Washington (Platts)--19Jul2007

Progress Energy Florida on Thursday issued a request for proposals
seeking an unspecified amount of renewable energy to expand the utility's
renewable portfolio, to provide cost-effective renewable energy to its
customers and to offset the need for new power plants. 

     The company said it hopes the RFP will allow it to "identify and
participate in cost-competitive renewable energy to reduce Florida's
dependence on fossil fuels." 

     Eligible projects must use renewable fuels such as hydrogen, biomass,
solar, geothermal, wind, ocean energy, hydroelectric power or waste heat from
a commercial or industrial manufacturing process and be located in Florida,
the utility said.

     In addition, Progress said eligible projects must be fully operational by
January 1, 2013, sell power at a cost equal to or below the cost of building
a new power plant and have a capacity of at least 1 MW. The utility, however,
said it would consider smaller projects. 

     In addition, Progress said it is looking to expand its solar energy
programs and is seeking prices for photovoltaics. The utility added that it
plans to launch in August an effort to install 2-kW photovoltaic systems on
all the schools within its service territory.

     The company also is seeking pricing for a solar-thermal water-heating
initiative for residential customers, saying it believes that with nearly
900,000 single-family homes in its service territory, the potential for these
projects "is great."