Gulf Power wants to test the winds on Navarre Beach to study the potential to make electricity from wind turbines along the coast line.

 

Installation will begin next week on a weather data tower on Navarre Beach. The tower, which will study potential wind energy along Florida’s northern Gulf Coast, was approved by the Santa Rosa County Commission on December 11, 2008.

 

The installation, originally slated for earlier in the summer, was delayed in order to protect nesting birds in and around the tower site. CommStructures Inc., located in Pensacola, will be installing the tower which should be completed in approximately one week.

 

“Gulf Power is committed to exploring the viability and affordability of alternative forms of renewable energy,” said Sandy Sims, Public Affairs manager. “And this unique partnership with Santa Rosa County will give us the opportunity to gather data in our own area.”

 

The tower’s equipment will provide data that will give Gulf Power an idea on the viability of wind energy in our area. That data will also be sent to Navarre High School to use in their science curriculum. Once the data is analyzed, Gulf Power will be better able to determine if wind energy is a cost-effective means of generating renewable energy in Northwest Florida. 

 

“Even though the Southeastern United States is rated poorly for wind production by the U.S. Renewable Energy Laboratory, we want to see just what the dynamics are along the beach so we can make decisions based on facts,” Sims said.  “Knowing the average speed and duration of the winds will help us make decisions on renewable energy going forward — what works best and how much it costs.”

 

The tower, which will resemble a cell phone tower, will be in place for up to two years so Gulf Power can gather seasonal data on coastal winds and other meteorological factors.

 

Tower Facts

Location: Navarre Beach between the water tower and Eglin observatory, just west of the westernmost parking lot

Height: 196 feet

Duration of study: 12 to 24 months

Measurements:

•         average wind speed

•         average air density

•         annual average and extremes of air temperatures

•         turbulence

•         up flow

•         seasonal wind variations

•        anemometers will be placed at different levels (65, 30 and 196 feet) 

          to measure wind sheer

 

Other Gulf Power Environmental projects include:

 

• EarthCents, a menu of energy-efficiency programs and educational efforts, helps Gulf Power’s residential and commercial customers save money and energy.

 

• Perdido Landfill gas-to-energy Project- Gulf Power plans to build a facility to convert landfill gas to energy at the Perdido Landfill. Landfill methane gas is one of the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy. Initially, generators will produce 3,200 kilowatts of renewable energy — equal to the power needs of about 1,500 average homes. Trash-to-energy projects have an added environmental bonus. Landfill methane — also a greenhouse gas — is turned into energy and does not escape into the atmosphere.

 

• Panama City Municipal Solid Waste-to-Energy Project- In October, 2008, Gulf Power signed an agreement with Bay County and is purchasing 11 megawatts of renewable energy generated by its municipal solid waste incinerator. The energy produced by this facility will be equal to the power needs of approximately 5,000 average homes.

 

• Gulf Power is completing construction of the Plant Crist scrubber system, which is scheduled to go into operation in December. It is designed to reduce emissions by as much as 95 percent. As part of the project, Gulf Power entered into an agreement with ECUA to use reclaimed water from their water treatment facility currently under construction. Once complete, the project will establish the new treatment plant as a zero-discharge facility and reduce the amount of water Gulf Power takes from Escambia River by 12-14 million gallons per day.

 

 

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 400,000 customers in 10 counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy to very satisfied customers in strong communities.