Kenneth P. Ksionek Community Solar Farm at the Stanton Energy Center
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ANNOUNCING THE KENNETH P. KSIONEK COMMUNITY SOLAR FARM AT THE STANTON ENERGY CENTER The new solar farm, producing 13 megawatts (MW) of green power, has joined OUC’s family of innovative, sustainable solutions and is among the first to sit atop a closed byproduct landfill. Community Solar Farm Dedication_OBJ Insert_V2.indd 1 11/29/17 11:55 AM KENNETH P. KSIONEK COMMUNITY SOLAR FARM BY THE NUMBERS 37,544 SOLAR 2,100 PANELS HOMES 24 POWERED ACRES 539 OF LAND TONS OF STEEL 129 MPH WIND PROTECTION OUC’s Kenneth P. Ksionek Community Solar Farm is among the first in the nation to sit atop a byproduct landfill. Covering 24 acres at the Stanton Energy Center (SEC) in east Orlando, nearly 40,000 solar panels provide 13 megawatts (MW) of energy – enough to power 2,100 homes. The new farm doubles OUC’s solar capacity, allowing both commercial and residential customers who own or rent to reap the benefits of solar power without the upfront costs and hassle of installing their own rooftop array. TO SIGN UP, VISIT OUC.COM/COMMUNITYSOLAR. THE MAN BEHIND THE RELIABLE ONE KENNETH P. KSIONEK – A POWERFUL LEGACY After 32 years for 19 straight years compared to He was the driving force behind an of service and Florida investor-owned utilities, electric vehicle (EV) partnership with a plethora of according to data submitted to the the City of Orlando, leading to the accomplishments, Florida Public Service Commission. community being named one of the Ken Ksionek will Top 10 Most EV-Ready cities in the Under his tenure, SEC has retire as General United States. evolved into the most fuel-diverse Manager & CEO generation site in Florida with the Guiding the utility through four of the Orlando addition of natural gas, landfill gas major hurricanes including Charley, Utilities Commission in February and two solar photovoltaic (PV) Frances, Jean and Irma, Ksionek’s 2018. His expertise, leadership and farms – most recently, a first-of-its- steady hand ensured power was devotion have made OUC one of kind solar field atop a byproduct restored quickly and safely while the most forward-thinking utilities landfill. Ksionek has championed keeping customers informed. in the nation. other innovative solar installations Additionally, through innovative Passionate about reliability, including Central Florida’s first customer-facing technology, smart sustainability and emerging community solar farm, one of the grid upgrades, enhancements technologies, Ksionek has nation’s first floating solar arrays, to sustainability and clean successfully led OUC’s efforts and hands-on solar sculptures energy initiatives, Ksionek has to be “The Reliable One” and throughout OUC’s service area elevated OUC’s position on the “The Sustainable One,” too. to educate the community about national stage. renewable energy and make solar OUC has ranked No. 1 in Electric more visible. Distribution Reliability in Florida LEARN MORE AT OUC.COM/SOLAR. Community Solar Farm Dedication_OBJ Insert_V2.indd 2 11/29/17 11:55 AM KENNETH P. KSIONEK COMMUNITY SOLAR FARM AN ARRAY OF INNOVATIVE SOLAR PROGRAMS FLOATING SOLAR In March 2017, OUC installed a floating array, a first of its kind in UTILITY SCALE COMMUNITY TO SIGN UP, VISIT OUC.COM/COMMUNITYSOLAR. the Southeast. The 5.9-MW solar SOLAR The 31.5 kilowatt PV array at SEC In 2013, OUC (kW) facility RESIDENTIAL generates enough developed has the ability ROOFTOP SOLAR renewable energy COMMERCIAL Central Florida’s to send up to to power more In addition to SOLAR ROOFTOP SOLAR first community 31,500 watts than 600 homes OUC’s successful SCULPTURES OUC has installed solar farm at our of electricity and was the first solar PV net Highly visible and rooftop solar on Gardenia facility. directly to solar farm in metering, a new decorative solar our own buildings. The Kenneth the grid. Orange County. innovative solar sculptures, which We also help P. Ksionek aggregation provide light and commercial Community program makes can recharge small customers, like Solar Farm is rooftop solar electronic devices, the Orange the most recent more affordable can be found at County addition to our for our customers seven locations Convention solar family, by leveraging throughout OUC’s Center, generating economies service territory. incorporate it 13 MW of of scale. into their facilities. clean energy. OUC IS COMMITTED TO MAKING SOLAR AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL CUSTOMERS. OUC is expanding solar options to brighten the future for clean, sustainable energy. To help meet our customers’ growing needs, we’re finding innovative ways to make solar an option for all kinds of situations. SOLUTIONS LEARN MORE AT OUC.COM/SOLAR. Community Solar Farm Dedication_OBJ Insert_V2.indd 3 11/29/17 11:55 AM OUC’S COMMITMENT TO FUEL DIVERSITY OUC’S STANTON HELPS KEEP COSTS LOW ENERGY CENTER AND ALLOWED US TO REDUCE OUR FUEL RATE (SEC) IS THE MOST BY 9 PERCENT DIVERSE POWER IN 2016. GENERATION SITE IN THE STATE. UNITS A & B NATURAL GAS A diversified fuel ORANGE COUNTY 940 MW portfolio has always & HOLOPAW LANDFILL GAS been a priority for 47 MW OUC. Having fuel flexibility enables us to move with the market, take advantage of lower fuel costs, and maintain affordable rates for our SOLAR FARM I customers. 6 MW UNITS 1 & 2 COAL 940 MW KENNETH P. KSIONEK COMMUNITY SOLAR FARM 13 MW Community Solar Farm Dedication_OBJ Insert_V2.indd 4 11/29/17 11:56 AM PRESERVING & PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT OUC’s generation fleet exceeds expectations when it comes to meeting air quality standards. In fact, the environment at SEC is so welcoming that it’s a wildlife sanctuary where even endangered species thrive. PROTECTING AVIAN WILDLIFE With more than 66,000 distribution poles in OUC’s service area, ensuring the safety of bird populations is a priority. Many build nests on power poles and structures, which increase risks for both the birds and our electric system. Using computer modeling to track nesting locations and foraging behaviors of bald eagles, we work to minimize these risks by protecting the birds and improving safety and reliability for our customers. As one of the first utilities in Florida to create an Avian Protection Plan, our environmental, STANTON engineering and electric distribution teams install protective coverings on conductors, transformers and poles to help protect these beautiful creatures. ALGAE REFORESTATION OF RESEARCH STANTON ENERGY CENTER Almost two-thirds of the 3,280-acre SEC is dedicated to conservation. DEVELOPMENT Earlier this year, OUC employees and volunteers began replanting CONSORTIUM sections where over time, trees have thinned due to storms and age. More than 14,000 longleaf pine U.S. Department of Energy Tours trees have been meticulously Algae Research at SEC selected to improve the habitat that supports a A team at SEC is expanding very successful colony knowledge of renewable energy of the endangered by developing technology that uses red cockaded carbon dioxide to produce biofuel woodpecker. In from algae growth. In May 2017, SEC addition to improving demonstrated the technology through the natural attributes an “Algae Cultivation for Carbon Capture of the site, the trees and Utilization” workshop. Nearly 100 will recycle carbon visitors from across the nation, including dioxide from the air. guests from the U.S. Department of We will measure and Energy, toured SEC and the algae test site. track how this process The benefits of algae growth for carbon offsets CO2 emissions from utilization include alternative methods of the electric generating units carbon storage, faster production cycles for to reduce our carbon footprint. renewable fuels, and significant reductions in vehicular fossil fuel emissions. Community Solar Farm Dedication_OBJ Insert_V2.indd 5 11/29/17 11:56 AM DRIVING INNOVATION PROVIDINGWith more than 775 vehicles CUSTOMERS – ranging from plug-in WITH hybrids INNOVAto bucket trucks- – OUC’s fleet logs more than 4.7 million miles annually. So, on the road to TIVEreducing PRODUCTSour carbon footprint, we’re& SERVICES using alternative fuels, purchasing more hybrids and even recycling automotive products to protect OUC helped Orlando become one of the most EV-ready cities in the our environment. nation by supporting the installation of more than 140 public and privateWe also charging helped Orlando stations. become But we didn’t one of stop the there,most EV-ready we continue cities to in thedevelop nation new by incentivessupporting and the services installation that of benefit more than customers, 150 public the and greaterprivate chargingcommunity, stations. and the And, environment. we keep on moving the needle by developing new incentives and services that help customers, and the greater community, adopt electric vehicles for their homes and businesses. PLUGGING INTO FUEL EFFICIENCY Embracing fuel-efficient technology as a commitment to green initiatives, OUC was the first municipal utility in Florida to acquire a plug-in hybrid that gets up to 99 mpg. Today, we have 6 all-electric cars in our fleet and 47 hybrid vehicles. For our line technicians out in the field, we have four hybrid bucket trucks and one auxiliary battery system to operate the aerial tower hydraulics. Bucket trucks are a promising application for hybrid technology since much of the vehicle’s work is done when stationary. The hybrid diesel-electric system allows the main engine to be turned off while crews operate entirely off the battery. ADDING NEW FUELS TO THE MIX As part of an overall plan to reduce emissions in OUC’s fleet, we use B20 – a blend of 80 percent petroleum diesel and 20 percent biodiesel – a clean-burning alternative fuel made from new or used vegetables oils and animal fats, including recycled cooking grease. Compared to petroleum diesel, biodiesel produces lower emissions, which is better for the environment. B20 has been integrated seamlessly into our fueling system without any changes to vehicles or fuel storage and distribution equipment.