Expert says Florida could export solar power

[jpak]

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2008/02/25/daily11.html

Oranges, sugar and -- solar power?

Florida's strong sunshine could make it an exporter of electrical power in the near future, a leader in the industry is telling people at a local conference this week.

"Florida could become a net energy exporter," said John O'Donnell, executive vice president of Palo Alto, Calif.-based Ausra, in an advance interview with the South Florida Business Journal.

"The costs will be 20 percent higher here than in the desert Southwest, but still lower than the rest of the southeast. Places like Georgia and the Carolinas may want Florida's power," he said.

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[angstlessk]

1. hell, they can't keep their own lights on and they want to export electricity? n/t

[better tomorrow]

4. power outage in MiamiDade right now....

there is a link somewhere in the discussion thread about it already.

Heck, we have had less sunny days in the last five years than the previous 10 years I have lived here. I used to marvel at how beautiful the blue sky was and now I marval at how many cloudy days we have compared to when I lived in PA.....

[physioex]

6. I believe the purpose of this article....

Is to explore the possibilities. I have only been there a couple of times but from all the plentiful sun, I imagine they could harness lots of solar energy and have excess to export to other states. This would be a great business since it would bring dollars and create jobs. The only thing lacking is good leadership...

[iconoclastic cat]

2. If only we could harness the power of stupid Republican voters in FL. nt

[better tomorrow]

5. maybe they can harness some of Hillary's....

fire and brimstone...

[jpak]

8. A can of PBR on a string and a treadmill would do it...

:evilgrin:

[Warpy]

3. Florida sunshine is weak and watery compared to what we get

here in the desert southwest. Plus, it rains a lot there. In addition, where are they going to put those solar farms? What isn't covered by tract housing and trailer parks is still productive agricultural land.

[SteppingRazor]

7. Jesus, what's with shitting on Florida?

Do you, like, search for the term "Florida" and then go on the attack? I mean, really now! :P

[Warpy]

9. My mother despised Florida

for the 37 years she lived there. She was nonverbal by the time she went, but I'm sure she was still mentally cursing the place.

I always hated it there. It's hot, humid, buggy, crowded, and oppressive to me. If they'd moved farther south, enough to get more Cuban flavor, I might have a slightly different opinion, but central Florida is a pit. You can't even get through that solid wall of yuppie condos to a beach any more.

That's why I don't like Florida.

[Nihil]

10. Could be a challenge ...

> In addition, where are they going to put those solar farms?

They'd have to put the panels & transmission infrastructure high enough
up to survive the flooding but secure enough to survive the hurricanes ...

:shrug: