by Tammy Taylor
Staff Writer
To reach its goal of attaining 7.5 percent of electricity generated from renewable resources by 2015, JEA is accepting bids from companies that specialize in providing renewable energy.
The utility company plans to purchase the alternative power source to meet its goal to attain renewable energy, also called green power, which is generated from sources, including solar, wind, biomass (grasses, plants, landfill gas), geothermal and water.
“We’ve received an overwhelming response to our Request for Proposals (RFP) from potential vendors,” said Susan Hughes, JEA vice president of Environmental Services.
Hughes said more than 100 companies have requested the RFP so far.
The number of RFP’s are an early indicator of the number of bids JEA will have to select from, said Ron Whittington, spokesman for JEA.
“Renewable energy will be a long-term project, and we may do more than one contract with the company we choose,” said Whittington. “A contract with the supplier will be very lucrative for their business.”
Hughes said: “Through the RFP, we hope to identify companies that can work with us to attain our goal over the next decade or longer. Along with promoting fuel diversity for JEA, it will also decrease our reliance on fossil fuels and lower the impact of fossil fuel energy generation on human health and the environment.”
Finding alternative fuel sources will be in both JEA’s and the public’s best interest said Whittington.
Ingo Krieg of Green Power Systems in Jacksonville is one local company that plans to submit a bid to JEA.
Krieg, the owner of a dairy farm next to the Brandy Branch Power Plant, plans to incorporate methane gas produced from cattle waste, and the waste produced from places such as the Jacksonville Zoo, and the new Jacksonville Equestrian Center as a power source. His idea is to pipe methane gas to JEA.
If his company receives the bid, it will be able to introduce one to four megawatts of power into JEA power system.
Krieg also plans to produce organic fertilizer which can be sold to homeowners after the methane has been removed. Not only is it environmentally friendly, the fertilizer sales will generate more revenue for the company.
Utilizing green power to offer diverse energy sources has been done by other utility companies in the United States, but Whittington said JEA’s efforts are unique, especially in the Southeast.
“Most companies would initiate something like this on their own instead of sending out an RFP, but we want to find out what’s out there,” he said. “JEA has set a pretty aggressive goal and we want to ensure we find the companies that can help us reach it. By doing work with outside sources, it is a good way to find new technology. Putting this in the private sector will help us achieve our goal.”
JEA is already one of the top utility produces of solar power nationwide.
The company launched it’s solar initiative in 1999, bringing 218 kilowatts of solar power online. It also is credited for 4,137 kilowatts of power generated through a Solar Incentive Program established in 2002.