Something New Under The Florida Sun

The other day a tiny ray of sunshine came in the mail from Florida Power and Light. It was an invitation to “Join [FPL’s] brightest Customers!” For only $9.75 more a month our lights, appliances – even the TV – can hum with “Sunshine Energy.”

“For each month that you participate in the program, FPL ensures that 1,000 kwh of cleaner electricity from sources like wind, bioenergy and solar is . . . delivered to power systems serving Florida and other states nationwide.”

Nor would we be alone. It seems that “. . .37,000 enlightened FPL customers” have already signed up." Hmmm. One moment while we do the math: 37,000 x 9.75 x 12 equals $4,329,000 a year that "enlightened" Floridians already pony up on top of their regular bills.

What do they get for their money beyond vague assurances that somebody somewhere is pumping somewhat cleaner electricity into the nation’s power grids? How, specifically, is FPL investing that windfall?

In their communique FPL happily told us. Near Sarasota a 250 kilowatt Solar Array is up and humming and will “ . . . prevent approximately 327 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.” That same other day the local daily paper confirmed the news, sort of. Wrote AP reporter Zack Anderson: “[A]n array of 1,200 panels . . . [was] supplying electricity to about 20 nearby homes” on a recent morning.

Well, it’s a start. Zack also reported that Florida Govermor Charlie Crist wants to triple state grants to homes and businesses for rooftop solar panels as part of a more comprehensive energy program. We’ve had one of those rooftops for 16 years now and like it fine even without a subsidy -- although the pool could be warmer in February, Governor.

Actually, it is good that Gov. Crist is attempting to herd all those Tallahassee cats in the right direction. “The Sunshine State” ought to quickly become a global leader in the deployment of solar energy or, in all honesty, adopt a more modest motto. Why? Because global warming is real, and for Floridians it is more real than for others. We live on flat terrain not much further above sea level than the Dutch.

The cause of global warming is equally real. The greenhouse gases that trap the sun’s heat pour from our smokestacks and tail pipes. The greatest warming is happening at the poles. The evidence is in and only the rare diehard ostrich is left to hide his head and scoff. And our best efforts may not be enough.

We may have to watch helplessly as the Greenland and Antarctica ice caps warm to the tipping point and slide – perhaps abruptly – into the global sea, which will rise and cover much of Florida, sparing neither churches nor shopping malls, flooding schools, roads and homes. Florida: "The Sunshine Sea."

Then, again, maybe nothing much will happen for a long time, a century even. Time enough, let’s hope, for FPL to sweet talk us all out of an extra $9.75 a month, and supply solar electricity for a lot more than 20 homes and for their electric cars to boot. Time enough, perhaps, for Gov. Crist to bell the cats and do something besides “research the issues” before he runs for vice-President.

“Be one of our ‘brightest’ customers today!” David Bates, FPL’s Sunshine Energy Program Manager urged at the close of his letter. Don’t know, Dave. We could give that money to the Sierra Club, get a tax deduction and enjoy watching the environmentalists harass you into doing something anyhow.

But we both know where the money for doing that “something” would come from, don’t we? It’s pay you now or pay you later. So count us in. We’ll be your 37,000 and first suck – er, partner. Could we be the 21st home? We're already budgeting for a plug-in Prius.

UPDATE:  Gov. Crist ran for Senator and lost out to Marco Rubio, having been passed over for Sara Palin, who turned out not to be an inspired choice for the Republicans.  FPL has discontinued its Sunshine Energy program and no longer bills us an extra ten spot, less two bits, a month.  Our Volvo wagon is still with us, pending Toyota's roll out of that plug in Real Soon Now.  Scientists now report that the polar ice is melting quite a bit faster than previously thought. They have reported this before and may do so again.  It is not clear anybody is listening.

























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