Identifying Prospective Sites for Industrial Solar Power Facilities in Eastern Central Florida Using Geospatial Analysis
Authors
J. Anthony Abbott
Stetson University
Daniel Krinsky
Stetson University
Keywords:
Renewable energy resources --Florida, Solar energy --Florida, Power resources --Florida, Fossil fuels, Coal, Natural gas, Petroleum, Pollution, Photovoltaic power generation, Geographic information systems, Geospatial data, Dwellings --Energy conservation
Abstract
With a population of over 18 million people, Florida ranks third nationally in total energy consumption. Florida currently generates 1100 megawatts of alternative electric power from various sources including biomass, hydroelectric sources, landfill gas, and municipal solid waste (DEP, 2006). These alternative sources account for less than two percent of Florida's generation capacity. This heavy reliance on imported traditional, finite energy sources such as coal, natural gas, and oil leads to pollution and a lack of energy independence in the state. Cleaner, renewable sources of energy, such as solar power, would allow Florida to gain energy independence and reduce pollution.
