Programs huge success creates more demand than there is supply
Why aren’t there more programs doing the same?
Gainesville Regional Utility created the first solar feed-in tariff program in the country in 2009. The innovative utility company just completed a new round for 2011. The Feed-in program allocated 2.7 megawatts of capacity for the solar program and received over 9 megawatts of requests. That is more than triple the amount of requests than there was allocated power for the program this year. Participants in the program were chosen by a random drawing. Most bidders ended up disappointed.
If our country is in the midst of a “Sputnik” moment with regards to energy use and technology, why isn’t there more support from Federal, State and local government or utility companies to help facilitate alternative energy use? The old argument was that the fragmentation or our energy generation and distribution prevented it successful feed in programs. A utility company in Gainesville Florida has proven it can be highly successful on a local basis. The model can be implemented almost anywhere.
