The Nilon Report

Energy Town Hall for Sarasota - Save the Date!

2010-07-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

Energy Town Hall for Sarasota

WSLR, Sarasota Power and Transition Sarasota are co-hosting a town hall that will specifically cover the FPL franchise agreement.

It will be an informal forum for the public to ask questions of a panel of experts regarding the issue of how we get our electricity and what the options will be for the city of Sarasota to signing another 30 year agreement with FPL.

This is an extension to the one held by the city commissioners at city hall in June. We want to build on that platform and allow the public more interaction and open the floor for more discussion. It is our intention to allow the public to take lead in this issue and help educate everyone in all of the options.

When: August 17^th, 2010

Where: The Sanctuary at First Congregational – Bahia Vista and Euclid, Sarasota Fl

Time: 7pm – 9pm
If you have any questions or would like to make suggestions as to who should appear on the panel, please feel free to contact me here: Sarasota Power

Campaign Kick-Off Party for Nancy Feehan - Candidate for House District 70

2010-07-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

Campaign Kick-Off Party

You are cordially invited to attend the Campaign Kick Off Party for

Nancy Feehan

for Florida House District 70

July 28th, 2010

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

We will be celebrating at Bentley’s Resort Hotel!!

Bentley’s Resort Hotel, Osprey Florida

1660 S. Tamiami Trail
Osprey, FL 34229

(Light Bites & Cash Bar)

Suggested donation is $30.00. Contributions are limited to $500 per person or corporate entity.

Please make checks payable to “Nancy Feehan for House District 70.”
To contribute online, click here or mail your donation to P.O. Box 111, Osprey,
Florida 34229

To RSVP, please contact Nancy’s Campaign office at 941-244-2266 or email
Susan@NancyFeehan.com

Special session to ban drilling is in serious trouble

2010-07-16T09:54:00.001-07:00

"Looks like the Governor's special session to ban drilling is in serious trouble. One of the most important things you can do today is to place calls into Rep. Dean Cannon (850) 488-2742 and Sen. Jeff Atwater (850) 487-5100 and tell them that enough is enough. People, economies and wildlife in the Gulf are suffering and they must not pass up this historic opportunity to ban offshore drilling in state waters forever." - Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Let the sunshine out: City Commissioners wish for a better way to plan the FPL negotiations

2010-07-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

Reprinted from Creative Loafing

July 12th, 2010 by Brian Ries in News, Politics

At the end of last week's Sarasota City Commission meeting, an offhanded comment by Commissioner Terry Turner illustrated some of the problems with the city’s ongoing negotiations with FPL over how electricity will flow to businesses and residents. The real question appears to be: How's the power flowing in the negotiations?

Commissioners have a few minutes at the end of the meetings to talk about whatever they like, and Turner decided to repeat something he had heard from FPL representative Rae Dowling questioning who was in charge of the negotiations. “She said something that was troubling to me,” said Turner, “she thinks Mr. Wright is in charge of negotiations for the city.” Turner confirmed with Schef Wright — the attorney hired by the city to assist in the negotiations — that he wasn’t negotiating, but “the fact of the matter is that we have some ambiguity in the minds of FPL and some of the public.” Commissioner Susan Atwell had heard similar things from FPL representative Nick Gladding.

Get past the point that Gladding was recently appointed by Governor Crist to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission, seemingly in conflict with being paid to assist FPL in these negotiations, the real meat of the issue came next when Mayor Kelly Kirschner asked if the commissioners could hold a meeting about the negotiations outside of public view. City Attorney Robert Fournier said that would not be possible because of Florida’s Sunshine Laws. Trying to skirt pass Sunshine Laws might seem both a little nefarious and somewhat dangerous — considering the recent spate of lawsuits against local governments — but all of the commissioners seemed to support Mayor Kirschner’s attempt.

“It puts us at a disadvantage that FPL can go in one on one with commissioners, but we commissioners cant strategize and discuss as well,” explained Kirschner at the meeting, while Turner said “this is a particularly awkward time to be in that position.”

Later, I asked Kirschner why he wanted to skirt the Sunshine Laws in this case. “If you look at the communities that have tried to negotiate with FPL, they start off strong but a bunch of stuff takes place in the background,” he explained. “FPL finds weak points.” For him, it’s common sense that being able to have a discussion with his fellow commissioners about the City’s goals and tactics would be helpful, but only if FPL wasn’t able to listen in. As Turner said: “If you’re in negotiation with someone and they know everything you’re thinking and your complete strategy it gives them an advantage.”

Beyond that, a non-public meeting would allow the commission to present a unified front. “FPL’s meeting with everyone one on one and I think that is slowly biting and nipping at what would otherwise be a significant unanimous agreement on what we need to pursue,” Kirschner says. Case in point: Turner’s comment about public perception of who’s in charge of the negotiations.

I asked Turner if he suspected that FPL’s Rae Dowling was purposely fomenting trouble when she claimed not to know who was in charge of the negotiations — after all, the utility has a lot of experience dealing with negotiations like this and surely knows who has the final say. “I take people at their word,” said Turner.

Creative Loafing - Sarasota

Should the Sarasota City Commision close out the public from franchise talks?

2010-07-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

The Sarasota City Commission is asking the city attorney to find a way for them to meet in private to discuss the FPL franchise agreement. I took issue with that the other day. Here is a further explanation as to why:

We all realize the beauty of being able to speak freely in a closed room without an audience. It gives us the chance to be able to speak out loud without great penalty and then formulate our message without creating more damage then doing good. It also gives us the ability to lay our cards on the table and still have the ability to take them back when necessary. It is also the fastest way to get things settled. These reasons are all understandable in the realm of negotations..at least if the playing field was leveled.

The problem the commission has with a workshop being opened to the public is that, along with the public, FPL will also have access. So the last thing that any of them want to do is strategize on behalf of the city and have FPL taking notes.

My problem with the closed workshop now is that this should have been done prior to their first public meeting. My concern is that even though it would be a closed workshop, FPL will still be in that room.

As it stands now, FPL is allowed to have personal, one-on-one, meetings with each commissioner. The information that they gain from one commissioner is used to formulate the next discussion...giving FPL full advantage over each commissioner. Now, the only thing each commissioner has to go on is what FPL is telling them. FPL definitely has the advantage. However, now, when the commissioners enter into that closed meeting they are already influenced by their discussions with FPL. Meanwhile, the public is left out in the dark.

For me, the commissioners have not spent enough time with the public in order for the public to have a position in that room. They are the civil servants whose obligation is to represent us. But how can they truly represent us when so little time has spent with us? 90 people were in the room at the first and possibly only town hall last month. Out of the 90 - were officials from FPL, people who were invited by FPL, officials from the Municipal Utility industry, solar business owners, reporters, and so on. Only approximately half of the audience was made up of the public. And then only a portion of that number spoke to the commission. It did not help that the town hall was held in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week.

Is the public really served in these proceedings? The purpose of the town halls was to educate the public so they can not only make an informed decision, but also be confident enough to be able to communicate their wishes. The purpose of the second town hall was to further explore the additional alternatives to the FPL franchise agreement. With commissioners questioning the merit of a second town hall leaves me to believe that they have already formed their answers and now they just want to expedite the process.

FPL should have been prevented to have any private discussions with the commissioners. They definitely have the upper hand. I would go further to say that the activities of FPL and their talks with each comissioner should also be of public record. That way not only would be public continue to be educated on the negotiations, but so would the other comissioners.

If any issue should be taken with the proceeedings, it should be that it is not held in the proper format. While nicely done, the public was not allowed to ask questions. All the public is ever allowed to do is make statements during a three minute alottment of time at the end of the meeting. Getting no feed back from the comission or the other participants on the panel only leaves one feeling very placated. But how much do we really learn? I know a lot about energy...way more than a girl with a background in threatre could have ever imagined. But I have been spending the past several years educating myself on the topic. From sitting with lawmakers, attending conferences, interviewing business owners, etc - I have more hours than I care to count on learning about energy. But how many other people can invest that kind of time? I feel that it is the responsibility of the commission to open the doors and make it easy for the public to become involved. It is the duty of a civil servant to serve the public and provide the opportunity for the public to brought up to the same level of knowledge that they have when making those decisions on behalf of the public.

The one thing that really got my goat was not that the commission requested to have private meetings, but that Commisioner Turner questioned the need for another town hall. We are not operating under a deadline when it comes to signing the franchise agreement. We no longer have a franchise agreement. Time is truly on our side. If nothing else can be to our benefit, is this opportunity that we have been granted to learn more about the power that we have in our hands.

I, for one, will not accept this to be swept under the rug so we can move onto the next issue at hand. The public will be allowed the opportunity to be educated on this matter,with or without the City's help. They can choose to either be the exception or the rule. But the lesson will be learned.

To express your interest to the City Commission, you can find their information here.

A citizen speaks up for keeping the FPL franchise agreement negotiations in the PUBLIC eye

2010-07-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Reprinted from City Email:

Dear Commissioners,

I myself met with Mel Kline and Rae Dowling yesterday to discuss the franchise agreement. The meeting was initiated by Rae and was in response to an email inquiry I had sent FP&L via Nick Gladding. The questions posed can be seen below in the attached email.

In discussing the issue of the franchise agreement with FP&L, the issue became more clear to me than ever. In my opinion, the conversation should be focusing around questions 1 and 2 below.

1. What is the benefit to the citizens of Sarasota in signing a Franchise Agreement with FP&L?

o The fact is we the citizens receive no benefit. It ties us into a contract that we have no incentive to initiate. In the short term not renewing the franchise agreement would actually mean my electric bill would be decrease by around 6%.

o The government does receive a benefit in signing the agreement in that it makes their duties a little easier because they can continue to tax the citizens in our area through the franchise fee and continue to pursue a "business as usual" mentality. In my opinion, this is not a good reason for signing the agreement. An as a city resident, I will not vote in the future for any commissioner who accepts a 30 year franchise agreement from FP&L.

o FP&L on the other hand has great benefits from the city signing such an agreement. It guarantees that for the next 30 years we will continue to allow them to have exclusive rights to providing power to our community...now that they can "take to the bank".

2. Isn't FP&L required by DCA (via the PSC) to provide power to us whether or not a Franchise Agreement is instated? The answer to that question is yes, FP&L will still be providing us with power and the same level of service whether or not we have a franchise agreement (just like Manatee County has no agreement). I would like to point out if there is no franchise agreement, we would have the opportunity to consider becoming a public utility at any time we feel it is an appropriate avenue to pursue.

My understanding in listening to comments by Commissioner Turner at the recent commission meeting is that you (FP&L) are unsure of "who is running the show"? Well, I hope the show is being run by concerned citizens that are using their rights in a democratic society to voice their opinion and bring about real change. I am very hopeful the ability to execute this right will continue.

At the request of Rae Dowling and Mel Kline, I looked at the back of my bill for how the Franchise charge is defined. "Franchise Charge: A fee to local governments that we have an agreement with in order to provide electricity to their area". I would venture to say this is a severely limited statement and almost deceptive. The agreement has nothing to do with the fact that the fee is needed "in order to provide electricity to their area". The electricity would be provided regardless of whether the Franchise Agreement, or associated fee, was in place. That is not obvious from the statement description.

I see no reason for the City Government, as my representative, should enter into a franchise agreement. If they were to enter into an agreement, I feel the only acceptable term would be a 5 year agreement. With market conditions changing almost daily, I cannot feasibly see how we could commit to a 30 year agreement. If FP&L truly wants to "partner", they should understand this position and welcome the implied challenges in having a shorter term agreement. Let's look at history, 30 years ago when the last franchise agreement was initiated there was a huge push from the White House to diversify our countries power production and switch to forms of renewable energy. FP&L has had 30 years to make changes to the way they have been producing and distributing power in our area and I am disappointed with many of the choices they have made. Maybe we can facilitate change by taking a stand now and causing FP&L to wake-up and realize the "business as usual" mentality has no place in our community!

Thank you for taking the time to review this email and my concerns. I look forward to seeing you at the next PUBLIC meeting.

Sincerely,

Roger Landry, LEED^® AP

FPL is turning down the sunshine in Sarasota

2010-07-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

It is a sad day in Mudville folks when one of our City Commissioners questions the point of holding another town hall for the public to explore the remaining options for the city when it comes to alternatives to signing the FPL franchise agreement. It's even sadder when the city attorney is instructed to find ways around the Sunshine Law.

It appears that Commissioner Turner, the same man who was the first to lead the quest in finding alternatives to the city's energy supplier, is now having second thoughts about even going through the process. After receiving a call from Rae Dowling, representative of FPL, Commissioner Turner is now calling into question Schef Wright, the attorney the city hired to help negotiate the franchise agreement, wondering what influence he has in these negotiations. "It's troubling to me. She (Ms. Dowling) thinks that Mr. Wright is in charge of negotiations for the city." And now Mr. Turner is questioning other things that Ms. Dowling took issue with. Commissioner Turner goes on to say that he is "not very comfortable" with the thought of having another public meeting or a feasibility study on the alternatives. Commissioner Atwell said that Nick Gladding and Mel Kline asked, "Who's running the show?" during their meeting.

Yes. I, too, would like to also know who is running the show?

It was only less than two months ago that Commissioner Turner was challenging the integrity of FPL and their offer to the city. He brought up points that most people wouldn't have the guts to even talk about. That evening, he was asking the same questions that they people would have been asking if they too had a chance to read the new franchise agreement offered by FPL to the city. Now it seems that it was all a ruse. There was no meat on that bone. There was never any intention of any real follow through other than a small offering to the public. Now, the same Commissioner is asking the city attorney to see how they can get around the Sunshine Laws and hold a closed workshop for the Commission.

What is going on here?? Is everything that we do a charade? When will the people stand up and not just take notice but actually demand a better government. "Just wait until November" I am told over and over again. November? Really? Is that when it's gong to happen. I'll be sure to make it down on my calendar. And if you believe "November" is the date when the message is going to be heard loud and clear...well I've got a bridge I want to sell you. And that bridge is available now.

Why is it that you think change is going to happen each time there is an election?? Every time an opportunity arises we pass on it, thinking that someone else will take care of it for us?? This mantra of CHANGE is really wearing thin on me. Change will never happen when the majority spends most of their time waiting for someone else to drive the bus.

"THE GOVERNMENT IS BROKEN" is what I hear all of the time. Well I have a more honest assessment - CORPORATE AMERICA is KILLING US! I will say it again. CORPORATE AMERICA is KILLING US! And yet we have made the government the evil-doers . We continually give Corporate America a pass because we all find ourselves sitting on the sidelines hoping that the coach will take us off the bench and put us into the game. So we allow them to be above the law when it comes to crimes against the people. We scream about injustice when our President doesn't go and punch someone out over the BP Oil Spill...and yet, where the hell is Haliburton or Transocean in all of this? Why aren't they down cleaning the beach???

Just last week two different articles were written about how FPL continually controls the Public Service Commission like the strings on a marionette. And yet our City Commission is still thinking that they can trust FPL when they are told that negotiations can be done outside of the franchise agreement. Well, I'm thinking I now have a few more customers for the bridge that I need to unload - and fast!

When are we, the people, going to stop lining up like cattle? When are we going to stand up to those who are standing in our way to the future that we know is possible for us? When are we going to say, "We are not going to stand for this anymore!"

Just recently a lobbyist was heard to say FPL will decide who the winners and losers are going to be. We need the Sunshine now more that ever. Don't let FPL run our city like they are running our state. Write the City Commissioners and let them know that we are tired and we are not going to take it anymore!

I pledge that I will take the 6% that FPL collects from me for the franchise fee and give it directly to the city.

How about you? Will you take that pledge?

For video on the July 6 commission meeting -- Commissioner Comment section 1:44-1:52 of the recording --click here

Florida House debuts first solar powered air conditioning system

2010-07-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

Already known for innovation in energy conservation and sustainability, Sarasota County government is partnering with a local HVAC contractor to use the energy of the sun to cool the Florida House.

Representatives from Tri County Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. will join Sarasota County Commissioners at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 7, at the Florida House, 4454 Beneva Road, Sarasota to announce plans to install a state-of-the-art Lennox solar powered air conditioning system that will be the first of its kind in Florida.

Air conditioning accounts for 56 percent of an average household’s electricity consumption. The new system could decrease electric bills as much as 50 percent. An additional benefit of the system is that when the unit is not operating and the sun is shining, it will produce energy for additional household demands.

Tri County Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. has been in business for over 33 years and is one of the largest HVAC installers and service providers in the state of Florida. “When we learned in December of 2009 that Lennox was developing an air conditioning system that runs on solar power, we thought the Florida House would be the perfect place to introduce it to the public,” said Bill Swanson, President of Tri County Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc.

Lennox has just begun production of the new unit and, according to John McCarthy, head of Sarasota County Parks and Recreation the timing could not be better, “We’re celebrating our independence as a country on July 4^th and now we’re announcing the next step to our ‘energy’ independence thanks to technology and local business partners like Tri County. Sarasota County government considers it and honor and a privilege to showcase yet another watershed event in the effort to become a more sustainable community.”

Tri County Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. will also install indoor air quality products and a separate photovoltaic system that will provide most of the energy needed to operate the rest of the house. The total retail value of the donation of all material and labor to install the products is approximately $65,000. It is the single largest donation to the Florida House renovation project by any local business.

Photovoltaics, new air conditioning, and indoor air quality products are just a few of the new additions to the Florida House, which plans to re-open in the fall. “We’re very excited about the cooperation we’ve received updating the Florida House,” says Nan Summers, executive director of The Florida House. “It has been a community project and we’re looking forward to sharing the results of the efforts of our partners with the public.”

The Florida House is a demonstration home and landscape featuring readily available environmentally friendly materials and methods for new and existing Florida homes and yards. The Florida House is a public/private partnership featuring Sarasota County Government, The University of Florida/IFAS Sarasota County Extension, The Florida House Foundation of Sarasota, Inc., and Sarasota County School District.

For more information, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or visit www.scgov.net

Reprint of Press Release

Sarasota, you have humbled me.

2010-06-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

This is a short post, but worth taking the time to say it.

For quite a few years I have headed out to the coast line in protest of what we are doing to our environment. Most of the time I am accompanied by a small group of like minded people and after a short moment in the sun, we pack up our signs, dust off the sand, and go home. All to do it again the next time we need to remind everyone how vital the environment is to our existence.

But in all my years of work, never have I seen so many people join hands as they did today on the same beach that I have stood in the past. Today, no one was labeled a "Tree Hugger" or an "environmentalist wacko" (my personal favorite). Today, no one was singled out as a part of the lunatic fringe or a communist. Today, it was just a group of citizens who, as in the words of Commissioner Jon Thaxton, are "mad as hell" for what we are facing in the gulf.

3000 people joined hands on Siesta Key Beach today. Over a million people joined hands all around the world in solidarity to say, "We are mad as hell and we are not going to take it any more!"

Hat's off to everyone today who took a stand against the direction our country is heading in. You have my most sincerest admiration. Not since the 2008 elections have I seen so many people come together for something that they believed in. The truth is we are not just talking about change, we are the change. We are no longer asking to take the helm, we are telling those who are standing in front of us to get out of the way. No more rhetoric. No more theorizing. No more lies.

3000 people stood on Siesta Key beach stood and said "Enough is Enough."

Sarasota, I have just become your biggest fan!

Citizens of Sarasota to Participate in Largest Gathering Against Offshore Drilling in History

2010-06-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

1000 to Join Hands at Siesta Key Public Beach

WHAT: Local "Hands Across the Sand" gathering in solidarity with over 400 events around the U.S. and in 15 other countries around the world to raise awareness about the dangers of offshore drilling and to call on leaders to end our oil dependence and move America into a clean energy future.

WHO: Sarasota County citizens and visitors, including Representative Keith Fitzgerald, FL-69, U.S. Congressman Vern Buchanan D-13, Sarasota County Commissioners Jon Thaxton and Nora Patterson, and City of Sarasota Mayor Kelly Kirschner.

WHEN: Saturday, June 26 at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Siesta Key Public Beach, 948 Beach Road, Sarasota, FL

***VISUALS WILL INCLUDE A LARGE GROUP OF CITIZENS JOINING HANDS ON THE BEACH, MUSICIANS, SIGNS, BANNERS AND FLY-BYS

Please come and bring the whole family. Take a stand against what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico and let the world know where the line in the sand is drawn.

Clean Energy Congress in Tallahasse open to all

2010-06-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

June 28-29, 2010 - House Chamber, Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida

Florida has an opportunity to grow our economy and create jobs by establishing a market for the clean tech sector. For this reason and many more, there is an increasing urgency to put state and federal policies in place to attract investments to the state. Don’t miss a unique opportunity to create a vision for a sustainable energy future for Florida and the nation.

To submit ideas or participate as a delegate or observer, visit www.cleanenergycongress.org.

Space is limited so respond right away.

Monday, June 28

10:00 am Presentations
12:00 pm Lunch – 22nd Floor, Capitol
1:30 – 5:30 pm Discussion of delegate proposals
5:30 - 7:00 pm Reception – 22nd Floor, Capitol

Tuesday, June 29

8:30 am Adoption of Ideas and Policy Recommendations
12:00 pm Congress Adjourns
12:15 pm Press Conference and Signing Ceremony
“Declaration of Energy Independence”

For more information, visit www.cleanenergycongress.org or e-mail cleanenergycongress@gmail.com.

The Clean Energy Congress is sponsored by The Florida Business Network for a Clean Energy Economy.
Special thanks to State Representative Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda who co-created the concept, is sponsoring
our use of the House Chamber and the 22nd Floor, and has been spent many hours helping to plan the event.

HARIDOPOLOS TO MODERATE ENERGY SUMMIT

2010-06-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos will lead a summit on the development of clean energy in Florida in July, a newly-formed group announced Thursday.

Citizens for Clean Energy, which will hold its first summit July 8 in Orlando, tapped the incoming Senate President to lead the discussion on how Florida can develop more alternative energy fuels as the state continues to grapple with the massive oil spill in the Gulf coast. The group describes itself as “a coalition of leaders, organizations, and concerned Americans committed to supporting education and public policy change that advance clean energy jobs and technologies to improve both our economy and our environment.” Haridopolos said Thursday that he was drawn to the summit because it reminded him of a similar summit about job creation he held with House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon earlier this year. “It’s all geared toward solutions, not rhetoric,” he told reporters on a conference call. “It’s part of a methodical, thoughtful approach to not only creating more energy alternatives, but also national security. The less reliant on foreign oil, the better.”

However, Haridopolos added that he was still not sold on a possible special session this summer to ban oil drilling, which Gov. Charlie Crist has suggested could also include renewable energy legislation. Crist still has not made clear what he wanted to see lawmakers take up, Haridopolos said. “If it is to ban something that’s already been banned, I’m not that interested,” he said. “If the governor wants to call a special session, which he has the authority to do, he also has the responsibility to put a blueprint on the table, in my opinion, as opposed to Monday morning quarterbacking"

SPECIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS ENERGY ISSUES

2010-06-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

Sarasota, FL: An expert panel will discuss private and public utilities during a Special City Commission Meeting tomorrow Wed., June 16th 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1565 First Street. The format will provide an opportunity for public input.

The panelists may include:

• Pegeen Hanrahan, Former Mayor of Gainesville, Fl.

• Randy Knight; City Manager, Winter Park
• Jerry Warren; Electric Director, Winter Park
• Barry Moline; Executive Director, Florida Municipal Electric Association
• Robert Scheffel Wright; Special Legal Counsel, City of Sarasota
• Rae Dowling; Area Manager, Florida Power & Light
• Buck Martinez; Renewable Development Sr. Dir., Florida Power & Light
• Ken Rubin; Legal Counsel, Florida Power & Light
• Bob Bellemare; COO, Utilipoint International

The format is expected to include a 60-90 minute presentation by the expert panel. City Commissioners will then ask questions. Next, citizens will be allowed three minutes each to ask questions or make comments. The meeting will include the panelists addressing citizens’ comments.

During the meeting, energy issues will be discussed with an emphasis on a proposed franchise agreement with Florida Power & Light. The City’s franchise agreement with FPL expired last month and negotiations have been underway to extend the agreement. Both the City of Sarasota and FPL have offered modifications regarding terms and conditions.

Due to a programming conflict with a previously scheduled Sarasota County Budget Workshop, the special meeting will be shown live only on Verizon Fios channel 34 and the City of Sarasota website: www.sarasotagov.com. The meeting will be replayed almost immediately on Wed., June 16th at 6:00 p.m. on Comcast Cable channel 19 and Verizon Fios channels 32. It will be shown again Sun., June 20th at 3:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable channel 19, and Verizon Fios channels 32.

Sarasota presses FPL to encourage alternative energy

2010-06-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

Partially reprinted from Sarasota Herald Tribune
By Robert Eckhart

“Our opportunity is now,” said City Commissioner Dick Clapp. “If we don’t take the opportunity, I don’t know when we’ll get another chance.”

SARASOTA – “Power to the People!” was the title of one congratulatory e-mail sent to City Hall as commissioners haggle with utilities giant Florida Power & Light.

Sarasota, which collects about $5 million a year in franchise fees from FPL, is the latest in a series of local governments trying to wring more concessions out of the power company amid contract talks.

Commissioners want a five-year extension — FPL has never agreed to less than 30 years — and other conditions that would encourage start-up alternative energy companies.

These are the same concessions that have been requested by local governments elsewhere in Florida, and FPL has not granted them anywhere yet.

But supporters of alternative energy are rooting commissioners on as the negotiations get serious here. And Mayor Kelly Kirschner has already suggested publicly that the city could start its own electric utility, if FPL will not make a deal.

“We’d like to think they would use a community like ours to perhaps pilot some of these opportunities,” Kirschner said Friday.

FPL is demurring, but did not officially respond to the city’s requests as the 30-year franchise agreement expired on May 28.

The company has pointed out its service is more reliable than the national average, and the typical residential bill is the lowest of the 55 electric utilities in Florida.

Commissioners say they want more public discussion of the deal, and called for a special energy meeting Wednesday with guest speakers from Winter Park, one of 34 Florida cities with taxpayer-owned electric utilities.

To continue reading, click Sarasota Herald Tribune.

“The difference is that Sarasota has a more motivated citizenry and set of city commissioners who are really committed to getting the best possible deal for the citizens of Sarasota for the next 30, 40 or 50 years,” Wright said.

City of Sarasota - FPL franchise agreement town hall and it's list of experts

2010-06-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

The list of expert panelists for the City of Sarasota FPL franchise agreement town hall has been officially announced.

Here they are:

Former Mayor of Gainesville, Florida, Pegeen Hanrahan – she will talk about her city's experiences with a municipal utility.

Executive Director of the Florida Electric Municipal Association, Barry Moline - he will talk about the process of taking a city from an Investor Owned Utility (IOU), such as FPL, to a Municipal Utility.

City Manager of Winter Park, Florida, Randy Knight – he will talk about why his city decided to start their own utility.

Tallahassee Attorney, Schef Wright from the Law Firm of Young Van Assenderp, PA – Mr. Wright is representing the City of Sarasota in their negotiations with FPL and their franchise agreement.

FPL Reps: TBA

It is rumored, but not confirmed, that FPL will be bringing in some "heavy hitters". Someone has said that representatives from FPL are coming from the headquarters in Juno Beach, Florida. Another says it could be Sarasota Attorney, Nick Gladding from the firm Ruden McCloskey. Nick Gladding was appointed by Governor Crist to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission and has been retained by FPL to represent them in their negotiations with the City of Sarasota. I will be updating as soon as I can confirm the FPL reps.

The audience will be packed with other business people and local citizens who have a very good knowledge base on the issues of renewable energy. It will be worth your while to attend.

Remember it this coming Wednesday,

June 16th, 2010
Sarasota City Hall
1565 1st Street, Room 101
Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: (941) 954-4115

Hours are 2p.m.- 5p.m.

Tonight: Vigil to stand in solidarity with those affected by the spill

2010-06-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Today is the 50th day since the start of the BP oil spill. Since BP has made the cuts to well and have placed a cap onto it, it is estimated that over 100,000 gallons are leaking into the ocean EVERY DAY!

It was the first week that volunteers were called into action, only to be put on hold by BP as they try to maintain control over the oil spill. Here we are one and a half months since the well exploded and most of us have only the chance to sit and watch the tragedy that is taking place in the gulf of Mexico. Waiting while nothing seems to be getting accomplished. Even the Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, has been pleading for help as his coastline is poisoned with oil. Two days ago the count for animal deaths we over a thousand. And no one can even estimate the coast that each state will bare, from the losses of the fishing industry, tourism, and jobs.

Unlike earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires - the oil spill in the Gulf is unending. There is no way we can calculate the damage. Therefore we cannot even begin to pick up the pieces and salvage what we have left in order to build again.

Tonight, across the country, people will attend Oil Spill Vigils to stand in solidarity with those affected by the spill and call for an end to America's addiction to oil. It's time that we stand up to the oil industry and demand more form our government. This is your time to stand up and let everyone know that you support better efforts in the Gulf and better legislation that will prohibit this from happening again.

To find a vigil near you, click here

If you are a resident of Sarasota, Florida you can come out to: City Island - Ken Thompson Parkway 7pm thru 9pm for more information you can check out facebook.

5,000 free in-home charging stations from Ford Motor Company

2010-06-07T09:57:00.000-07:00

Here is some good news -

Electric car charging stations are being offered for free through the Department of Energy (DOE) funding award and ChargePoint America.

ChargePoint America will offer home and public charging stations to individuals and businesses. Charging stations are planned to be offered to businesses in nine areas of the United States - Washington (1), California(3), Michigan (1) , New York (1), Texas(1), Washington D.C.(1), and Florida (1).

Florida Businesses -

In Florida, Orlando is currently the only designated city, but if enough interest is shown, there could be others. Any business (Hotels, shopping centers, restaurants, public parking lots, etc.) that has an ideal location for the public to charge their electric vehicle(EV) can participate in the charging infrastructure that is being put in place to participate in the electric highway. Tampa, FL is currently working on becoming an EV friendly community. Hopefully others are soon to follow.

Homeowners

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) will partner with Coulomb Technologies to provide nearly 5,000 free in-home charging stations for some of the automaker's first electric vehicle customers.

Under the Ford Blue Oval ChargePoint Program, residents in nine designated markets could receive a free ChargePoint® Networked Charging Station with the purchase of a Ford Transit Connect Electric vehicle. The nine markets designated by Coulomb Technologies include Austin, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Sacramento, the San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area, Redmond, Wash., and Washington D.C. The installation of ChargePoint charging stations will begin immediately.

The Ford Blue Oval ChargePoint Program is part of Coulomb Technologies' $37 million ChargePoint America charging station infrastructure project made possible by a $15 million grant funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the Department of Energy. - PR Newswire

Businesses and homeowners interested in applying for free public charging stations: ChargePointAmerica

Important Dates for Sarasota, Florida

2010-06-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

Today is World Ocean Day.
World Ocean Day Family Festival at Mote Marine
Ken Thompson Parkway
Sunday, June 6, 2010
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Join us to celebrate World Ocean Day with the wild world of Dr. Seuss in honor of his book, "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish."

Enjoy games, crafts, prizes, educational activities, dunk tank, facepainting, entertainment and more!

Vigil for BP Gulf Disaster
Date: Tuesday, 08 June 2010
Time: 19:00 - 21:00
Location: City Island - Ken Thompson Parkway

Join us on Sarasota's beautiful bayfront as we mourn the devastation that is destroying our precious Gulf of Mexico. Bring signs & candles - spread the word!

Hands Across the Sand event on Siesta Key Beach
Date: Saturday, June 26, 2010
Time: 11:00am - 12:30pm
Location: SIESTA KEY BEACH, SARASOTA, FL

The parallels between the Ixtoc spill and the current Deepwater Horizon disaster

2010-06-06T06:27:00.000-07:00

(This was written yesterday, but still a valuable post)

While horrified by the Deepwater Horizon explosion and BP conduct, we might also recall that today is the anniversary of another horrendous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The parallels between the Ixtoc spill and the current Deepwater Horizon disaster, including failure of the blowout preventer, are striking.

Ixtoc I was an exploratory oil well being drilled in about 160 feet of water in the , in the Gulf of Mexico. On June 3, 1979, the well suffered a blowout resulting in one of the largest environmental disasters ever -- still counted as the second largest accidental oil spill in history.

The drilling was by Pemex (Petróleos Mexicanos), Mexico’s government-owned oil company. At the time of the accident, the drilling rig Sedco was operating at a depth of more than two miles (nearly 12,000 feet) below the sea floor, twice as deep as the Deepwater Horizon.

The details are complicated. One gathers, however, that the drill bit hit some kind of soft strata, which caused a loss of drilling mud, which in turn resulted in reduced hydrostatic pressure. When Pemex officials decided to remove the bit, mud began rising toward the surface. The blowout preventer malfunctioned, and oil and gas started escaping. The oil and gas fumes ignited on contact with operating pump motors, starting a fire that led to the collapse of the drilling tower, causing damage to underlying well structures and leading to release of huge quantities of oil.

Initial estimates put the flow from the damaged well at 30,000 barrels of oil per day. From the outset, Pemex officials minimized the extent of the damage, claiming that half of the oil burned on the surface, another third evaporated and the rest was contained or dispersed.

Meanwhile, like BP in the current crisis, Pemex tried a host of disparate measures. An initial effort to put a cap or funnel above the well (like the BP “Top Hat” containment attempt and actually called “Operation Sombrero”) failed. In July 1979, pumping drilling mud into the well (harbinger of BP’s “Top Kill”) reduced the flow from 30,000 to an estimated 20,000 barrels per day. In August, pumping nearly 100,00 metal balls (reminiscent of “Junk Shoot”) lowered it further to 10,000 or so barrels per day. Pemex also sprayed the chemical dispersant Corexit 9527 (used by BP today) on the area affected by the spill. Meanwhile, two relief wells were drilled, but oil continued to escape for three months following completion of the first one.

The bottom line was that, even according to Pemex’s own estimates, around 3.5 million barrels poured into the Gulf before the leak was finally plugged nearly ten months later, on March 23, 1980. The Ixtoc spill caused considerable injury in the United States as well as Mexico. Even thought he U.S. government had two months lead-time to prepare, more than 160 miles of U.S. beaches and countless other Gulf shore interests suffered serious damage.

On a local note, recalling Ixtoc, we in Florida might also question why the offshore drilling studies commissioned by our state Senate and House go back only 20 years for their risk assessment data. Could it be to avoid consideration of this important input some 30 earlier?

Jan Schneider

Hands Across the Sand event on Siesta Key Beach

2010-06-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

Hands Across the Sand is a movement made of people of all walks of life and crosses political affiliations. This movement is not about politics; it is about protection of our coastal economies, oceans, marine wildlife, fishing industry and coastal military missions. Let us share our knowledge, energies and passion for protecting all of the above from the devastating effects of oil drilling.

What to do at a Hands Event:

STEP 1 Go to the beach at 11 AM for one hour, rain or shine.
STEP 2 Join hands for 15 minutes at 12:00 forming lines in the sand against oil drilling in our coastal waters.
STEP 3 Leave only your footprints.

Date: Saturday, June 26, 2010
Time: 11:00am - 12:30pm
Location: SIESTA KEY BEACH, SARASOTA, FL

Sign up: Facebook

Important Events for Sarasota!

2010-06-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

Come Celebrate Alex Sink's 62nd Birthday!

Please join our host committee: John Auer • Virgil Fabian • Chris Marlin • Mitchell Berger
Jed Thomas • Richard Pinsky • Bill Gunter (host committee in formation)
for a party celebrating Alex’s 62nd birthday!

Alex Sink
Florida’s CFO and Candidate for Governor
Sunday, June 6, 2010
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
at
The Home of Alex Sink and Bill McBrideThonotosassa, FL 33592
$162 per ticket
Contributions are limited to $500 per person or corporate entity.

Please make checks payable to “Alex Sink 2010”.
You may also contribute online at www.AlexSink2010.com/birthday
To RSVP please contact Ben Sohl
at Ben@AlexSink2010.com or (813)374-9175

In Transition 1.0
Tuesday, June 8th, 7 p.m.
At the Sarasota Friends' Meeting House, 3139 57th Street in Sarasota
Presented by WSLR 96.5 Community Radio, the Sarasota PEACenter, and Transition Sarasota

In Transition 1.0 is the first detailed film about the Transition Movement filmed by those that know it best, those who are making it happen on the ground. The Transition Movement is about communities around the world responding to peak oil and climate change with creativity, imagination, and humor, and setting about rebuilding their local economies and communities. It is positive, solutions focused, viral and fun.

Sarasota Power now has it's own website! A Town Hall is scheduled!!

2010-06-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

As you might already know, the City of Sarasota is deciding whether or not the will reduce their franchise agreement. And agreement which has expired on May 28, 2010. FPL is requesting a similar agreement as to the one they signed 20 years ago, except this time they would like it for 30 years.

During the City Commission meeting held on May 17, 2010, the main issue for everyone was summed up by Commissioner Atwell when she said "With energy changing so rapidly, why would we want to sign a thirty year contract?" Since then they has been a swell of support by local residents and businesses to follow the Commission's lead and explore the possibility of starting a city owned utility.

A group called Sarasota Power was immediately formed on Facebook where over two hundred members have signed up. So much information has been pouring in from all over the state offering ways that the city can start their own utility that Sarasota Power has now started a website dedicated solely to this issue.

Originally, the City Commission and FPL were scheduled to reconvene on June 7th, 2010 to hear FPL's response to their requests, but since the meeting on the 17th, Mayor Kirschner has post-poned the meeting on the 7th and has scheduled a town hall. Appearing at this town hall will be experts in the field of municipal utilities to explain all of the pros and cons for having your own utility. The idea is to allow everyone the chance to not only understand how this will impact our city, but also give every one a chance to be heard.

The town hall is scheduled on June 16th, 2010. It will be held at Sarasota City Hall from 2pm to 5pm. There will be presentations, a chance for the Commissioners to ask questions, and then a chance for the citizens to give public statements.

To keep up with the latest information, go to www.SarasotaPower.org

SENATORS LEMIEUX AND NELSON IN RESPONSE TO GULF COAST DISASTER

2010-06-02T18:00:00.001-07:00

NEW AD CAMPAIGN DEMANDS ACTION BY SENATORS LEMIEUX AND NELSON IN RESPONSE TO GULF COAST DISASTER

Calls on U.S. to Break Oil Addiction; Pass Clean Energy and Climate Legislation

FLORIDA (May 26^th) – A new ad campaign running in Florida this week turns up the heat on Senators LeMieux (R-Fl) and Nelson (D-FL) to help reduce America’s dependence on oil and move our country to cleaner, safer power sources. The ad, paid for by Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund, is running this week in eight states, including: Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Wisconsin.

“We need Senators LeMieux and Nelson and leaders in Washington to break our country’s addiction to oil and put America back in control of its energy future,” said Heather Taylor, NRDC Action Fund Director. “Americans want cleaner, safer energy sources that will create millions of American jobs, jumpstart our economy, and protect our communities and our environment.”

As oil from the Gulf Coast continues to wash up on America’s shores, the ads call on Senators LeMieux and Nelson to help break our addiction on oil and support clean energy and climate legislation that will move America to safer sources of energy that are made in America. For too long, Big Oil and its dirty energy allies have held America hostage by blocking Congressional action on clean energy in order to protect their profits and bottom line.

America’s dependence on oil is also a national security threat that helps unstable and dangerous regimes. For example, each day the Senate delays in enacting clean energy and climate legislation, Iran gets an additional $100 million in oil revenue.

As recent polls show, Americans want their elected leaders to take action that would be put our country in control of its energy future – by enacting legislation that would shift to clean energy and climate protection. Last year, the House passed the historic clean energy and climate bill. A broad coalition is calling on President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Reid, and U.S. Senate to take bold action for America’s clean energy future.

To view the state ads and learn more, go to www.nrdcactionfund.org or here.

Script of “Change” Ads: “Change shouldn’t be this hard. Twenty-nine lost in a West Virginia coal mine. An economy in peril along our Gulf Coast. Mad men using oil profits to threaten the world. Deadly symptoms of a deadly addiction. And still, Congress won’t pass a clean energy climate plan, to cut our addiction to dirty fuels. Because Congress is still addicted to Big Oil influence. It’s time for politicians to break their addiction so we can break ours. Senator LeMieux: We need a strong clean energy climate bill. Now.”

“Change shouldn’t be this hard. Twenty-nine lost in a West Virginia coal mine. An economy in peril along our Gulf Coast. Mad men using oil profits to threaten the world. Deadly symptoms of a deadly addiction. And still, Congress won’t pass a clean energy climate plan, to cut our addiction to dirty fuels. Because Congress is still addicted to Big Oil influence. It’s time for politicians to break their addiction so we can break ours. Senator Nelson: We need a strong clean energy climate bill. Now.”

A reader's dispute of the Bradenton Herald article by Rae Dowling regarding FPL and the City of Sarasota

2010-05-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Rex James

Friends,

If you haven’t read it yet. Please see link to an opinion article in today’s Herald Tribune page 19a. Very misleading as to how FPL embraces the production of Solar electricity in Sarasota. Please see my comments and research below. The more that I understand “decoupling” the more I like it.

Full article link: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100529/COLUMNIST/5291006/2080/OPINION?Title=FPL-We-re-city-s-best-option

Analysis:

2^nd paragraph

Contrary to rumors, the proposed franchise agreement does not prohibit customer-installed renewable generation, distributed generation, or providers with new technologies from serving the city, nor does it prevent the city from building its own renewable or generation facility to serve its own facilities. In fact we have met several times with local official to discuss renewable energy opportunities. However the city has not yet determined the next step it would like to take

I am not sure whether the language here is meant to win over the average citizen or whether FPL representatives have not received the desires correctly posed from the City.

The first major clarification which needs to be made is: “ the City”

As in all formal communications, terms to be used regularly in text need to be defined. Sarasota City officials need to help FPL by clarifying “ the City” as:

all properties, property owners, and tenants falling within the geographic borders of The City of Sarasota”

The article appears to consider “the City” as city owned land and properties.

In terms of solar and renewables in Sarasota over the past 2 years:

No one in the local solar and renewable industry, involved citizen groups, task forces, nor the economic development corporation, or city sustainability offices have ever so narrowly approached the desires of the citizens of Sarasota as being the City owned properties.

While FPL has allowed the property owners of Sarasota to install and connect renewables, particularly Solar to the grid, this is mandated by the Public Service commission.

Customer installed renewable generation refers to people putting solar on their own businesses or homes. This leaves out the very important industry growth component of someone or investor

group installing solar on property and selling the power to that user.

Often referred to as a 3^rd party provider.

Currently neither of the following Examples would be allowed by FPL franchise:

1. Company X installs solar panels in the adjacent field to company Y, and runs wire to their building, installs a meter and charges for the Kilowatt hours provided.

2. Company X installs solar panels on company Y’s roof and company X maintains ownership of the panels, selling the power, through a meter, to company Y.

3. Company X installs Solar panels on its property specifically to sell to FPL at a fair price. (industry analysis showing the true cost of power put into the grid near its point of use add the transmission losses, pollution reductions, reduction in costly standby production during peak use, and many others to be 50% or more, above the retail rate. In Sarasota that might be $.15 - $.20/kwh)

distributed generation, : Roof top solar is distributed generation, but the traditional utility definition is standby generators owned by large users (hospitals, town buildings etc.) that can be called into operation by a utility during a dramatic peak load period .

It would be great to consider a Solar Farm as distributed generation and appreciate its value with strong kwh reimbursement recognizing that its peak contribution mirrors FPL’s peak demand curve.

Does not prohibit providers with new technologies from serving the city ?

This may be the case of energy efficiency equipment, but certainly not electric generation equipment, other than the previous distributed generation equipment a city or a company purchases solely to offset their own use on their own property. Such as a standby generator or fuel cell.

With the rapid advances in energy production and conservation, it would be in the best interest of the City and Citizens of Sarasota to have an energy future that embraces the reduction of fossil and nuclear produced energy, the reduced dependence on long distance transmission, and a sustainable supply that reflects the often aggressive weather we face.

There are two directions to meet this goal:

Converting from a for-profit to a Not-for–profit utility provider.
Creating a “decoupling” agreement with a for-profit utility.

Decoupling breaks the link between the utility's ability to recover its agreed-upon fixed costs, including the profit margin, from the actual volume of sales that occur through a rate adjustment mechanism. If a utility promotes less energy use, they are rewarded rather than punished. See “How decoupling works”: http://www.progressivestates.org/content/671/utility-decoupling-giving-utilities-incentives-to-promote-energy-efficiency#2

Using untapped efficiency is the single most effective step energy providers and energy market regulators can take to reduce environmental pollution, power costs, and price volatility.

An ideal system supports both supply side and demand side efficiencies.

There is history of decoupling conversations and tests in Florida. We need to investigate what has been , and assess whether this might be a viable Sarasota solution to energy.

http://www.psc.state.fl.us/publications/pdf/electricgas/DecouplingReport_To_Legislature.pdf

World Ocean Day - Boyton Beach

2010-05-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

Confused about what is going on regarding the oil that is sure to make its way to Palm Beach County? What to be prepared, but don’t know how to get the info? Join us for an information meeting.

When:
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
6:00 PM

Where:
Boynton Beach Inlet Park.
6990 N Ocean Blvd
Boynton Beach, FL

(Meet under the main pavilion by the inlet, park in the center parking lot, please.)

You'll find the latest info. for the Meetup here: Huffington Post or Facebook

Contact info, Allan @ 561.541.3700
eqflpbc@yahoo.com