Lakeland to use solar to generate power

LAKELAND, FLORIDA - Municipal officials are hoping the very sunshine that makes Florida famous will provide a much-needed, long-awaited renewable energy source for the city owned utility — Lakeland Electric.

They're so confident about the idea they're partnering with SunEdison, a Maryland-based solar company, to create a massive photovoltaic system which will eventually create 24 megawatts of electricity for the city. That's enough to power more than 7,000 homes.

SunEdison will install and maintain thousands of solar panels over the next eight years in exchange for a percentage of the profits. City spokesman Kevin Cook said it's a win for the city and for consumers.

"The beautiful thing about this, the sun, the fuel charge is free, so ultimately in the long term plan of things our customers will benefit greatly," Cook said.

Jeff Curry, the alternative energy coordinator for Lakeland Electric, said Lakeland started thinking about solar technology back in 1994 when the city installed its first solar streetlights. A lot has changed since then.

"Well it's not futuristic any more. This used to be unique to the space program. This technology is grounded now and utilities all over the country are pursuing it," Curry said.

SunEdison has created a global reputation helping communities venture into the solar energy arena. Landon Smith is a project superintendent for the company and is supervising the effort to install 1,250 photovoltaic panels on top of The Lakeland Center. He said a project like this isn't unique to Lakeland.

"I haven't stopped in four years. If I'm slow in one state they send me to another state. They sent me to Hawaii. I've been to California, up and down the East Coast," Smith said.

Eventually Lakeland Electric hopes to have thousands of solar panels on large rooftops as well as on wide open plots of land around town. The energy created by those panels will not replace the way Lakeland currently provides electricity.

"The solar panels will simply generate electricity that will be mixed with the same electricity created at the power plant," Curry said.