energy

Dyer worked alongside the construction team of ESA Renewables LLC to mount solar panels on the roof of the city's Fleet Management Division building. The project, financed by ESA, is estimated to save the city $800,000 worth of energy expenses over its 25-year life

After a few setbacks, a Lake Mary company behind what is expected to become Florida's largest solar farm is ready to start capturing the sun's energy with a sea of photovoltaic panels.

Tens of thousands of the panels will cover an area large enough in Sorrento to hold 300 football fields once the alternative-energy project is completed in a few years. BlueChip Energy recently received approval on a zoning change from Lake County, which was needed to move forward with the massive solar farm 30 miles northwest of Orlando.

After a few setbacks, a Lake Mary company behind what is expected to become Florida's largest solar farm is ready to start capturing the sun's energy with a sea of photovoltaic panels.

Tens of thousands of the panels will cover an area large enough in Sorrento to hold 300 football fields once the alternative-energy project is completed in a few years. BlueChip Energy recently received approval on a zoning change from Lake County, which was needed to move forward with the massive solar farm 30 miles northwest of Orlando.

Walt Disney World has partnered with Harvest Power to build a biogas power plant on their property. The new plant will use a number of organic materials including "skimmings from a lift station," food waste, primate manure with bedding, grease trap waste, and "other forms of biosolids."

Up to five 200-acre, 20-megawatt farm segments are planned at a cost of $70 million each. National Solar Power estimates the project will create up to 100 jobs during the five-year construction phase and up to 25 permanent operations jobs.

KB Home's Fisher Plantation in Apopka will be the first community in the area to include solar power systems as standard. The systems are expected to help homeowners reduce monthly energy bills by as much as 50 percent compared to regular homes.