STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

More Local News

• Cecelia Weeks, one of Goodland’s first residents, leaves Florida
• MICA survey says islanders give thumbs up for police, fire
• South Heathwood Drive temporarily closed Friday

Share and Enjoy [?]

It’s hard to catch a sunbeam.

It’s even harder to put it to good use.

But a collaboration between a local man and the Collier County School District could do just that.

Marco Island resident Gary Elliott and Collier schools Superintendent Dennis Thompson are exploring the possibility of a school district-business partnership that could bring solar power to some Collier County schools.

Elliott is calling his business venture “Solar Power & Light,” but he has registered the business as “Future Friendly Fuels.”

Elliott, who owns Interiors, Interiors, Interiors on Marco Island, partnered with Keith Klipstein, also an island resident who works for Lutgert Insurance, to start the venture.

The plan would bring solar power to Collier County schools and, specifically Marco Island. That plan hinges on Gov. Charlie Crist’s signature on Florida House Bill 7135, which gives tax credits necessary to make the venture possible.

Elliott approached the Collier district with the idea. He has been talking to Thompson for months about the project, and the superintendent has offered Marco Island land known as Tract K as a possible site for the venture.

Elliott has proposed using 8 acres of Tract K for a solar array, which could produce 1 megawatt of energy; and an educational building for students to learn about solar energy.

“Collier County children could see a solar plant in operation and see our new Collier County recycling site (on Marco) and say, ‘This is the future,’” he said.

Energy collected from the venture could be sold to the grid at cost, could be delivered to the grid in Marco Island or sold to the city of Marco Island, he said.

Elliott said there are several factors that have made solar energy a viable source of power.

They include: Rebates for renewable energy, which allows the state of offer rebates for installed renewable energy systems up to $100,000 per installation for commercial applications and lesser amounts for residential applications; federal tax credits of 30 percent on the installed price of a system; and renewable energy credits, which are based on how many megawatt hours renewable generators deliver in a year.

Tract K, which is on the west side of Tigertail Court between Somerset and century drives, was given to the Collier County School District by the Deltona Corp., the developer of modern Marco, for use as a future school site.

In March 2006, the Collier County School Board had discussions about selling Tract K. Those discussions were met with anger from Marco city officials and residents, several of whom wanted the district to build a school on that site.

District officials have said the size of the property -- 11.6 acres -- is too small to do that. The School Board’s prototype has been 2,000 students for a small high school, and those buildings are built on 50 to 60 acres.

There had been talk last year that Marco Island officials and the Collier district were working on a possible land swap, in which the district would take over land Marco owned elsewhere, and would in turn give Tract K to the city of Marco Island.

Thompson said the land swap didn’t come to fruition.

“There is nothing acceptable that we could use on Marco Island,” he said.

Thompson said he likes the idea of putting in solar panels and building a solar plant on Tract K. For those worried about the attractiveness of the panels, Thompson said he has been told they could be easily hidden behind hedges.

“I think it could be a win-win for the community,” he said. “The community could see decreased energy rates and it would provide a real-life example of alternate energy for our students. Not only that, it might also attract solar businesses.”

Thompson said he would be open to leasing the land for the purpose of solar energy production.

“It is a very viable option,” he said. “With the cost of energy going up, we have to consider alternatives.”

Elliott said he could see an arrangement in which the profits from the venture could be shared between the district and Elliott’s company.

But before the district could lease the land, it would have to be approved by the Collier County School Board.

School Board Chairwoman Linda Abbott said she knew Thompson had been approached with the concept, but said the School Board hasn’t had any discussions about the issue.

“We would certainly never place anything on the property that would jeopardize the neighborhood,” she said. “I could never see a school there, but perhaps a park.”

Abbott said the School Board is sensitive to Marco’s wishes for the property. At the same time, she said finding a cheaper alternate form of energy is appealing.

School Board Vice Chairwoman Pat Carroll, whose district includes Marco Island, said the idea of using the site as a place for solar energy production satisfies her criteria for using the land and the proceeds for educational purposes.

“From what I have been told so far, I support him,” she said of the superintendent’s position on the issue.

Marco Island Councilman Rob Popoff said he believes the community of Marco Island has made it clear about its wishes for the property. He said talk of a solar energy plant on the site is “disconcerting.”

Whatever decision is made will not only be under the purview of the School Board, but also the city, Popoff said, as the city ultimately controls the zoning of the property.

That said, Popoff said the city and the district have had a positive working relationship in the past with the development of the Marco Island Charter Middle School.

“We do want to work with (the district) to a positive end. I am confident we can find an arrangement that is useful to both the district and Marco Island,” he said. “This is a highly sensitive issue on Marco Island.”

Staff writer Liam Dillon contributed to this report.