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GREEN News
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KEYS’ ENERGY CONSERVATION CALENDARS NOW AVAILABLE
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 07/22/2010 ~ Keys Energy Services (KEYS) is proud to announce that its 14th annual Energy Conservation calendars are now available.
Customers can pick up a FREE copy of the calendar at KEYS’ Service Building at 1001 James Street in Key West, or at First State Bank of the Florida Keys’ Big Pine Key branch at 30515 Overseas Highway, while supplies last. Additionally, an eco-friendly, electronic copy of the calendar is available online at http://www.keysenergy.com/EnergyConservationCalendar.php.
KEYS’ calendar follows the local school district academic year and highlights energy conservation practices using the art of local elementary school students.
Calendars have been distributed to all elementary schools within KEYS service area and will be given to students during “Meet the Teacher” day prior to the start of classes.
KEYS’ Energy Conservation calendar has received numerous awards over the years, including the prestigious national Bronze Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America for its innovative presentation and content.
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UTILITY BOARD RECOGNIZES CALENDAR ART CONTEST WINNERS
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 04/29/2010 ~ Keys Energy Services (KEYS) recently sponsored an Energy Conservation Art Contest for all elementary school students in the Lower Florida Keys. One overall winner and two winners from each grade level were selected to grace the pages of KEYS 14th annual Energy Conservation calendar.
The overall winner was Morgie Lovett, a second grade student from Glynn Archer Elementary School. Her artwork will be featured on the cover of KEYS’ national award-winning 2010-2011 calendar. The winning artists whose work will illustrate each of the 12 months are:
Kindergarten
Nataly Cisneros & Cole McDaniel
First Grade
Raini La Beet & Skylar Larmel
Second Grade
Cole McCandless & Peyton Suits
Third Grade
Ashley Grimanelis & Summer Peralta
Fourth Grade
Daniel Valdez & Camden Switzer
Fifth Grade
Lauren Demchak & Talia Santiago
The 13 winners attended the April 28th Utility Board meeting and were recognized for their efforts. All of the winners were presented with a certificate and a $50 U.S. Savings Bond, in addition to having their artwork featured in KEYS’ 2010-2011 Energy Conservation Calendar.
The regular meeting of the Utility Board took place at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 28th, in the Louis Carbonell Board Room of the William Arnold Service Building, 1001 James Street, Key West.
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SOLAR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT DEDICATED IN KEY WEST
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 03/26/2010 ~ Keys Energy Services (KEYS), the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary dedicated a new solar demonstration project at a ceremony on Friday, March 26th.
The 26 kilowatt (AC) solar photovoltaic system was installed at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center in December 2009. The solar system is jointly owned by FMPA and NOAA and operated by KEYS. The system now provides about 30-percent of the Center’s power needs and is part of FMPA’s statewide network of power generating resources serving 14 communities located throughout Florida, from the Panhandle to Key West.
The solar system is accompanied by an educational kiosk at the Eco-Discovery Center that was unveiled during the ceremony. The interactive display educates visitors about climate change, energy conservation, and solar power generation.
“With this project, we met the Utility Board’s criteria: ‘We want it highly visible, we want it where the public can see it and learn from it, and we want it this year!,’” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO.
“Dedicating FMPA’s first solar project is an important step toward shaping our energy future,” said Nicholas P. Guarriello, FMPA General Manager & CEO. “Together with our partners, we’re advancing the development and application of renewable technology and educating the public about their role in creating greener communities.”
PROJECT DEMONSTRATES “PEEL AND STICK” SOLAR TECHNOLOGY
This solar partnership supports the development of renewable generation technologies by demonstrating the use of an advanced solar photovoltaic technology.
This project uses a “peel and stick” solar system that generates electricity with an innovative thin-film solar panel mounted to the Center’s rooftop using an adhesive material. The technology was selected as the best match for the Florida Keys’ unique environmental conditions. Other advantages of the technology include the ability to capture the complete solar spectrum more efficiently and the ability to generate at low-light conditions. Additionally, the panels’ flexible, lightweight construction made it possible to complete installation over a period of only 10-days. The panels were energized on December 23, 2009.
The project cost $235,928, with FMPA’s All-Requirements Project paying 62-percent and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries paying 38-percent. KEYS, through an existing agreement with FMPA, will provide operation and maintenance support for the system.
“Solar power is not currently the least-cost option, but it has a role in a diversified power generation portfolio,” said Guarriello. “The knowledge we gain from operating the system will prove valuable in the future when renewables become cost effective and a greater part of the power mix.”
INTERACTIVE KIOSK WILL EDUCATE PUBLIC ABOUT SOLAR
Educating the public is a key element of this partnership. The project is located at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center where an array of interactive exhibits, dioramas, and displays, including a 2,500 gallon aquarium, highlight the rich natural environment of the Florida Keys.
“What better place to highlight this renewable energy project than a public facility that educates visitors on the beautiful marine resources of the Florida Keys,” said Sanctuary Superintendent Sean Morton.
The Center’s newest exhibit is a kiosk that provides information about global climate change, energy conservation, and renewable generating technologies. The kiosk features an interactive display that shows the solar system’s electrical output and environmental offsets in real time. Additionally, the real time solar monitoring system can be viewed online at http://www.keysecosolar.com. KEYS customers can also access this monitoring system at http://www.keysenergy.com/keys-goes-solar.php.
More than 100,000 people have visited the Eco-Discovery Center since its opening in 2007. The educational kiosk provides a unique opportunity to reach a wide audience from around the world with the project’s conservation message.
“By showcasing solar technology, we aim to inspire visitors to conserve energy, reduce pollution and in the process, help preserve natural resources,” added Morton.
SOLAR HELPS UTILITIES REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Solar generation technology produces no emissions, helping Florida’s municipal electric utilities reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This demonstration project is part of FMPA’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions back to year-2000 levels by 2017.
Using this solar system for one year has the capability to eliminate the equivalent of 71,800 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It will also be equivalent to taking six cars off the road, or saving 76 barrels of oil, or saving 835 trees, or recycling 11 tons of waste.
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Keys Energy Services (KEYS) is the public power utility for Key West and the Lower Florida Keys. Headquartered in Key West, Florida, KEYS provides electricity form Key West to the Seven-Mile Bridge and serves more than 28,000 customers.
Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) is a wholesale power company owned by 30 municipal electric utilities. FMPA provides economies of scale in power generation and related services to support community-owned electric utilities. The members of FMPA serve approximately 2-million Floridians. FMPA’s members include Alachua, Bartow, Blountstown, Bushnell, Chattahoochee, Clewiston, Fort Meade, Fort Pierce, Gainesville, Green Cove Springs, Havana, Homestead, Jacksonville Beach, Key West, Kissimmee, Lake Worth, Lakeland, Leesburg, Moore Haven, Mount Dora, New Smyrna Beach, Newberry, Ocala, Orlando, Quincy, St. Cloud, Starke, Vero Beach, Wauchula, and Williston. Additional information is available on the internet at www.fmpa.com.
Established in 1990, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,900 square nautical miles of important marine habitat, including maritime heritage resources, as well as coral reef, hard bottom, seagrass meadows, mangrove communities and sand flats. NOAA and the state of Florida manage the sanctuary.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages coastal and marine resources.
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PHOTO CAPTION: (From left) Utility Board Chairman Lou Hernandez, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent Sean Morton, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO Lynne Tejeda, FMPA General Manager & CEO Nicholas Guarriello, FMPA Executive Committee Chairman Thomas Richards, and Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA Deputy Director for Facilities, Safety, Vessels & Aviation Ted Lillestolen applaud the unveiling to the Solar Demonstration Project interactive kiosk in the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center.
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KEYS RECYCLING PROGRAM CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY, SAVES $8K
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 02/02/2010 ~ On February 2, 2009, Keys Energy Services (KEYS) became one of the first local governmental agencies to launch an internal recycling program for its facilities. One year later, the program has helped to save the utility over $8,000 in waste disposal services.
Working in conjunction with Waste Management, KEYS provided recycling containers throughout KEYS’ facilities to encourage employees and customers to dispose of waste accordingly.
“Given recent technological breakthroughs, there is no longer a need to extensively sort recyclables and that makes it easier for everyone to play a role in helping the environment,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS’ General Manager & CEO.
Prior to implementing the recycling program, KEYS annually budgeted $16,000 for waste disposal. On the first anniversary of KEYS’ Recycling Program, the utility has saved $8,840.07 in waste disposal costs. Tejeda added that, “we have found the items which can be recycled to be far more extensive than those that cannot, and when you look at the bottom line recycling makes good business sense.”
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HIGHER GRADE BIO-DIESEL NOW ON TAP AT KEYS ENERGY SERVICES
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01/27/2010 ~ Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) fleet of 33 diesel vehicles are now running on a 20-percent bio-diesel* blend after having successfully operated with a 5-percent blend since October 2007.
The 20-percent bio-diesel blend will reduce KEYS’ sulfur emissions from 14.25 parts-per-million** (ppm) to 7.8 ppm and green house gases emitted from diesel vehicles by 20-percent. When KEYS’ diesel fleet of vehicles was converted to a 5-percent bio-diesel blend in 2007, sulfur emissions were reduced from 500 ppm to 14.25 ppm. The change to the 20-percent bio-diesel blend will save KEYS approximately $4,250.00 a year in fuel costs and KEYS’ overall carbon-dioxide foot print reduction will increase from -25,102 to -100,472.42-pounds per year.
“While bio-diesel is still a relatively new fuel source, KEYS’ staff feels confident it will further our green initiatives and not adversely affect the performance of KEYS’ fleet of diesel vehicles,” said Lynne Tejeda, KEYS General Manager & CEO. See added that, “as our confidence with bio-diesel has increased, so too has the blend we use in our fleets.”
The Utility Board originally approved the use of a bio-diesel blend in KEYS’ fleet in October 2007.
* Bio-diesel - Refers to a diesel-equivalent processed fuel, derived from biological sources (i.e.: soybean oil) which can be used in un-modified diesel-engine vehicles.
** Parts-Per-Million – A term used to explain very dilute concentrations of substances. Just as percent means out of a hundred, parts-per-million or ppm means out of a million.
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