TECO to launch its largest solar project at Tampa International Airport

[TheNutcracker]

Source: 10 news Tampa Bay

TAMPA, FLA. -- Tampa International Airport and Tampa Electric Co. today announced an agreement to install a canopy of solar panels on the top floor of the airport's south Economy Parking Garage.

At 2 megawatts (MW), it will be Tampa Electric's largest solar photovoltaic (PV) installation and its first foray into utility-scale solar power. The solar panels will produce enough electricity to power up to 250 homes. Tampa Electric will own the PV array, and the electricity it produces will go to the grid, to benefit all 700,000 Tampa Electric customers, including the airport. Construction is scheduled to begin in a few months and is expected to be complete by the end of 2015.

"This is the next big step in Tampa Electric's renewable portfolio," said Gordon Gillette, president of Tampa Electric. "We are proud to be a partner with the airport and others in the community through a variety of solar projects and rebates, and we believe renewable energy has an important role in our energy future."

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority board on Thursday will vote on a 25-year initial lease agreement with Tampa Electric Co. The utility will pay the Authority $15,000 a year to lease the space. The canopy design creates covered parking and ensures no parking spots are eliminated.




Read more: http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/local/2014/09/30/teco-to-launch-its-largest-solar-project-at-tpa/16496457/

---

Finally the Sunshine State will act on it's namesake!

[TheNutcracker]

1. Kick till you kick the pants off of Duke Energy across the bay!!!

[billhicks76]

7. At Least Not Tepco

Go Solar!!!!

[Zorro]

2. Great news

As an aside, IMHO Tampa has the absolute best airport terminal in the country.

[DonCoquixote]

3. yay

Let's see Rick Scott kill this off.

[davidpdx]

4. Great idea

Let's hope others follow this example.

[cprise]

5. 'Brilliant' propaganda.

Florida has gotten a (deservedly) bad rap recently on the subject of solar. So put up a small amount (for a utility) of panels at international airports so the maximum number of outsiders can be impressed with solar energy (in Tampa, anyway).

The barriers to solar in that state are designed to protect the utility-monopoly business model, so that small distributed generators can't compete. Most of Florida's rooftop potential goes wasted as a result.

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-take-down-barriers-to-solar/2181212

[SoapBox]

6. Airports...what a great place to install these panels.

[neohippie]

8. Maybe so maybe not

I just can't help but wondering what the reflection of sunlight from solar panels at an airport might do if say it's creating blinding flashes of light directed at aircraft trying to land or just flying over waiting to land, hopefully they have thought about this

For example see this story where the concentrated reflection of sunlight is igniting birds flying over this solar farm in California

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/streamers-birds-fried-midair-solar-plant-feds-say-n183336