OUC, Duke Energy Florida send help to Carolinas for winter storm
The nearing of a winter storm expected to slam the Carolinas over the weekend prompted Duke Energy Florida and the Orlando Utilities Commission to deploy crews Saturday morning to help impacted areas rebound, according to news releases.
Tiny Green Home at Orlando Science Center offers hands-on experience
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Things are beginning to look a little greener with the announcement of a โsmallโ display outside the Orlando Science Center. The city of Orlando on Tuesday unveiled its Tiny Green Home, which is a hands-on experience designed to increase sustainability education and awareness in Central Florida. โWhat weโre ultimately doing is telling a bit of a sustainability story,โ Vice President of Visitor Experience Brandan Lanman said. Throughout the experience, visitors can also scan QR codes to learn more about sustainability options in their own home. AdThe Tiny Green Home debuts to the public during Orlando Science Centerโs Otronicon Event Feb. 12-15.
Hereโs why residents welcome changes at Orlandoโs Stanton Energy Plant
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Over the next five years, the iconic Stanton Energy Plant will be replacing the coal it now uses to generate electricity with natural gas. Trudell took News 6 inside the Stanton plant to show what this conversion would look like. Coal is stores in piles outside of the Stanton Energy Plant in Orange County. According to previous reports, eight other coal-burning plants in the state have either converted to natural gas, or they are in the middle of transitioning. He said the conversion to natural gas at Stanton has been a long time in coming.
Lawsuit claiming OUC power plant was contaminating homes dismissed
ORLANDO, Fla. โ A lawsuit claiming contamination of residential properties from an Orlando Utilities Commission power plant has been dismissed, according to court records. The order to dismiss came at the request of attorneys representing the group of residents who filed the lawsuit. โFrom the outset, OUC has been confident that Plaintiffsโ claims were unsupported by any sound science and inconsistent with data reported by the Florida Department of Health. Plaintiffsโ request to dismiss this lawsuit with prejudice fully confirms that their claims had no merit.โ[TRENDING: Safe to shop during pandemic? While the case has been dismissed, Bullock said attorneys with OUC are also working to vacate an earlier ruling they believe was incorrect.
How the Orlando Utilities Commission is trying to end coal-fired generation
โYou really have to pair battery storage, we call it energy storage, with solar,โ Ferrone explained. Ferrone said there is a lot of technology involved with solar energy and it continues to change. If you would like to know more about how OUC plans to achieve Net Zero CO2 Emissions by 2050, use the links below download this weekโs episode of Floridaโs Fourth Estate. Each week they have a guest host who helps give an irreverent look at the issues impacting the Sunshine State. Listen to the full episode of Floridaโs Fourth Estate on iTunes here or on Sticher here.
Orange County Fire Rescue responds to hazmat incident at Stanton Energy Plant
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. Orange County Fire Rescue treated four patients in a hazmat incident at Stanton Energy Plant. The incident happened around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, according to OCFR. Tim Trudell from Orlando Utilities Commission said an issue with sulfur dioxide as part of routine maintenance inside the plant. Three contract employees were taken to a hospital for treatment, according to Trudell. This is a developing story, check back for updates on Clickorlando.com.
UCF engineering students help OUC improve solar energy efficiency
ORLANDO, Fla. Plans continue for Orlando Utilities Commission to expand its solar energy production in the coming years. Tim OBrien plans to graduate from UCF this fall, after leading the second team of engineering students to help design and build skycam. Cloud coverage has a massive impact on solar farms, York said. Intermittent clouds are really the problem, when theyre passing in waves or bands, and that causes solar power to come up and down throughout the day. Right now, OUC solar farms account for enough power for around 20,000 homes.
APPLY: This program is helping seniors pay their energy bills during the COVID-19 pandemic
ORLANDO, Fla. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many seniors are spending more time at home than ever, which means theres a good chance their energy bills are -- you guessed it -- higher than ever. Eligible residents can receive up to $2,000 for multiple energy bills while funds are available. The applicant must also meet income requirements and be experiencing a home energy crisis, such as disconnection, delinquency or past-due bills. The SRA said the Orlando Utilities Commission, Duke Energy and Kissimmee Utility Authority have all agreed to partner to promote EHEAP to their customers. How to apply using your desktop computerHow to apply on your mobile device
OUC crews head to the gulf coast to assist in Hurricane Laura aftermath
ORLANDO, Fla. A dozen linemen from the Orlando Utilities Commission are heading to Lafayette, Louisiana to help thousands who lost power on Thursday from Hurricane Laura. "The main thing is to get these people back to some sort of normalcy," Barnes said. Barnes said he's helped restore power after several hurricanes in Florida and this mission will be the first time for some of his colleagues. Crews are making a stop in Mississippi Thursday night before they arrive in Louisiana on Friday. Its not clear when they will be returning home, but OUC spokesperson believes it could take a couple of weeks.
OUC plans to resume disconnections in July
Service disconnections for non-payment resume July 13, 2020, and late fees will be reinstated August 3, OUC said. This includes financial support up to $500 through OUCs Project CARE. For more information on OUCs Project CARE click or tap here. OUC is asking neighbors to help neighbors by donating to Project CARE. Click on Project CARE and select the blue Enroll in Project CARE button, OUC said.