GRU: Guiding Gainesville Towards a Sustainable Future
Basking in the warm sun, regularly changing positions to maximize coverage and take in rays –– no, this is not a beachgoer or someone tanning by the pool, but one of Gainesville Regional Utilities’ 150,000 solar panels designed to turn sunshine into electricity. Soon, GRU will add another major project to its energy portfolio. As Gainesville continues to rapidly expand, GRU seeks innovative ways to meet growing electricity demands while contributing to carbon reduction worldwide. GRU has been a leading contributor in sustainable and renewable energy sources. Through GRU’s new partnerships with national clean energy providers, Gainesville joins countless other cities in the solar energy movement.
“GRU has been a pioneer in renewable energy and has the largest portion of its power generated by renewable resources in Florida,” said Chuck Heidt, project manager for GRU.
GRU’s sustainability projects and initiatives have elevated Gainesville as one of the leading cities in renewable energy sources nationwide. A dedication to community and the environment guides GRU in its endeavors. GRU owns and operates the largest biomass plant in Florida, the Deerhaven Renewable Generating Station. The 102.5-megawatt facility produces energy by burning excess clean wood from local timber, foresting used for paper and other wood waste sources. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this renewable energy is a carbon fuel source, meaning it does not contribute to the net amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Through sophisticated technology, the facility not only creates clean energy, but it minimizes carbon dioxide and methane gas emissions during woods’ natural decomposition process.
This project that started in late 2013 should help sustain Gainesville’s energy needs for the next 30 years. In its continued efforts to support Gainesville’s carbon-reduction, GRU implemented feed-in-tariffs for solar power, which gave consumers an incentive to invest in clean energy by giving them money back they paid for unused energy. Gainesville was the first American city to adopt feed-in-tariffs, which were introduced to the U.S. in 2009 and had been in practice throughout Europe. Trailblazing Gainesville’s renewable technology landscape came with higher costs that GRU unfortunately had to pass along to its customers. However, as the sustainable energy industry grows, new technology becomes more accessible. GRU seeks ways to not only contribute to the health of the community and the planet but to make it affordable for its customers. GRU purchased the biomass facility in 2018 and is now saving nearly $1 billion in obligations. Additionally, the incoming solar power purchase agreement is equal to GRU’s own cost of generation. These efforts make GRU more economically sustainable for consumers.
Gainesville’s goal for 100% clean energy
The Gainesville City Commission set a long-term goal with a resolution passed in 2018: To operate the City using 100% clean energy and to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Gainesville had made progress on this endeavor before the resolution was passed, as the City had already reduced its carbon emissions by 792,000 tons from 2009 to 2018. GRU will complete another project in summer 2021, allowing the coal plant to burn 100% natural gas. The project could result in further reducing CO2 emissions by 400,000 to 500,000 tons a year and is cheaper than coal.
Gainesville ranks much higher than the rest of the state and even the country for the use of renewable energy sources. The City obtained 27% of its electrical energy from renewable sources as of 2018, compared to an average of 17.9% nationwide and an average of 3% for Florida cities. GRU’s general manager works alongside the City Commission to develop a citywide energy policy that includes utility efficiency programs, a commitment to green purchasing and ongoing research for green technologies, as stated in the resolution.
Gainesville’s location in the heart of the Sunshine State brings ample opportunity to take advantage of solar power’s benefits. Following city commissioners’ approval in July 2020, Gainesville will welcome its first major solar energy project and will be even closer to achieving the City’s green energy goal. GRU partnered with Origis Energy to launch the Sand Bluff Solar project, which will integrate solar power into the electrical grid and distribute it throughout the GRU’s service area. The 50-megawatt power purchase agreement is the first segment of the utility scale solar project and is slated to begin construction in the spring of 2022. The plant will start operations by the end of that year.
These efforts thrust Gainesville into the nationwide landscape of major cities who are striving to rely solely upon renewable energy sources. By harnessing the power of the sun, greenhouse gas emissions are drastically reduced, worldwide public health improves, and energy costs can be sustained when fossil fuel prices increase.
Solar project is good for the green
The Sand Bluff Solar project seeks to reduce harmful carbon emissions by more than 54,000 kgs. The impressive solar farm will have 150,000 solar panels with east-to-west single axis tracking, which optimizes solar power by slowly angling the panels to follow the sun as it moves across the sky. The Sand Bluff Solar project will flow into GRU’s grid that serves the equivalent of 11,072 homes during daylight hours.
Sand Bluff Solar will occupy 430 acres of unincorporated land near the City of Archer, which was formerly cleared for timber. Surrounded by a 75-foot vegetative buffer, the solar farm will be hidden from nearby properties.
Considered a multi-sustainable project, Sand Bluff Solar will nurture environmental health in more ways than clean energy production. Animal-friendly fencing around the site will help preserve natural wildlife corridors. Sheep will graze the area so it will not need to be mowed as often. Native flowering plants will be planted onsite to attract local bees and butterflies to encourage pollination and preserve pollinator habitats. The Sand Bluff Solar project will create about 200 construction jobs and maintenance positions after the facility is built. The project will not cause an increase in taxes, but rather is likely to bring a higher tax revenue for Alachua County.
GRU is confident residents will not experience increases in power outages or power reliability. In the event the sun is not shining, GRU has a backup plan of alternative power-generating sources, including fossil fuels. Through the success of Sand Bluff Solar, GRU aims to bring more sustainable energy projects to Gainesville.
Partnering company Origis Energy has committed to providing grant opportunities for Greater Gainesville through GRU’s Brighter Tomorrow scholarship program for underprivileged, college-bound high school graduates and to local nonprofits.
Students can attend educational programs and opportunities at the facility’s interpretive center and learn the importance of sustainable energy, ensuring values of protecting the planet’s resources are passed down to the next generation