Energy 5.0 LLC (E5.0) announced on December 15 that the Florida Public Service Commission had approved its solar power contract with Tampa Electric.  Solar power will be supplied by the Florida Solar I Project (FS-I), a 25-megawatt solar power station that is currently in the planning stages.

Tampa Electric is a forward-thinking utility that previously made headlines when it launched a smart grid project at the city’s Lowry Park Zoo in partnership with The University of South Florida.  The small-scale project allows excess solar power to be re-fed back into the local power grid and shared with the community using smart meter technology. 

The new Renewable Energy Learning Center, completed this month along with the solar power array at the Lowry Zoo, demonstrates the latest in smart grid technology and serves as a research facility for Tampa Electric and USF.

West Palm Beach, Florida-based Energy 5.0 finances, develops, constructs, and operates renewable power generation facilities.  The company was founded by energy industry professionals that have over 100 years of combined experience in the field.

The E5.0 contract allows Tampa Electric to purchase the entire output from the FS-I project for a 25 year period beginning in 2011.  The solar photovoltaic panels, power conditioning equipment, an interconnection substation, and support facilities will be built on a 350 acre plot of land that formerly served as a phosphate mine.

E5.0 will be responsible for constructing and managing the solar power station and will provide renewable energy to Tampa Electric for a fixed price.  FS-I is expected to provide enough clean energy to power 3,400 homes.  As a result, more than 1.2 million tons of CO2 will be saved over the life of the contract.

A competitive bid process for the design, procurement, and installation of the facility is planned for the beginning of 2010.  Groundbreaking is expected to begin by the fall of next year and initial operation should begin in the first half of 2011.  Once completed, FS-I will be one of the largest solar power facilities in the United States.

“We are extremely pleased with the thoughtful and constructive decision of the Florida Public Service Commission,” said Bud Cherry, Chairman and CEO of Energy 5.0 LLC.  “The E5.0 team is very excited to be working with Tampa Electric to help make renewable a reality in Florida.”

“Solar power is one of the keys to developing a balanced generation portfolio and thereby, an energy independent future,” Cherry added.  “This approval is an important and positive step forward for Floridians and the rest of the country towards achieving that goal.”

“We applaud the Commission’s approval of our purchase power agreement with Energy 5.0 and we are excited about moving forward with this solar project that will benefit our customers and the interests of all Floridians,” said Gordon Gillette, president of Tampa Electric.  “We continue to support the development of in-state, renewable energy sources.”

Energy 5.0 LLC
1601 Forum Place
Suite 1010
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
http://www.energy5-0.com

TECO Energy (Tampa Electric)
TECO Plaza
702 North Franklin Street
Tampa, FL 33602
http://www.tecoenergy.com

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