florida Renewable Energy Tour 2009, February 24th to 28th

FLORIDA RENEWABLE ENERGY TOUR 2009

February 24^TH THROUGH 28TH:

Discussing Job Creation, Investments, and Energy Security

FROM WEST PALM TO ORLANDO, FL – Renewable Energy advocates, industry leaders, utilities representatives, and government officials will be gathering in 5 cities in 5 days throughout the state. The first four days will feature town hall discussions with local legislators and renewable energy advocates, leading to the final event in Orlando on Saturday the 28^th, featuring legislators from across the State of Florida as well as top names in the renewable energy world. Discussion topics will include stimulating jobs and inward investments in Florida, the proposed Florida Renewable Portfolio Standard energy bill and policies such as Feed in Tariffs and other energy incentives with a special highlight on the historical progress of Gainesville, Fl., the first municipality in the United States to establish a Feed in Tariff policy. The tour will travel Florida, answering a very important question: "How can we use the demand for renewable energy to create jobs and economic recovery?

“The Florida economy needs new engines of growth; renewables can add hundreds of thousands of jobs here; the catalyst will be energy policies such as Gainesville’s solar feed in tariff that lead to long term investment security.” says John Burges of the Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy.

Speakers will include: Representative Paige Kreegel, Representative Seth McKeel, Representative Gary Aubuchon, Representative Mary Brandenburg, Representative Maria Sachs, Representative Keith Fitzgerald, Barry Rockwell of SMA, Jerry Karnas of the Environmental Defense Fund, John Burges of Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy, Pete DeNapoli of Solar World, Ed Regan of Gainesville Regional Utilities, Tim Morgan of Morgan Electric, John Hutchens of Casto Lifestyle Properties, Brett Hutchens of Casto Lifestyle Properties, Dr. Roger Messenger, and Mike Antheil of the Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy. Invited speakers include Senator Lee Constantine, Senator Mike Bennett, Representative Mark Pafford, Representative Kurt Kelly, and Representative William Snyder and many other State Legislators and Renewable Energy Leaders.

REGISTER TODAY at www.FAREnergy.org

Event Schedule:
Tuesday, February 24th
West Palm Beach Town Hall, 5 to 7 pm
Pine Jog Environmental Center Room 101 & 102
6301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL.
Wednesday, February 25th
Lakeland Town Hall, 5 to 7pm
University of South Florida Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland, FL 33803
Thursday, February 26th
Sarasota Town Hall, 4 to 6 pm
Selby Auditorium, USF Campus, Sarasota - Manatee
8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243
Friday, February 27th
Ft. Myers Town Hall, 4 to 6 pm
Hilton Garden Inn

12600 University Drive., Fort Myers, FL 33907

Saturday, February 28th
Final Event - Keiser University Orlando, 10am to 2 pm
5600 Lake Underhill Road., Orlando, Florida 32807

The Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy “FARE” is a coalition of concerned individuals, businesses, communities, associations, utilities, policy makers, non-profits, and renewable energy producers. FARE is dedicated to educating and engaging Floridians on effective Renewable Energy Policies.

Let Sunshine Power the Sunshine State!

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Here is an article I found on the national geographic Website...Read and enjoy! I did! ~ RobRoy
the link is:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0114_050114_solarplastic.html

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Spray-On Solar-Power Cells Are True Breakthrough

Stefan Lovgren for National Geographic News

January 14, 2005

Scientists have invented a plastic solar cell that can turn the sun's power into electrical energy, even on a cloudy day. The plastic material uses nanotechnology and contains the first solar cells able to harness the sun's invisible, infrared rays. The breakthrough has led theorists to predict that plastic solar cells could one day become five times more efficient than current solar cell technology. Like paint, the composite can be sprayed onto other materials and used as portable electricity. A sweater coated in the material could power a cell phone or other wireless devices. A hydrogen-powered car painted with the film could potentially convert enough energy into electricity to continually recharge the car's battery. The researchers envision that one day "solar farms" consisting of the plastic material could be rolled across deserts to generate enough clean energy to supply the entire planet's power needs. "The sun that reaches the Earth's surface delivers 10,000 times more energy than we consume," said Ted Sargent, an electrical and computer engineering professor at the University of Toronto. Sargent is one of the inventors of the new plastic material. "If we could cover 0.1 percent of the Earth's surface with [very efficient] large-area solar cells," he said, "we could in principle replace all of our energy habits with a source of power which is clean and renewable." Infrared Power Plastic solar cells are not new. But existing materials are only able to harness the sun's visible light. While half of the sun's power lies in the visible spectrum, the other half lies in the infrared spectrum. The new material is the first plastic composite that is able to harness the infrared portion. "Everything that's warm gives off some heat. Even people and animals give off heat," Sargent said. "So there actually is some power remaining in the infrared [spectrum], even when it appears to us to be dark outside." The researchers combined specially designed nano particles called quantum dots with a polymer to make the plastic that can detect energy in the infrared. With further advances, the new plastic "could allow up to 30 percent of the sun's radiant energy to be harnessed, compared to 6 percent in today's best plastic solar cells," said Peter Peumans, a Stanford University electrical engineering professor, who studied the work. Electrical Sweaters The new material could make technology truly wireless. "We have this expectation that we don't have to plug into a phone jack anymore to talk on the phone, but we're resigned to the fact that we have to plug into an electrical outlet to recharge the batteries," Sargent said. "That's only communications wireless, not power wireless." He said the plastic coating could be woven into a shirt or sweater and used to charge an item like a cell phone. "A sweater is already absorbing all sorts of light both in the infrared and the visible," said Sargent. "Instead of just turning that into heat, as it currently does, imagine if it were to turn that into electricity." Other possibilities include energy-saving plastic sheeting that could be unfurled onto a rooftop to supply heating needs, or solar cell window coating that could let in enough infrared light to power home appliances. Cost-Effectiveness Ultimately, a large amount of the sun's energy could be harnessed through "solar farms" and used to power all our energy needs, the researchers predict. "This could potentially displace other sources of electrical production that produce greenhouse gases, such as coal," Sargent said. In Japan, the world's largest solar-power market, the government expects that 50 percent of residential power supply will come from solar power by 2030, up from a fraction of a percent today. The biggest hurdle facing solar power is cost-effectiveness. At a current cost of 25 to 50 cents per kilowatt-hour, solar power is significantly more expensive than conventional electrical power for residences. Average U.S. residential power prices are less than ten cents per kilowatt-hour, according to experts. But that could change with the new material. "Flexible, roller-processed solar cells have the potential to turn the sun's power into a clean, green, convenient source of energy," said John Wolfe, a nanotechnology venture capital investor at Lux Capital in New York City.

MyGoGreenExpress 1000 mile bike tour 2009

MyGoGreenExpress 1000 mile bike tour 2009 began January 17 in Orlando at the 32nd Annual Central highlands Scottish Festival. Inspired by the 1000 mile RobRoy canoe trip in 1866 I began travel on my trusty peddal powered stead around the entire state of Florida.

I rode to inspire families to Unite to save our Green planet. We are faced with an opportunity to make a difference in the course of history for generations to come. It is up to us to create a sustainable course for our human family to continue enjoying the benefits of being a healthy participant in the web of life. If we do not create a system that supports life on this planet for all life we will be dismissed by the life force we failed to protect. We must act now to save our planet, ourselves, and the web of life. It is time to Go Green!

My bike trek introduced me to many caring and active people working hard to meet the challenge of Reduced CO2 emmisions, Renewable sustainable energy feeding cycles, Healthy living, and builders of a Green economy.

Visit http://www.mygogreenexpress.com to learn more about my journey to Go Green.

~ RobRoy McGregor II

the Rider of MyGoGreenExpress.com bike!
robroy@mygogreenexpress.com
www.robroymcgregor.com