3. 1. Gulf Power’s Energy
O Gulf Power Company “is on the cutting
edge of environmental stewardship…”
O Service Territory includes
O 435,000 customers
O 71 towns and communities of Northwest
Florida
O Gulf Power’s Energy Development and
Management
O 2 energy plants fueled by coal, 1 by coal
and natural gas generation.
(Gulfpower.com)
4. 2. Issue’s Importance
O Why is this issue important to humans,
wildlife, and environment
O Coal Mining
O Destroys landscapes (environment)
O Eliminates top soil and vegetation
O Destroys habitats (wildlife)
O Animals forced to relocate or die
O Health risk to miners and residents (human)
O Black Lung Disease
5. 3. The Problem in Detail
O What is the problem?
O Gulf Power depends on coal mining to
produce energy in large amounts for large
area of Northwest Florida
O Combined Coal Energy Output: 1,939,900
KW
O Renewable Energy Output: 3,200 KW
O Less than .16% energy output comes from
renewable solar photovoltaics
6. 4. The Specific Energy
Source
O Specific energy sources do damage
extensively:
O Each coal generating facility is located by
either water or forest
O Governor’s Bayou
O On banks of Escambia River
O Alligator Bayou
O Inland water near Gulf of Mexico
O Apalachicola River
O Near the largest Forest Reservation in Florida
7. 5. Perspectives
O Social, economic, and environmental perspectives
O Social
O “Do not eat fish caught in Escambia Bay.” (Outzen,
2008). Crist Plant located on Escambia Bay.
O Economic
O Sneads, Florida. Income per household is $30,690.
17% below poverty line. Scholz Plant located in
Sneads.
O Environmental
O After area strip mine, only hopes is that the
overburden land can be leveled, contoured,
reseeded to restore grazing land and that wild life will
return. Smith Plant located near Alligator Bayou
by Apalachicola National Forest.
8. 6. Human Consumption
O How human consumption has caused the
problem
O No access to renewable energy forces
consumers to continue to use coal
generated energy
O Continued “waiting game” on Gulf Power to
accelerate the availability of the Solar
Photovoltaics in Perdido, Florida
O So far less than one-tenth of an effort
forward has been made by Gulf Power
9. 7. Current Plan
O Current plan to address this problem
O Earthcents by Gulf Power
O Incentive $2 per watt up to maximum of
$10,000 per installation of solar PV system
O Incentive limited and backed by reserved
funding.
O No applications are being accepted, now.
(Gulfpower.com)
10. 8. Current Plan Effectiveness
O Gulf Power’s current sustainability plan is
not effective.
O 2014 Incentives (offered through the
Earthcents Solar PV program) were quickly
exhausted in early 2014.
O No 2015 Incentive Plan announced.
O No further applications for rebates are
being accepted.
11. 9. My Plan for
Sustainability
O My plan for sustainability
O Cross train coal employees to Solar PV
technology
O Expand Investment in Solar PV and Incentives
by 2017
O Reduce Coal Generated Electricity by 2019
O By 2020 close Smith Plant and convert it to a
hub for Solar PV
O By 2025 Generate 50% Coal-fueled, 50% Solar
PV-fueled Energy
O Rebuild wildlife habitats in damaged
communities (near or around former plants)
12. 10. Perspectives
O My plan from perspectives
O Social
O Jobs are kept by converting coal employees to
Solar PV technicians
O Economical
O Jobs are kept and converted, towns are infused
with new money from Gulf Power
O Environmental
O Coal mining, coal pollution is reduced. Wildlife
habitats are rebuilt. Damaged lands are
repaired and communities are restored to
natural beauties.
13. 11. Stakeholders & Roles
O Chief Stakeholders in My Sustainability
Plan
O Gulf Power Stockholders
O Create new revenue from new solar
techology
O Energy Customers: Business & Residents
O Upgrade their own businesses and residents
O Local Government
O Incentives for meeting yearly goals
14. 13. Review of My Plan
O My plan for sustainability
O By 2017
O Cross train coal employees to Solar PV technology
O Expand Investment in Solar Reduce Coal Generated
Electricity by 2019
O By 2020
O Close Smith Plant and convert it to a hub for Solar
PV
O By 2025
O Generate 50% Coal-fueled, 50% Solar PV-fueled
Energy
O Ongoing
O Rebuild wildlife habitats in damaged communities
(near or around former plants)
O Generate new revenue in Solar PV Energy
technology
15. References
O Chiras, Daniel. (2014). Environmental Science. Ninth
Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
O City-Data.com. (2014). Sneads, Florida. Retrieved from:
http://www.city-data.com/city/Sneads-Florida.html#
O GulfPower. (2014). About. Retrieved from:
http://www.gulfpower.com/about-
us/background/home.cshtml
O http://www.gulfpower.com/about-
us/background/plants.cshtml
O http://www.gulfpower.com/residential/earthcents/renewable-
energy/solar-pv.cshtml
O Outzen, Rick. (April 10, 2008) “Do Not Eat Escambia Bay
Fish.” Retrieved from: http://ricksblog.biz/do-not-eat-
escambia-bay-fish/
Editor's Notes
Water Sustainability Plan: Pace, FL
Shawn G. Rainbolt
September 14, 2014
SCI/275
Anne Fox
What We Will Discuss:
According to Gulfpower.com, Gulf Power Energy Company “is on the cutting edge of environmental stewardship, community and economic development and energy conservation.” (Gulfpower.com) Is this so? Gulf Power’s large service area that includes west of Apalachicola River (Northwest Florida) to Alabama border, 435,000 customers in 71 towns and communities puts them in the spotlight of energy conservation. Are they conservative? Does their support of local agencies, economies, development groups and charitable organization make them pillars of sustainability?
Gulf Power is part of a fleet of generating plants, namely three in Florida: James F. Crist, Lansing Smith, and Herbert Scholz Generating Plant – all powered by coal. Noteably, Gulf Power has a small ownership stake in a renewable generation in Perdido, Florida.
There is an issue with a coal-dependent energy generating company, such as Gulf Power. Coal extraction “destroys wildlife habitat, soil erosion from mine sites, sedimentation, aquifer depletion and pollution, acid mine drainage, subsidence, black lung disease, accidental death.” (Chiras, 2014). Too, there is noise and air pollution from transportation of resources to the energy generating plants located in Governor’s Bayou, Alligator Bayou, and bank of Apalachicola River. Though coal is an abundant resource on Earth it is rather inexpensive. Strip mining is “disruptive and defaces landscapes.” (Chiras, 2014)
Gulf Power depends on continue coal mining and coal energy production to provide electricity to over 400,000 customer homes and businesses. Their Earthcents Renewable Energy Plan is stagnant at best. Since, renewable energy output is only two-tenths of one-percent, it shows where Gulf Power’s focus is: continued production by using the fossil fuel, coal. This plan is buried in their website under a lot of hopeful pictures but numbers show they push the burden on the customers by offering rebates for customers to spend their money to upgrade their hopes to solar water heating. The average customer (business or resident) cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars without an ease on their current electric bill or steeper rebates. Gulf Power’s coal production will continue until government obligates them to change quickly.
Gulf Power’s specific energy sources are generated at Governor’s Bayou, Alligator Bayou, and bank of Apalachicola River. These areas include citys and habitats. Governor’s Bayou is on banks of Escambia river, nearly hundreds of feet from the Escambia bay (Gulf of Mexico). This area is dependent on fishing from tourism and is a natural habitat for birds and pelicans. Same can be said about Alligator Bayou and Apalachicola River.
There are perspectives both social, economic, and environmental perspectives that need to be heard.
(Socially) According to one article, a University of West Florida student discovered the Escambia Bay fish to be highly contaminated: “…think twice about eating fish [caught] out of the Escambia Bay.” In his report, 21 different fish were tested that showed chemicals to exceed US EPA’s allowable levels. (Outzen, 2008)
(Economically) The town of Sneads, Florida hasn’t economically benefited by permitting the coal energy production at the Herbert Scholz Plant. The town has median household annual salary of $30,690 with over 17% of residents below the poverty line. (City-Data.com, 2014). Gulf Power is not spending money in this town, as they claim on the About page.
(Environmental) The Apalachicola National Forest, the largest forest in Florida, is not protected enough. Noise pollution and transportation through the forest by the transportation of coal to the Smith Plant can affect the environment.
Yes. Residents and customers alike need energy to live and work. As communities increase the demand for more energy will increase. Gulf Power has answered that demand by adding more coal to the fire. Unless a change is made by the only energy company of Northwest Florida there will be no change and no improving of the environment or health.
Gulf Power has small ownership of a solar plant in Perdido, Florida. They have created a process for residents to invest in their own solar energy (instead of waiting on them to provide it for them). The Earthcents Solar PV program offers incentives of $2 per watt up to a maximum of $10,000 per installation of a home system. It is not guaranteed to all those that upgrade their homes. In fact, funding for the program is reserved and by application only can one get approved. At this time, no further applications are being offered. Gulf Power has put a hold on this incentive. This means residents and businesses have no reason to upgrade and wean their energy consumption from coal generated power.
According to Allaire de Coudres, a contract disaster inspector for Parsons Brinckerhoff, “funding for 2014 was exhausted at the beginning of the year and the program has not as yet been extended for 2015. This says no funds are available or have been scheduled any promotion of this rebate should be taken down from GP site, if there is a good probability that the program will be renewed even if changed that info should be posted on the GP site. Not doing so clouds the decision process of customers…” (Gulfpower.com)
My plan for sustainability is to ultimately reduce coal-dependent electricity. Gulf Power is 99.982 dependent on coal to generate electricity. Instead of wiping the slate clean and just close coal generating plants, convert those employees to Solar PV technicians. By 2017 expand Solar PV technology, the Solar Plant, and resident incentives. By 2019, reduce coal purchases and send out less frequent loads of coal (reducing transportation costs). Convert the Smith Plant to be a Solar PV hub or extension of the Perdido Plant investment. By 2025, Gulf Power should wholly-own Solar Plants and control costs by purchasing companies that manufacture parts for the technologies (at home or business kits). This means in over 10 years, Gulf Power should be able to produce energy to a 50/50 split. To improve company image and social relationships with towns that haven’t benefited from coal money, rebuild wildlife habitats and damaged communities.
My plan needs to consider perspectives. Socially, people need energy to go about their day – but don’t need to lose their jobs to changes with the company. Pay to train current employees with new Solar technology. The economy will improve or stay the same as current coal employees still have a job as a Solar technician. The environment will heal itself, air quality improves, noise pollution is minimized, transportation becomes less dependent on bringing us energy. Natural habitats are restored. Current land rights are managed better by Gulf Power, using their property for renewable energy.
Local government needs to be involved to monitor the progress of coal-to-solar migration. They need to set realistic and monetarily beneficial goals for both residents, businesses, and Gulf Power for achieving solar conversion goals. The stockholders and investors from Gulf Power all need to agree that current 99% dependency on coal is not acceptable and be willing to retool the company to be a solar-based company. They need to find created ways to generate new revenue by investing in suppliers and manufacturers of solar technology. Possibly develop a way to franchise the conversion process and sell it to other communities.
My plan for sustainability
By 2017
Cross train coal employees to Solar PV technology
Expand Investment in Solar Reduce Coal Generated Electricity by 2019
By 2020
Close Smith Plant and convert it to a hub for Solar PV
By 2025
Generate 50% Coal-fueled, 50% Solar PV-fueled Energy
Ongoing
Rebuild wildlife habitats in damaged communities (near or around former plants)
Generate new revenue in Solar PV Energy technology
