TALLAHASSEE —
The Florida Public Service Commission (
PSC
) today welcomed experts from across the nation for an informational workshop to help guide the growth of
Florida
’s renewable energy market. Industry leaders, utility authorities, and experts in the field of renewable energy joined
PSC
Commissioners and staff to discuss the commercial availability of renewable energy and steps to promote further development.
“Promoting the growth of
Florida
’s renewable energy market will create greater energy and economic security for
Florida
,” said
PSC
Chairman Lisa Polak Edgar. “A diverse, efficient, and affordable energy supply is vital for maintaining
Florida
’s growing economy and quality of life.”
With more than 17 million citizens and nearly 1,000 new residents arriving daily, the state’s need for electric generation is expected to grow by approximately 58 percent between 2002 and 2020. Renewable generators produce power from solid waste, plant matter, solar, and other replenishable energy resources.
Participants in the workshop discussed a host of issues including the following:
-
Overview of the potential for more renewable energy in Florida
-
Commercially ready and available renewable energy in Florida
-
Increasing and accelerating the flow of renewable energy in Florida
-
Requirements for financing renewable energy projects
The PSC will use the workshop to guide future rule development and policy discussions intended to further promote development of renewable energy resources in Florida.
The PSC recently adopted new rules designed to encourage the growth of renewable energy generation. The rules provide developers of renewable energy a greater variety of pricing options, making it more attractive to enter into agreements to sell energy to Florida’s five investor-owned utilities (IOU). The greater flexibility will help existing and potential renewable energy providers finance new projects and strengthen the position of established facilities. The PSC also directed the IOUs, municipal electric utilities, and rural electric cooperatives to report annually on the level of renewable generation in their service areas.
The PSC is committed to making sure that Florida's consumers receive their electric, natural gas, telephone, water, and wastewater services in a safe, affordable, and reliable manner. The PSC exercises regulatory authority over utilities in the areas of rate base/economic regulation; competitive market oversight; and monitoring of safety, reliability, and service.
For additional information, visit http://www.floridapsc.com/.
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