“Florida’s businesses continue to demonstrate that there is gold in green, and climate-friendly energy sources – like ethanol and solar energy – are bringing new prospects for our state,” said Governor Charlie Crist. “Encouraging companies to do business the green way as well as building a strong market in renewable energy technologies in the Sunshine State will strengthen our energy and economic future and protect our natural environment for generations to come.”

Building on the policy framework of the executive orders signed at the 2007 summit, this year’s summit focuses on developing Florida’s renewable and alternative energy industries. By encouraging companies to invest in our state’s energy future, Florida will transform its energy marketplace to enhance fuel diversity, lessen dependence on foreign sources of oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The 2008 summit will bring together industry leaders, policy makers, academics, scientists, environmentalists and the business community to explore opportunities for expanding Florida’s renewable and alternative energy marketplace and greening our business community.

Since last year’s summit, Florida’s “green” economy has grown significantly. Progress Energy along with Biomass Gas & Electric of Atlanta recently announced a partnership to build in North Florida the largest waste-wood biomass plant in the nation, converting waste wood to electricity. FPL Group, one of the largest utilities in the country, has a number of solar and wind energy projects across Florida, including a $2.4 billion investment in a 300 megawatt solar facility. Also, during the Governor’s trade mission to Brazil last year, a $183 million agreement was signed between Renewable Fuels of Tallahassee LLC and Controlsud International Group to build a system that converts trash into energy in Tallahassee. Additionally, other companies are expanding conservation efforts and investing in upgrades at existing facilities to increase energy efficiency and save money while stimulating our economy. Finally, in November, Florida was home to the first carbon-neutral college football game between Florida State University and the University of Florida in Gainesville.

On July 13, 2007, Governor Charlie Crist signed a suite of executive orders to reduce Florida’s greenhouse gases emissions, increase energy efficiency, and remove market barriers for renewable energy technologies such as solar and wind energy. Since the executive orders were signed, Florida has stepped onto the world stage as a major marketplace for advanced energy technologies. In addition, the Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change Phase II Report, due October 1, 2008, will provide additional recommendations for strategic investments and public-private partnerships to spur climate-friendly economic development opportunities.

For more information on the 2008 Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change, or to register for the conference, visit www.myfloridaclimate.com or www.myflorida.com

“We think it is important for businesses and consumers alike to know what Green products and services are available,” said Jim Griffin, Founder and President of Global Green Alliance. “We want people to understand that ‘Going Green’ does not mean sacrificing your way of life or spending more money. It means that you care about your environment and you are making efforts to preserve it.”

The Green Earth Expo 2008 will be held from May 15-18, 2008, and is booked for the next ten years. The Orange County Convention Center is the second largest convention center in the U.S., and is the only one to earn ISO 14001-2004 certification for environmental management due to their successful recycling program. Additionally, OCCC recently announced a major solar energy project to provide power to the convention center.

The Expo is designed to promote Green and Sustainable commerce. Participating organizations will enjoy a day for the Green Business Summit, and Business-to-Business trade show on Thursday, May 15. The general public will be welcomed for the last three days of the Expo, enabling exhibitors to showcase their Green initiatives to tens of thousands of consumer, business, and government attendees.

The Expo is proud to feature an Eco-Kid’s Corner on Friday-Sunday, with educational activities and entertainment for children and adults alike. Top designers will host an Eco-Fashion Show on Saturday, May 17, 2008

“Green should not be exclusive. Reducing our carbon footprint, protecting our resources, and bettering our individual health should be a natural goal of any organization or person,” noted Griffin. “We feel it is our mission to promote Green commerce to encourage its growth amongst the business community. Furthermore, we want to educate the public about the quality and affordability of Green products and services that are available to them to further incorporate Green into their lives.”

About Global Green Alliance
Global Green Alliance is a consortium of organizations dedicated to promoting Green and Sustainable commerce and lifestyle. Along with producing the Green Earth Expo, GGA works with governments, businesses, and non-profit organizations to raise environmental awareness and to advance Green and Sustainable practices.

For more information, please visit www.globalgreenalliance.com.

An extensive, beautiful coral reef ecosystem stretches more than 100 miles along the Southeast Florida coast, from Miami-Dade to Martin County. These reefs are part of the third longest reef system in the world and are one of the greatest natural resources in Florida and the United States. Coral reefs are specialized habitats that provide shelter, food and breeding sites for numerous plants and animals. Reefs form a breakwater for the adjacent coast, providing natural storm protection.

Taking place during the International Year of the Reef 2008, the International Coral Reef Symposium convenes every four years as a major scientific conference to provide the latest knowledge about coral reefs worldwide. Natural scientists, resource managers and users, conservationists, economists, and educators meet together to advance coral reef science, management and conservation. Sponsored in part by the Symposium as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the International Coral Reef Initiative, the International Year of the Reef is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability.

“Coral reefs are diverse habitats that draw scuba divers and fishermen that boost our economy and they protect our beaches and homes from storm surge,” said DEP Director of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas Stephanie Bailenson. “DEP is proud to be a co-sponsor of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium and join the world in celebrating International Year of the Reef 2008. We appreciate the commitment of all of our partners to ensuring the health and vitality of these precious treasures.”

DEP’s Coral Reef Conservation Program is raising public awareness by sponsoring two 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) about coral reefs. Airing in both English and Spanish, the PSAs will run throughout 2008 on local television and radio stations in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties. The program has also produced a video on coral reef protection for area visitors as well as educational DVDs for teachers that provide more than 150 activities for students. In addition, an advanced coral reef training workshop will be held in 2008, as a follow-up course for teachers who participated in previous workshops.

Furthermore, the Coral Reef Conservation Program provides monthly identification classes on corals, fishing and marine invertebrates as well as coral reef protection tips on their Web site.

Tips:
- Use navigational charts to locate coral reefs.
- Anchor to mooring buoys or in sand.
- Stash your trash - Do not dispose of trash, bilge washings, or other debris on or near reefs.
- Don’t touch coral. Coral is made of a hard skeleton, but coral polyps are fragile.
- Avoid trolling for fish above a reef.

Be a smart consumer. Look for the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) stamp of approval on marine products before purchasing.

“The Coral Reef Conservation Program is dedicated to providing these useful activities so the public will take action and commit to providing for the health and future of coral reefs,” said Chantal Collier, manager of DEP’s Coral Reef Conservation Program.

The State of Florida also manages coral reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. This partnership has helped monitor and protect this fragile coral ecosystem for 30 years. The Sanctuary Advisory Council supports public involvement in the management process.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Coral Reef Conservation Program heads the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, a coalition of more than 70 state, local and federal partners working to protect Florida’s coral reefs. The Initiative is a local action strategy to identify and implement priority actions needed to reduce threats to coral reef resources, including research, monitoring, education and best management practices.

For more information on DEP’s Coral Reef Conservation Program and the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral and www.southeastfloridareefs.net.

Their fundraising is done through sponsoring environmental friendly, cultural immersion, small group, bicycle tour
program for ordinary active people, to Asia, the Americas, and all regions of Africa.

Through education, advocacy and demonstration projects encourage social attitudes, and infrastructure and market development that promotes use of bicycles and other forms of sustainable transport for of business and personal welfare. Encouraging environmentally friendly, economically decentralized, and educational cultural immersion formats to promote cross cultural personal and professional development and international understanding. Priority is given to less affluent regions.

The common element in all the activities of the International Bicycle Fund is bicycles. Beyond that IBF covers a lot of territory: urban planning, facility design, women in development, rural mobility, traffic safety education, human settlement, quality of life, person health, energy conservation and responsible tourism. IBF works internationally to promote sustainable transport, preserve environmental quality and build international understanding. IBF is largely a volunteer effort.

Types of Programs
IBF provides technical advice, consulting, strategic planning, material support and financial support worldwide. Because of limited resources (both labor and funds) most of our material and financial support is provide as small matching grants to grassroots or community based organization doing undertaking unique initiatives in less developed economies. We have been particularly active in sub-Saharan Africa. Some of IBF’s support has gone to training welders in Zimbabwe to make bicycle trailers, advising a community tourism project in Tanzania, supporting a grassroots advocacy group in Uganda, advocating tariff reductions in Kenya, supplying bike parts to Eritrea, supporting a youth mechanics training program in Ghana, supporting the Pan-Africa Bicycle Information Network, funding an environmental education program in India and donating bikes to Cuba.

In Latin America, IBF launched a South America Bicycle Transport Advocacy Initiative to support local bicycle advocacy programs. Grants were made to support workshops to train transport planners about non-motorized transport and to support a car-free day program.

A great deal of IBF’s effort is focused on moving information: researching and answering queries that come to the office, helping partners refine and increase the effectiveness of their respective programs, and publishing information that might be useful for others.

For more info on International Bicycle Fund visit www.ibike.org
or send an email to info@ibike.org

Last week Wendy Vetter, a mother of a 6th grade student attending Freedom 7 Elementary School located in Cocoa Beach, Florida contacted the Greenbrevard.com office asking if we could help located a Green Commercial building in the area that has been built or will be built to the LEED� (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. We try and help people in many ways and this request would be somewhat easy to fulfill. Ms. Vetter was then given my contact information due to the Foundation has access to a great deal of that type of information.

A perfect example of why we created this program

This is not what the story is about though, providing resources and educational information is something the Foundation always tries to do when requested. The story came to life when Wendy began to explain to me why she was looking for this type of building or project. Her son Andrew and two other students selected Green LEED Commercial Buildings as their subject for their yearly�project which they work on all year and present to the school, parents and friends at the end of the year.

Of course I asked, “What made them choose that as a topic?”

Wendy explained that at the beginning of the year the theme for the entire school was green and the topics and subjects that were chosen ranged from organic foods, green residential homes, green marketing, just to mention a few. This really perked my interest due to I think it is a great way to bring green living into the education system and in elementary school it made a big impression. Included in the projects requirements are creating movies, studies, interviews to back up all their findings.

About half way through our conversation I had an idea that might work for the kids. Fortunately through our work we have had contact with many cities and counties across the state, but I knew of one that was getting ready to build a new city hall which was designed and to be built to LEED Standards and it was right down the street from where the students attended school.

An email to John Titkanich with the City of Cocoa and the students had what they needed to complete their project. Mr. Titkanich, Gary Palmer and Ed J. Wegerif from the City of Cocoa were thrilled with the request and made a call to the Architect on the project Shad L. Traylor with BRPH Architects-Engineers to see if he could meet with the kids also to really give them a detailed look at the process. As we all know good news and good stories make people want to go the extra mile, Mr. Traylor also was thrilled with the request.

Avery Ellegood, Jacob Palmer and Andrew Gansler the sixth grade students from Freedom 7 Elementary school were very impressive with their knowledge and in-site on Commercial Green building and on more than one occasion the seasoned professionals sitting around the table looked around to see if someone was feeding the students questions to ask. These students knew their stuff and it was obvious to all that their project was truly good news for green living. There will be more about Avery, Jacob and Andrew and their project posted on the green community web sites in the next few months along with the Freedom 7 Elementary School and the creative way that they brought green living into not only the students lives that attend, but their families and now yours.

This is the perfect example of why we started this program. On May 16, 2009 Avery, Jacob and Andrew will present their project during a year end school event, try and attend, you will be impressed and get a taste of some good green news.

A special Thank You to John, Ed, and Gary from the City of Cocoa and Shad Traylor from BRPH Architects-Engineering, Inc. for providing and acting as resource for the green-kids in their community.
About Freedom 7 Elementary:

Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies is an authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP) School. Through the IB Program, Freedom 7 offers an inquiry based curriculum that empowers students to become responsible world citizens and reflective lifelong learners.

The overriding philosophy of the Millennium Elementary Schools of Choice is to provide students with an enriched interactive atmosphere fostering good citizenship within a nurturing and safe environment. Through the enhanced program emphasis on international studies combined with a traditional core academic curriculum, Freedom 7 Elementary, one of the three elementary Millennium Schools, sparks excitement and enthusiasm for children.

Visit Freedom 7 Elementary Schools web site to find out more. http://freedom.es.brevard.k12.fl.us/about.htm

Click here for all the info on our Green Communities Program

In the summer of 2007 an idea was born inside the walls of the City Arts Factory that would breakdown the limitations of us artists. They called it, The Orlando Art Farm.

The Originators, Chuck Dinkins and Amanda Vickers are two well known artists in our community who have been involved in numerous causes and movements in Orlando’s Art movement.

Amanda is a self-made artist that has been showing and selling her work at various places including Cafe Tu Tu Tango, the original Orlando farmer’s Market and Wall Street Market. Amanda has also been involved in large organizations such as Make an Impression Visual Arts program and The International House of Blues Foundation, where she met Chuck. At the same time, she worked as a volunteer coordinator for OVAL (Orlando Visual Arts League).

Chuck Dinkins, a musician at heart, saw success as a painter in his days working at Sapphire Supper Club, later on in his life he worked as a talent buyer for the House Of Blues. He left HOB after the LIVE Nation buyout to become the General Manager/Facilities Director at 29 S. Orange Av. when it reopened it’s doors as The City Arts Factory.

Together, Chuck and Amanda brought life to and opened the arms of the City Arts Factory to all artists alike.
Just as the City Arts Factory was going through a rebirth, the Orlando Farmer’s Market was appointed a new director, Dana Brown. She is a woman with a long history of event planning and music booking in Orlando. Dana attended a DAD (Downtown Arts District) Meeting to introduce herself in her new position. There she met Chuck who brought forward the idea of a collaboration with the Farmer’s Market.

So after a few lunches and a lot of political red tape, the Art Farm was born. They came up with the concept of a monthly event that for a very small fee, allows artists to set up shop in Downtown Lake Eola for a full day and sell their handmade goods to the passers by.

The Art Farm sits adjacent to the Orlando Farmers Market therefore creating a big bountiful event for the locals and visitors alike. The Art Farm sets up Art Festival Style along the bridge and fills it with a diverse group of visual artists that sell unique handmade works ranging from paintings, jewelry, candles, magnets, large marble pieces, mosaic art, henna, folk art, industrial art, pottery, illustrations and handmade greeting cards.
Along side is the Orlando Farmer’s Market which offers a vast array of goods including locally grown produce, exotic ornamental plants and annuals, handcrafted gifts, jewelry, and house wares, luxurious aromatherapy products, and boutique style pet notions. Fresh gourmet and ethnic foods can be enjoyed in a shady, open-air restaurant/ beer and wine garden, or brought home to complete the perfect Sunday dinner. They also feature live music, art and portraiture, pet photography, and licensed chair massage, all in a family and pet friendly environment.

Today, the Art Farm continues to grow and is becoming a permanent fixture in our local arts open to the public on the Third Sunday of every month from 10am-4pm. The Orlando Farmer’s Market is open every Sunday from 10am-4pm.

So from all of us unknown artists, we thank these great young minds that with their ideas, perseverance and hard work continue to open doors for the many artists that are simply looking for a way in.

For more information please visit
www.myspace.com/orlandoartfarm
www.cityartsfactory.com/
www.orlandofarmersmarket.com

Carolina Suarez-Garcia is first, a visual artist. Along with her love of art, comes a love of writing that she’s nurtured all her life. Born in Lima, Peru, she’s lived in Orlando since 1994 with her husband and toddler son.
Read her article, Parents of a Stillborn Child, here.

“With a commitment to adopting innovative green practices and protecting Florida’s environment, facilities in the Green Lodging Program are leading the industry by example,” said DEP Central District Director Vivian Garfein. “Their dedication serves as an example and a challenge to other hotels to adopt innovative green practices, conserve resources and save money.”

Both the Hampton Inn and Courtyard by Marriott have implemented a formal communication program between staff and guests, promoting environmental education and public feedback. In addition, the hotels conserve water through towel and linen reuse programs and low-flow toilets and faucets and conserve energy through ENERGY STAR® rated equipment, programmable thermostats and indoor and outdoor lighting sensors. Waste is reduced by recycling office paper, newspaper, aluminum cans and corrugated cardboard, purchasing products with 30 percent post consumer content, and instituting policies such as bulk purchasing and reduced packaging. Indoor air quality is improved by utilizing high quality air-conditioning filters, using environmentally preferable cleaners and following a preventative maintenance schedule for all air-conditioning systems.

“We are excited and proud to be the first hotels in Brevard County to be included in the Florida Green Lodging Program,” said Tom Williamson, General Manager for both facilities. “Hopefully this program will soon be the standard by which all hotels operate.”

On July 13, at his Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change, Governor Charlie Crist signed three executive orders initiating state energy-use policies, including one that requires state agencies and departments to hold meetings and conferences at hotels participating in DEP’s Green Lodging Program starting January 1, 2008, whenever possible. The Summit was a bold first step to explore groundbreaking technologies and strategies that will place Florida at the forefront of the growing world-wide movement to reduce greenhouse gases.

“With a commitment to adopting innovative green practices and protecting Florida’s environment, facilities in the Green Lodging Program are leading the industry by example.” - Vivian Garfein, DEP Central District

Launched in March 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution. As a reward for designation, Florida is recommending Green Lodges to companies and trade organizations seeking environmentally conscious lodging and convention facilities. With the addition of both the Hampton Inn and Courtyard by Marriott, the program 38 hotels designated, with 82 in the process of becoming designated.

For more information about the Florida Green Lodging Program designation process or to locate a participating facility, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging.

Visit the Courtyard Cocoa Beach (and their website) at www.courtyardcocoabeach.com
Visit the Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach at www.hamptoninncocoabeach.com

“Between the access to materials, and the connections to various sub-contractors, I thought we would be able to repair or replace the house in short order. Pam and I began to talk about what we should do, and it was then that we set our sights on something a little different.” Their “something a little different” has turned out to be a historical first in the State of Florida.

Their new home is the first in Florida to achieve Silver certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® rating system. The U.S. Green Building Council’s “LEED” Program, for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a rating system applied to environmentally-friendly construction projects. Designed by Atlanta architect Dagmar Epsten of The Epsten Group and constructed by Ken Ritter of Classic Construction, it was completed September 28, 2007. Epsten brought LEED-certification experience from her commercial design practice, including the $40 million, 248,000 square foot, Silver-certified Management Building for the Georgia Institute of Technology. “From an architectural perspective, it is equally important that we create buildings that are visually appealing and that work for their owners. This home can be looked to as an example of how average people can live in a structure that is functional and beautiful, yet has far less an environmental impact than conventional construction.”

Pare’ residence first home in Florida to achieve Silver certification from U.S. Green Building Council

LEED for Homes ratings are certified by accredited Program Providers. The Program Provider for this project was the Florida Solar Energy Center, or FSEC, a Research Institute of the University of Central Florida. The FSEC’s Eric Martin reviewed the project throughout the construction phase, and ensured it met all requirements of the U.S. Green Building Council’s program. “Before this, there had been only one other home to achieve even a basic LEED rating in Florida. The Paré home has now achieved a Silver rating, and did so by a comfortable margin. John and Pam were committed to making this happen, and have proven that eco-friendly can also be beautiful and highly functional. We are very pleased to have been a part of the project.”

Among the home’s “green” features are: solar water heating, high-efficiency air conditioning, low-energy lighting, reflective and insulated roofing material, insulated poured concrete walls, and low-impact landscaping materials. According to Pam Paré, the acknowledged “construction manager” of the two, “We felt strongly that we could design and build an environmentally friendly home with all the beauty and livability of conventional construction. Most of the concepts we used have been proven in many other places, although it took a lot of work to research the options and put them all together.”

David Bessette, of AllSolar Service Company, consulted on the energy-efficiency and climate-control in the residence, one of the most energy-consuming aspects of residential buildings in Florida. “With respect to energy consumption, the solar water heating system was the single best measure they incorporated into the home.” said Bessette. “From a climate-control perspective, the Paré’s have built one of the tightest homes, if not THE tightest home, in the state. In the 30 years that I have been in this industry, I have not seen a residential building envelope as efficient as was achieved here.”

According to builder Ken Ritter, “We were originally approached because of our expertise with Eco-Block™ poured concrete wall systems. When Mrs. Paré and I talked in-depth, we realized we shared an interest in incorporating a number of eco-friendly design concepts in the building. As the general contractor, we are very pleased to be responsible for this milestone in LEED certification in the state, and plan to continue to add eco-friendly elements to future projects.”

Paré had this to say about the family’s “green” project: “People make choices every day that, collectively, have dramatic impacts on the environment. I believe that if we make some simple, conservative choices about how we use our environment, we can live comfortably today, and preserve the planet for tomorrow.”

Our hats off to the Parés.

The Florida Solar Energy Center completed several inspections and performance tests on John and Pamela Paré’s new home, which features solar water heating, high-efficiency windows and doors and many other environmentally friendly features. The home, built by Classic Construction, is only the second home in the state to earn a LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Coalition (USGBC).

After Hurricane Charley destroyed the Parés’ home, they sought out environmentally friendly contractors and features that would promote clean air, clean water and the conservation of resources while also reducing their utility bills. The Parés lived in a rented house across the street while watching the reconstruction of their home.

John sums up their decisions to “go green” this way: “People make choices every day that, collectively, have dramatic impacts on the environment, and could have severe consequences for quality of life. I believe that if we make some simple, conservative choices about how we use our environment, we can live comfortably today, and preserve the planet for tomorrow.”

The house, located at 2017 Anderson Place, is constructed using insulating concrete forms (ICF). Together with many other design aspects and energy efficient products, the home qualified for the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star and Energy Efficient Tax Credit. The home includes many other green features, including a location close to public amenities and mass transit, low-maintenance landscaping and an interior that promotes the health of the occupants while still being resource efficient.

FSEC completed the inspections and performance tests on the home as part of its role as an administrator of the LEED for Homes pilot program in Florida. The center’s scientists verify the compliance of LEED-certified homes in the state.

The program is designed to provide national consistency in defining what constitutes a “green” home. Eric Martin, a senior research engineer at FSEC who oversees the Florida pilot program, encouraged other builders to participate.

LEED-certified homes are energy efficient and consume fewer resources than conventional homes use. The added features help to improve the safety and comfort of homes while also reducing the costs to operate them.

The Florida Solar Energy Center is a research institute of the University of Central Florida. It is the largest and most active state-supported energy research institute in the country. Center divisions and their research activities include Advanced Energy Research: alternative transportation systems, hydrogen fuel and fuel cells; Buildings Research: energy-efficient buildings; and Solar Energy: solar water and pool heating and solar electric (photovoltaics) and distributed generation systems.

For more information, visit www.floridaenergycenter.org or call the FSEC Public Affairs Office at 321-638-1015.

The second piece of news, is closer to home as Florida DEP, the department of environmental protection, announces the opening of Central Florida’s second Hydrogen fueling station. Florida gains speed in the demonstration of alternative fueling technology. My take is, it’s time to move beyond demonstration. Industry tells us a hydrogen powered future is ten to fifteen years away. Do we have that much time?

Ford has been working with the state, as we wrote in this article, with a hydrogen powered bus.

Source: Florida DEP

Florida’s journey to reduce the state’s collective carbon emissions took another step forward today as Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole joined executives from Ford Motor Company, BP America, Inc., Progress Energy Florida and the United States Department of Energy to officially open the state’s second hydrogen energy station in the last six months. In 2004, the international corporations selected the Sunshine State as one of three sites in the nation to demonstrate pollution-free hydrogen fuel cell cars.

“Florida is pleased to be opening the state’s second hydrogen fueling station,” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. “By using state-of-the-art technology we are demonstrating the power of alternative energy in Florida’s future.”

The hydrogen demonstration project is part of an initiative unveiled in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Energy. Through the federal government’s Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project, Ford supplied the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Progress Energy Florida with six hydrogen-powered Ford Focus Fuel Cell Vehicles. BP America supplies the cars with hydrogen fuel through a grant from the State of Florida.

“BP is committed to developing cleaner fuels,” said Maria Curry-Nkansah, BP’s hydrogen business development manager. “With this station, we will continue our work to gain real-world experience in hydrogen fueling infrastructure and help build public awareness of this developing technology. This program is an example of how government, energy companies and the auto industry are working collaboratively to assess the potential of hydrogen as an alternative fuel.”

One of the hydrogen-powered Ford Focus gives DEP park rangers a pollution-free ride during everyday operations at Wekiwa Springs State Park, which attracts nearly 185,000 visitors annually. Home to a handful of freshwater springs, the 8,000-acre park protects the headwaters of the Wekiva River. Two more vehicles are utilized by DEP’s Central Regulatory District for field inspections. Progress Energy Florida’s energy-efficiency specialists and customer account managers are using the remaining three hydrogen-fueled cars at their Jamestown Operations Center.

Hydrogen can power cars by replacing gasoline in an internal combustion engine or as a source of power for a fuel cell. A fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, which powers the car and emits only steam. Worldwide, energy companies, automakers and oil companies are investing more than $2 billion annually on research and development to advance hydrogen technology as a new, sustainable source of energy.

“The opening of this second station under the Ford-DOE Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project represents another step forward for hydrogen as an alternative fuel,” said Sheral Arbuckle with Ford Motor Company’s Research and Advanced Engineering Department. “We have made much progress in hydrogen propulsion over the past 15 years and are pleased that our Energy Partner, BP, has continued their efforts in supporting this project with the much needed infrastructure to fuel our vehicle fleet. This is another major milestone in this joint government and industry initiative.”

In addition to the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle demonstration fleet, in May, Governor Charlie Crist opened the state’s first hydrogen energy demonstration station in Orlando. The station fuels hydrogen-powered shuttle buses and provides a test platform for showcasing the production, storage and dispensing of hydrogen fuel. Partners in that fueling station were Ford Motor Company, Chevron Technology Ventures and Progress Energy Florida.

“Progress Energy is pleased to once again collaborate with our public and private partners on the successful launch of yet another renewable-energy initiative,” said Jeff Lyash, president and CEO of Progress Energy Florida. “Our balanced approach to meeting Florida’s future energy needs means a strong commitment to state-of-the-art renewable technology, and this facility is another example of our belief in the promise and potential of hydrogen to meet those needs.”

On July 13, Governor Charlie Crist signed a groundbreaking set of Executive Orders at the “Serve to Preserve: A Florida Summit on Global Climate Change,” which brought together academic experts, scientists, environmentalists and governmental and private sector leaders to discuss Florida’s energy future. The three Executive Orders represent the Governor’s commitment to addressing global climate change, and a promise to reduce Florida’s greenhouse gases, increase energy efficiency and pursue renewable energy sources.

For more information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/climatechange or www.dep.state.fl.us/energy.

Read this article we wrote in 2005, Florida Ventures Into Hydrogen

Visit Honda’s site for the scoop on the Clarity