Author Lansing Posts:8,490 Points:2,319,945 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:07:38 PM Ignore LoneGuy Report Abuse Betting of green jobs is for losers.
JesseJack52 All-Star Author Virginia Beach Posts:628 Points:127,835 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:07:38 PM Ignore JesseJack52 Report Abuse 2056 has always been higher than 0
esquared Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:8,072 Points:1,971,085 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:04:40 PM Ignore esquared Report Abuse Let a hundred flowers blossom.
amgine27 Champion Author New York Posts:1,283 Points:308,640 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:04:00 PM Ignore amgine27 Report Abuse ok
jem069 Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,548 Points:689,030 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:03:55 PM Ignore jem069 Report Abuse ok
TheeRedRam Champion Author Hartford Posts:3,173 Points:674,585 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Mar 11, 2012 11:03:31 PM Ignore TheeRedRam Report Abuse Hummm imagine that