Growing solar: Tallahassee taking giant climate action steps | Sustainable Tallahassee

The completion of the city’s second solar farm near the airport last January, which added 42 more MWac of generation capacity, is a good place to review what our community has done to address the world’s critical need to sever its energy needs from fossil fuels and reduce its carbon footprint. You may remember in January 2018, the city started receiving electricity from its first 20 MWac solar farm.

In 2005, as a member of the Big Bend Climate Action Team, I became involved in working with city electric staff to craft a clean energy program focusing first on energy efficiency and biomass energy, and then on transitioning to solar.

In 2007, when the city commission adopted the Integrated Resource Plan, it rejected coal, embraced natural gas as a bridge fuel, and became an energy leader in Florida. That two-year story is chronicled in Ellie Whitney’s book, “The Tallahassee Coal Plant Fight 2005-2007.”

At that time there was very little solar electricity generated locally. Solar birthed with the 2006 Florida legislation that provided a $4 per watt rebate for commercial and residential solar installations. The first two commercial installations in Tallahassee were at my church, Unitarian Universalist, and Ted’s Montana Grill in April 2007. After about three years of growth and the end of the rebates, installations slowed.

About that time city manager Anita Favors-Thompson formed a citizens’ Environmental Advisory Board. The board developed recommendations that led to GreenPrint, the city’s all-encompassing strategic sustainability plan.

Years later, we in Sustainable Tallahassee formed the Renewable Energy Advocates, which focused on developing community solar along with customer participation and improving the solar permitting process. Organizations including the League of Women Voters, ReThink Energy, Big Bend Sierra, etc., as well as business entities, joined this collaborative effort.

Another advocacy opportunity arose in 2016, when I was asked to join the Utility Citizens’ Advisory Committee. That was about the time city management, electric staff, and the financial gurus calculated that solar had become cost effective.

Solar farm vs. rooftop panels 

The city’s solar farm program allows customers to take advantage of solar energy without installing solar panels on their home or business.  Tallahassee Solar set participant’s fuel rate for Farm #1 at 5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) until September 30, 2037.

Given the volatility of fuel markets, participants anticipate seeing their electricity bills decrease over time compared with non-participants. The Farm #1 program quickly became fully subscribed and a waiting list was created for Farm #2 participation.  To sign-up online go to:  https://www.talgov.com/you/solar.aspx.

For residents who would prefer their own solar electric panels and significantly reduce their energy use and costs, the city provides Solar Net-Metering for grid-tied systems. The electric meter registers the “net” energy delivered and received by the utility. Unused kWh credits carry over day to day and month to month. https://www.talgov.com/you/you-products-home-solar-net-metering.aspx

By the end of 2019 there were 291 net metered solar photovoltaic (PV) installations on the city’s grid and a total of 2.417 MWdc in rooftop solar generating capacity was reported to the Public Service Commission. Although Tallahassee’s rooftop solar generates only about 1/30th of Solar Farms #1 & #2, the ever-increasing growth contributes to carbon reduction and helps distribute electricity throughout the city.

Solar adding up in 2020

So far in 2020, solar installations have continued at a rapid pace. Since January 1, there have been 38 residential and 2 commercial installations: 366 kW for residential and 65.5 kW for commercial. There are 33 pending residential and 3 pending commercial installations. To date pending plus installed is 76. Yowza!

The greater efficiency of the systems, plus dramatic equipment cost reductions, along with anticipation of the gradually declining Federal tax credit scheduled to end in 2023, have helped fuel this increase. Another notable solar trend is the increasing size of systems - averaging over 9 kW each, which is nearly three times the capacity compared to just a few years ago.

Leon County is also doing its part with the installation of 133 kW of solar panels at five locations with more planned. The Leon County Extension building on Paul Russell Road was the first net zero building in the county and among the first three in Florida. In 2020, the Leon County Commission passed a solar permitting ordinance that will help streamline the solar permitting process. In addition, the county was recently designated as a SolSmart Gold Community, only the third county in Florida to receive the program's highest designation. The designation recognizes Leon County's effort to evaluate local permitting processes and costs, zoning procedures, market development, finance, and education.

Most importantly, increased solar and more efficient natural gas-fueled electric generators have resulted in a reduction in Tallahassee’s electric utility carbon intensity. Carbon intensity is a measure of the pounds per Megawatt Hour (MWH) of carbon dioxide (CO2). For 2019 it was down to 860 pounds CO2 per MWH, which contrasts with 1,280 pounds in 2007 and 1,020 pounds in 2012.  Year 2020 should bring another 6% reduction owing to the solar-sourced electricity generated by Farm #2.

Moving toward cleaner energy

In February of 2019, the Tallahassee’s City Commission unanimously passed a Clean Energy Resolution that committed to moving the entire community to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. Recently the city contracted with Atlanta-based consultant, GDS Associates, to assist staff in developing a Clean Energy Plan that not only addresses electric and gas utility but transportation and building efficiency as well.

Community engagement will be a strong component in this effort. Kudos to the Tally 100% Together Coalition which played a prominent role in the resolution’s passage!

The clean energy adventure in Tallahassee has been a long but rewarding effort. Many citizens have engaged over the years. The City of Tallahassee and Leon County have embraced some bold steps and continue to lead.

With the forthcoming Clean Energy Plan, which will be another collaborative community and staff effort, we may see utility scale solar energy storage allowing the addition of solar farms #3, #4, and #5, as well as incentives for home and business storage.

There are plans to purchase more electric vehicles (EV) and the city has committed to installing 4 EV pilot charging locations. If the solar federal tax credit is extended, rooftop solar installations should continue to flourish. New buildings may be required to become net zero or as energy efficient as possible and EV and/or solar ready. We have much to do!

Steve Urse is a founding board member of Sustainable Tallahassee and has chaired a number of committees over the years.  Contact him at: surse2@comcast.net. This is a “Greening Our Community” article, an initiative of Sustainable Tallahassee: www.SustainableTallahassee.org.

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