98 replies to this topic

[poonther]

Rachiroo, on Jan 11 2008, 10:59 AM, said:

You never know when you might need mood lighting in that closet Poonther, you could regret that decision!!

In a newer home, I'd agree w/you, however in a 1920's home, even one person can fit in the breadbox, I mean closet.

[Florida]

Developer: Unlevel playing field for coal plant site?

DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

A bidding war has started for the 3,200-acre site where the city of Tallahassee and its partners wanted to build a coal plant, but the new bidder is worried that he’s not negotiating on a level playing field.

On Monday evening, retired developer O.C. Allen filed a letter of intent with the city of Tallahassee to share his interest in building a manufacturing plant to produce renewable energy products on the site along the Fenholloway River four miles southeast of Perry. But the partnership already has an agreement with Southern Power that gives the Atlanta-based energy giant until April 15 to take over the partnership’s option on the land, which is still owned by the Buckeye Florida paper company and the Foley Timber and Land Company.

In a cover letter, Allen blasted the partnership’s decision to give Southern exclusive negotiation rights. He said his business associates, whom he doesn’t want to name publicly for now, are offering $5 million for the land to Southern’s $3.9 million.


Source/More: TDO.com

[Florida]

Energy plant proposed for Liberty County

The president of Liberty Industries Inc. of Bristol said his company is looking at other adjoining counties in addition to Liberty County for a proposed ethanol plant.

Liberty Industries is proposing a $38-million plant to produce ethanol and electricity from forest products, crops and municipal solid waste.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said earlier this week that Liberty Industries is receiving a $4 million grant for a plant near Hosford. The company was among 12 companies, universities and research firms receiving $25 million in renewable energy grants.

Sam Hatcher, company president, said his other company, Liberty Holding Co., owns two sites in Liberty County that are being considered for the plant. But the company also is considering Leon County and other adjoining counties for the plant.

Source: TDO.com

[thetoolman]

poonther, on Jan 10 2008, 03:13 PM, said:

^I've changed the majority of mine as well.  I can't change the ones connected to a dimmer switch for some reason.  I know this b/c it says it on the box and b/c I've tried it.  It worked for a little while, but soon that bulb went out.  The family that owned this house before us had a fetish for dimmer switches.  We've changed a few back to normal b/c who needs dimmers in the bathrooms, kitchen and yes even one closet had one.

Sam's has dimmable CFLs now. They are a bit expensive, but since they last so long it might be worth it. Another thing to consider is that bulbs that are dimmed don't use the full wattage either. So, leaving traditional incandescents in these fixtures is not all that bad.

And for the record, I have a dimmer in my bathroom. Not in the closet though.

[poonther]

thetoolman, on Jan 25 2008, 09:37 PM, said:

Sam's has dimmable CFLs now. They are a bit expensive, but since they last so long it might be worth it. Another thing to consider is that bulbs that are dimmed don't use the full wattage either. So, leaving traditional incandescents in these fixtures is not all that bad.

And for the record, I have a dimmer in my bathroom. Not in the closet though.

Thanks for the tip T-man.  I'm not a Sam's Club member (I'm still holding out for Costco) but I'll keep my eye open for those CFL's that you can dim at other area stores.  Good point about saving money while having the lights dimmed, however I'm not much a mood lighting guy, I like my lights fully on or off.  I understand others are different like the family that lived in my home before.  While I can sort of rationalize a dimmer in the bathrooms (hides the grey hair and wrinkles better) I will never understand one in a closet the size of a bread-box.

Question: did your bathrooms come w/the dimmers when you bought your home or did you put them in yourselves?

[Florida]

In the Green

An interesting article about how local business owners who are finding ways to boost their bottom lines by infusing energy efficiencies into their workplaces. It made for a rather interesting read.

Source: TDO.com

[Florida]

City approves energy-savings plan

The plan calls for the city to spend $49.5 million over the next five years, including $2.1 million this year. But the city will save money in the long-run by foregoing the need for new power plants and other savings, said David Byrne, the city's director of energy services.

It also means more money stays in the local community, instead of going to oil and gas vendors in Houston. Byrne estimated the city — and its utility customers — could eventually save $10 million of the $200 million it pays for fuel.

Source: TDO.com

[Florida]

FY 2008 Approved Capital Budget Highlights

Utilities

• Alternate Energy: $2,000,000
  
• Biosolids for Advanced Wastewater Treatment: $9,420,000
  
• Electric System Construction & Improvements: $10,025,000
  
• Energy Efficiency & Demand Side Management: $7,149,376
  
• Gas System Expansion: $1,394,220
  
• Repowering of Hopkins Unit 2 Phase I: $2,750,000
  
• Smart Metering/Advanced Metering Infrastructure: $24,325,000

Edited by Florida, 26 February 2008 - 09:56 AM.

[Florida]

Environmental groups cast doubts on 'clean' plasma-arc power plants

Environmental groups said Monday that proposed "plasma arc" plants that can convert garbage into gas that is burned to produce electricity really are polluting incinerators in disguise. The plants have been proposed in Tallahassee and in Okaloosa and St. Lucie counties. Gov. Charlie Crist touted the proposed Green Power Systems plant in Tallahassee in November as an example of clean renewable energy. Green Power Systems proposes using 1,000 tons of garbage per day to produce 35 megawatts of electricity. The plant could heat garbage and tires to 5,000 degrees Celsius to produce synthetic fuel, or syngas, which can then be burned to produce steam to turn an electrical turbine. The controversy hides behind the developing company's claim that they won't have smoke stacks or emissions, but their building plans include stacks and the company had admitted that whatever emissions it will have will be determined by the state review board.

Source: Tallahassee Democrat

[Florida]

City Manager Announces Internal Reorganization

New Department Created for Green Initatives

March 20

New Department Directors Also Named - Tallahassee City Manager Anita Favors Thompson today announced details on a reorganization of the municipal government. Favors Thompson crafted the internal reorganization to increase internal efficiencies, respond to changing needs and to bring greater focus on priorities. The new structure shifts responsibilities as well as reporting assignments of some departments and Assistant City Managers. The reorganization will save $300,00 for fiscal year 2008 plus and an additional $150,000 over the subsequent three years.

In addition, Favors Thompson also named three persons to head city departments and assigned another director to a new priority area.

Raoul Lavin, a 15-year City employee, has been named as the director of the Department of Management and Administration (DMA).
Dee Crumpler as the Director of the City's Parks & Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department.
Medhat "Mike" Tadros has been named general manager of the reorganized Underground Utilities Department, which combines the operation and maintenance of the Water, Sewer and Natural Gas utilities and also Stormwater Management functions.

Cynthia Barber, currently the Director of Utility Business and Customer Services, has been named director of the new Department of Environmental Policy and Resources, which will direct all of the City's "green" initiatives, including creating and monitoring energy reduction programs and seeking grants for green programs.

Read More

[poonther]

Was anyone aware this was going on:

Tally vs. Gainesville

I find it pretty cool and interesting.  However if it's done on just raw numbers and not weighted, then it's biased towards Tallytown b/c Tally has a population of approximately 160k while G'ville only has approx. 108K.  Based on that bias, we better win this one!

[Chieflynole]

These things are all fine and good and Im happy that the government seems to be taking this seriously, but I just dont see how we can call ourselves a green city when we dont even have recycling pickup service... I mean where is the closest recycling plant anyway? To me a bigger deal would be to build a state of the art recycling plant.

[Go Gators]

Chieflynole, on Apr 24 2008, 03:19 AM, said:

These things are all fine and good and Im happy that the government seems to be taking this seriously, but I just dont see how we can call ourselves a green city when we dont even have recycling pickup service... I mean where is the closest recycling plant anyway? To me a bigger deal would be to build a state of the art recycling plant.

We do have a recycling pickup sevice..they take mine every Friday...

[poonther]

Chieflynole, on Apr 24 2008, 03:19 AM, said:

These things are all fine and good and Im happy that the government seems to be taking this seriously, but I just dont see how we can call ourselves a green city when we dont even have recycling pickup service... I mean where is the closest recycling plant anyway? To me a bigger deal would be to build a state of the art recycling plant.

Oh I agree Chief that we aren't nearly as green as we brag about being.  I am glad to see friendly competition between the two cities on this front.  I'd like to see more of this.

Where you live do they not p/u recycling?  Like GG, they come for mine every Friday.

We've learned here that they don't recycle at the local hotels and I'm curious..at all the multi-family structures in town, especially the monster student ones, do they have any type of recycling?

Finally, I too am curious where is our closest recycling plant?  I know lately something about this has been in the Democrat.

[Chieflynole]

Im at Polo club on High... maybe its just my apt complex's fault I'll have to talk to my land lord. My roommate has said she is even thinking of taking our recyclables to campus to get them taken out of the trash. I think that if our city wants to really be green that there are big things that they need to do... like making better regulations on residential construction. I know alot of students living in facilities that cant possibly be insulated or sealed in any manner. I think they are heading in the correct direction creating a department. That to me says that this is something more than a directive to appeal to people.

[jpl02]

Chieflynole, on May 1 2008, 09:16 AM, said:

Im at Polo club on High... maybe its just my apt complex's fault I'll have to talk to my land lord. My roommate has said she is even thinking of taking our recyclables to campus to get them taken out of the trash. I think that if our city wants to really be green that there are big things that they need to do... like making better regulations on residential construction. I know alot of students living in facilities that cant possibly be insulated or sealed in any manner. I think they are heading in the correct direction creating a department. That to me says that this is something more than a directive to appeal to people.

None of the student housing complexes have recycling. Probably the landlords do not want to provide an extra service (most pay for garbage pickup) and want to be cheap.

I would never live in student housing. 95% of the apartments are built with the cheapest materials possible and are the most energy inefficient I've ever seen. Once again, it all boils down to the almighty dollar - cheaper the construction costs, the greater the profit. Nevermind that Tallahassee utilities is raping us with their rates.

[TD]

Chieflynole, on May 1 2008, 09:16 AM, said:

Im at Polo club on High... maybe its just my apt complex's fault I'll have to talk to my land lord. My roommate has said she is even thinking of taking our recyclables to campus to get them taken out of the trash. I think that if our city wants to really be green that there are big things that they need to do... like making better regulations on residential construction. I know alot of students living in facilities that cant possibly be insulated or sealed in any manner. I think they are heading in the correct direction creating a department. That to me says that this is something more than a directive to appeal to people.

chief, how do u like it there? Im there a lot cause my friend lives there.. apparently he hates it as mgmt is always up in your business whining about something or another not being perfect

[Glenn]

I heard a story on WFSU-FM last week about a plant over in Jackson County (Campbellton or Cottondale I think) that produces wood pellets for power plants to burn from scrap pulp products.  In fact, the reporter stated this was the worlds largest plant/producer of these wood pellets.  They are then trucked or taken by rail to the Port of Panama City where they are shipped to Europe & mixed with coal at their power plants to reduce the carbon emissions.  They apparently burn very hot & produce quick & high heat needed for the boilers & actually reduced the amount of coal needed to accomplish the same results.

My question is why do we have the worlds largest plant/producer of these wood pellets practically sitting in our backyard but we aren't even taking advantage of what they offer?  Instead, we're shipping it all halfway around the world to other Countries!  Why aren't we looking at this as a solution for some of our energy needs?   I'm certainly no engineer but on the surface it sure sounds like we should explore this option.  It's a shame we're shipping our local resources to Europe for them to reduce their reliance on coal while we continue to import coal....crazy isn't it?

What am I missing here?  

[TD]

Glenn, on May 28 2008, 01:27 AM, said:

I heard a story on WFSU-FM last week about a plant over in Jackson County (Campbellton or Cottondale I think) that produces wood pellets for power plants to burn from scrap pulp products.  In fact, the reporter stated this was the worlds largest plant/producer of these wood pellets.  They are then trucked or taken by rail to the Port of Panama City where they are shipped to Europe & mixed with coal at their power plants to reduce the carbon emissions.  They apparently burn very hot & produce quick & high heat needed for the boilers & actually reduced the amount of coal needed to accomplish the same results.

My question is why do we have the worlds largest plant/producer of these wood pellets practically sitting in our backyard but we aren't even taking advantage of what they offer?  Instead, we're shipping it all halfway around the world to other Countries!  Why aren't we looking at this as a solution for some of our energy needs?   I'm certainly no engineer but on the surface it sure sounds like we should explore this option.  It's a shame we're shipping our local resources to Europe for them to reduce their reliance on coal while we continue to import coal....crazy isn't it?

What am I missing here?  

Business can be a puzzling thing, and their motives usually hinge on the highest amount of money and demand for the product. Im sure if it was a viable option for our region we  would have already began utilizing this.. however some things are overlooked. Write the city and see waht they say.