Alternative energy is called alternative, until it is cheaper, but cheaper than what? – electricity out of the wall at 12 cents yesterday, 15 cents today, 18 cents tomorrow?  Are you aware that people in the U.S. pay different amounts for electricity?  The average residential retail price of electricity in the U.S. was 10.6 cents per kWh in 2007.  Florida was 11.2 cents, most southern states were about 9 cents, WV 7 cents, UT 8 cents, NY and CT about 18 cents, and CA and NJ 15 cents.  So, states that burn coal have the cheapest electricity rates. Places like Utah and West Virginia burn their own coal, so even though they get all the pollution and the greenhouse gasses, at least they get to keep all their money, unlike Florida which ships more than $25 billion out of state to purchase fuel.  Florida has already been paying more for cleaner burning fossil fuels than the Southern states to our north.  We are now paying more for natural gas than we are for coal, and that price increase is more than what is being suggested to add to our electric bills for solar energy.

New Jersey has more solar than Florida because homeowners in NJ have a Renewable Portfolio Standard, and fees (collected into a Public Benefit Fund) are used to incentivize the homeowner for solar on their roof.  If such a fund collected $1.50 on your electric bill in Florida, we could have the equivalent of California’s Million Solar Roofs Program.  Clearly $1.50 is less than the $40 a month cost of doing nothing.  While solar water heating is cost effective today, solar electricity (photovoltaics) without a subsidy is not cost effective today, but the subsidy is still less than the cost of “accelerated cost recovery” for nuclear power.  What about the jobs?  These jobs will not be in China and India, they will be done by your neighbor.  Vote Solar estimates that more than 3,800 megawatts (MW) of solar could be added by 2020 and with it approximately 85,500 new jobs in Florida. What a great way to love your neighbor.

Jim Fenton, Director
Florida Solar Energy Center

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The FSEC award committee chose Wilkie for her extensive work in alternative energy -creating bio-energy from animal waste – and her leadership in promoting awareness and understanding of renewable energy and sustainable practices.

“It’s an honor to recognize someone who has not only developed an innovative way of producing a viable source of renewable energy from a once unlikely source – animal waste – but has also found a way to provide Florida substantial environmental and economic benefits,” said Jim Fenton, director of FSEC.

Ann Wilkie firmly believes, “By failing to extract the energy from waste, society is wasting energy.”

Internationally recognized as an expert in biogas technology, Wilkie routinely works with state and local officials, industrial and agricultural producers, and private citizens to develop sustainable solutions for waste management and bioenergy production.

Wilkie “is a visionary who sees the potential to reduce our dependence on oil and other fossil fuel-based energy sources by using organic wastes and crops to produce renewable energy on a large scale,” wrote Wayne H. Smith, former director of the University of Florida’s Center for Biomass Energy Systems, in his nomination.

“Dr. Wilkie has been able to take her work in this emerging field and present it in creative and meaningful way that state policy officials can immediately understand and rally behind,” said Michael Ohlsen, manager of energy efficiency and biomass projects at the Florida Energy Office.

Smith also said, “Dr. Wilkie believes firmly that young people are the key to building a sustainable society” and “encourages them to integrate sustainable principles and practices in their careers and lifestyles.”

Wilkie will accept the award at the Florida Solar Energy Center in May, and she will present an overview of her work. In addition to receiving an award, she will also be given permanent recognition in the energy center’s complex in Cocoa.

Those interested in applying for the 2008 award should visit the FSEC Web site, www.floridaenergycenter.org, this fall for full details and an application form.

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a research institute of the University of Central Florida, is the largest and most active state-supported renewable energy and efficiency institute in the United States. Created by the Florida Legislature in 1975, FSEC’s mission is to research energy technologies that enhance Florida’s and the nation’s economy and environment, and to educate the public, students and practitioners on the results of the research. Working in alternative fuels, hydrogen and fuel cells, photovoltaics, solar thermal technologies, high performance buildings, and education areas, FSEC’s 140-member staff helps provide Florida with a future of energy independence and environmental sustainability. FSEC is also responsible for testing and certification of solar systems sold in the state of Florida. For more information about FSEC, please visit www.floridaenergycenter.org, or send your questions to info@fsec.ucf.edu.

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