At Tampa’s desalination plant, seawater pumped through a network of 10,032 membranes becomes drinkable. [Photo: Mark Wemple] |
A smart approach
to power
Smart power — the ability to employ energy-saving technologies individually and at the touch of a button — is coming soon to Tampa Bay.
The University of South Florida’s Power Center for Utility Explorations and Progress Energy Florida have been selected by Florida’s Energy and Climate Commission to build the largest and most comprehensive smart grid in the Southeast. The first to enjoy it will be approximately 5,000 utility customers on the west side of St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach.
Incorporating alternative energy sources such as solar power and biodiesel fuel, the three-year, $15-million project aims to develop a system that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a power supply that adapts to individual energy demands while providing better reliability and efficiency. Funding for the project is provided by the Florida Energy and Climate Commission, Progress Energy, Publix Super Markets and HD Supply, a distributor of smart-grid technologies.
Unlike systems elsewhere that implement elements of smart grid technology, the USF-Progress Energy collaboration will be a fully integrated system of renewable energy sources, advanced sensors, communication and control technologies and two-way communication between utilities and customers to produce a more reliable and higher-quality power system.
Highly Connected
With 12,000 miles of state highways, 21 major commercial airports, nearly 3,000 miles of rail and 14 deepwater ports, many of which are already expanding to accommodate post-Panamax ships, Florida is a multi-modal phenomenon.
The Employ Florida Banner Center for Logistics & Distribution at Lake City Community College is developing cutting-edge, industry- driven curriculum to train the next generation of workers for Florida’s fast-growing logistics and distribution industry.
Information moves quickly in Florida, too, thanks to the Network Access Point (NAP) and AMPATH network, both of which are located in Miami. LAGrid, which links commerce and industry to Latin America and other regions, and Florida LambdaRail, a fiber-optic network facilitating advanced research activities, also are located here. |
“Our overall approach is a balanced solution strategy,” says Jeffrey Lyash, president and CEO of Progress Energy Florida. “To that end, we’re committed to building the best possible energy efficiency program and to partnering with universities on research, development and demonstration.”
Going greener
Floridians are “greening up” their lives in dozens of innovative and interesting ways.
» All new government buildings in Florida must meet or exceed certain green standards, such as the use of recycled materials and water-wise appliances.
» Professional Diversified Services, a lawn maintenance company in Cocoa, is among the first in Florida to use propane-powered mowers and equipment, which are proving to be both environmentally friendly and cost effective.
» Two towns in east central Florida — DeLand and Del-tona — passed ordinances that provide fast-track permitting and reduced impact fees for developers and homeowners who elect to build and live green.
» Eustis is the first city in Florida to own and maintain a solar-powered charging station for NEVs (neighborhood electric vehicles).
Liquid for life
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) manages the quality and quantity of Florida’s water supply. In addition to developing statewide water policies, FDEP works closely with five water management districts to ensure that their programs are consistent with provisions of the Florida Water Resources Act and the Water Protection and Sustainability Program, both of which were created to ensure a safe and abundant water supply.
» Tampa Bay Water’s desalination plant is the largest such facility in North America; it has a maximum capacity to treat 25 million gallons of drinking water per day using a reverse osmosis process.
» Destiny, a community planned in southeast Osceola County, is being touted as the nation’s first eco-sustainable city. Renderings of the new development show a city center with a floating market, biking and hiking paths and hundreds of miles of navigable waterways.
» Algal turf scrubbers developed by Ocala-based HydroMentia Inc. have shown promise in removing phosphorous deposits near Lake Okeechobee; if further testing finds the scrubber technology adaptable to large-scale projects, it could play an important role in cleaning up the Everglades.
» A St. Petersburg company has devised a way to make water from air. AquaVentus’ compact, solar-powered refrigeration unit can make 20 gallons of drinkable water per day by wringing humidity from the air.
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