Earth Day brings frustrations about energy

By Kristen Mitchell, Tampa Tribune, Fla.

April 22--LEALMAN -- Some Pinellas County politicians spent Earth Day checking out recently installed solar panels on the roof of a local manufacturing facility and lamenting state laws they say give business leaders no incentive to do the right thing.

The solar panels cover the rooftop of Mesh Fabrications, a company that builds with sustainable and reclaimed wood and other materials.

The panels will generate energy for the facility's production and transplant unused power into the public utility power grid, a process called net metering.

"This is really great," said Rep.
Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg. "It'd be great if the state could help some more so ... we could be more like, say, North Carolina, where the policies are much more welcoming and encouraging and helpful."

Dudley long has supported renewable energy and on Friday said energy companies have a monopoly on the market. He encouraged people to vote 'no' in November on Amendment 1, which would solidify state laws that prevent individuals or businesses from selling renewable energy back to the grid at market value. Currently, the energy can be sold, but only at wholesale rates, giving sellers a bad deal, he said.

"It is very bad," Dudley said of the proposed constitutional amendment. "It's not a little bad; it's outrageous."

He also encouraged people to vote 'yes' on Aug. 30 for an amendment he is co-sponsoring to make solar panel equipment on homes exempt from being counted toward a home's property value, which could raise property taxes.

Dudley thanked Mesh Fabrications CEO
Gary Grooms for his leadership on renewable energy and apologized for the lack of state incentives to make the switch to solar panels.

"You're going to be ready, I know, when things change," he said. "And we're going to get that change."

The solar panels were built by Tampa-based Solar Energy Management. Representatives from Environment Florida, the Florida Suncoast Sierra Club and Pinellas County were on hand, as well.

St. Petersburg City Council member
Darden Rice said that as sea levels rise, communities will need to adapt in meaningful ways. On Thursday, the council discussed financial investments needed to improve St. Petersburg's aging infrastructure, but members said the city also is "woefully unprepared for the increased impact" that changing sea levels will bring about.

Renewable energy will lessen dependence on fossil fuels, but smart, statewide policies need to be put in place to support clean energy, Rice said.

Twitter: @Kristenreports

kmitchell@tampatrib.com

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