Dear Friends & Neighbors,

Chris Castro (R), Orlando City Mayor Buddy Dyer (Center), and Commissioner Tony Ortiz (L) at the dedication of OUC Kenneth P. Ksionek Community Solar Farm on Dec. 7, 2017 (attribution: Chris Castro, presented at WindermereSun.com)

Solar Panels of OUC Kenneth P. Ksionek Community Solar Farm (presented at WindermereSun.com)

Ken P. Ksionek (presented at WindermereSun.com)

 

(Please click on red links & note magenta)

It is with extreme pleasure and excitement that I am reporting about the unveiling of the OUC Kenneth P. Ksionek Community Solar Farm today, Dec. 7, 2017. This 13 MW solar farm is the newest addition to renewable energy generation in Orlando (first in Orlando and second in state of Florida community solar farm), consisting of more than 37,544 solar panels, sitting atop a byproduct landfill, covering 24 acres at the Stanton Energy Center (SEC), generating enough energy  to power 2,100 homes. As part of the  commitment to 100% clean energy future, City of Orlando has purchased 4.8 MW to completely power Orlando City Hall and all 17 Orlando Firestations(This will help to offset: 6,108 metric tons of CO2 and 6 million pounds of coal from being used, equivalent to reducing emissions from having 1,018 cars off the road, 610,000 gallons of gas and saving 142,000 trees annually.

Residents and businesses are now able to subscribe to this solar farm and get 100% of your power from solar! Be sure to visit: http://www.ouc.com/communitysolar

To understand why this first solar farm of Orange County and OUC is dedicated to Kenneth P. Ksionek, excerpt from this news announcement, below, in italics:

Passionate about reliability, sustainability and emerging technologies, Ksionek has successfully led OUC’s efforts to be “The Reliable One” and “The Sustainable One” too. His expertise, leadership and devotion have made OUC one of the most forward- thinking utilities in the nation.

“For the past 13 years, leading OUC has been an honor and a privilege,” said Ksionek. “I’ve spent my entire 44-year career in the electric utility industry, and I’m proud that Orlando Utilities remains the strongest financial, sustainable and community partner in achieving the shared vision and priorities of the citizens of Orlando and Central Florida.”

Ksionek began his OUC career in 1985 as Director of Construction for the Stanton Energy Center (SEC) Unit 1. He then served as co-project manager for the SEC Unit 2 construction project while holding the position of Managing Director of Electric Transmission and Distribution. In 1995, he was promoted to Vice President of the Energy Delivery Business Unit, where he led OUC to national prominence for its reliability.

In 2004, Ksionek guided the organization through the most active hurricane season in its history, with three back-to-back storms – Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne – over a 45-day period. After each storm, Ksionek coordinated OUC’s massive restoration efforts that returned power safely to customers in nine days after Charley, four days for Frances and three days for Jeanne. In October 2004, he was named General Manager and CEO.

Under Ksionek’s direction, OUC weathered tough economic times and their financial impact on the company. Today, OUC’s strong financial performance, high bond ratings, and astute refinancing have allowed it to maintain costs and provide customers with affordable rates in addition to record reliability and outstanding water quality.

“Mr. Ksionek is an amazing gentleman and an incredible leader who is committed to pushing OUC to be at the forefront of technology and sustainability. During his tenure, he guided the utility through the economic downturn to significant growth while maintaining his commitment to providing affordable, reliable energy and water to OUC’s customers. It has been an honor to work with him and he will be greatly missed,” said Gregory Lee, President, OUC Board of Commissioners.

Additionally, Ksionek’s focus on improving customer service through smart grid technology, advancing sustainability and clean energy initiatives, and developing expertise through employee empowerment and active succession planning has positioned OUC to become the Best Utility in the Nation.

OUC’s accomplishments during Ksionek’s career include:

• Ranked No. 1 in Electric Distribution Reliability in Florida for the 19th straight year compared to Florida investor-owned utilities, according to data submitted to the Florida Public Service Commission.
• Recognized by CS Week and Electric Light & Power Magazine with the 2015 Expanding Excellence Award for Innovation in Customer Service for launching 10 customer-facing technology projects, which provided robust, fully-automated self-service options. These included an upgraded website and phone system, consumption dashboards, an OUC Power Pass pay-as-you-go program, as well as more than 400 third-party payment locations offering real-time processing.
• Recognized by CS Week and Electric Light & Power Magazine with the 2014 Expanding Excellence Award for Best Infrastructure in North America for an innovative, low-cost and comprehensive Meter Data Management Project, the acceleration of digital meter deployment and the ability for customers to make real-time payments.
• Named Public Power Utility of the Year for Innovative Solar Programs in 2013 by the Solar and Electric Power Association (SEPA).
• Deployed 375,000 digital electric and water meters, allowing OUC customers to become smarter energy and water consumers, and successfully implemented a new Customer Care and Billing system that enables adoption of innovative data-driven technologies.
• Enhanced the region’s economic development efforts by recruiting, retaining and growing businesses, including internationally-recognized organizations such as Amazon, KPMG, and the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
• Established a partnership with American Water Resources of Florida to provide home warranties for thousands of Central Floridians, which covers the unexpected costs of electric and water home repairs.
• Expanded the St. Cloud partnership, a first-of-its-kind Interlocal Agreement between two governmental entities, to serve electric customers for 35 years in the fast-growing city located in Osceola County.
• Championed innovative solar installations, including the first community solar farm in Central Florida, one of the nation’s first floating solar arrays and most recently, the first- of-its-kind solar field atop a by-product landfill located near a power plant.
• Developed the Stanton Energy Center into the most fuel diverse generation site in the State of Florida with the addition of natural gas, landfill gas and two solar photovoltaic farms.

• Blazed an electric vehicle (EV) partnership with the City of Orlando, leading to the community being named one of the Top 10 Most EV-Ready cities in the United States.
• Secured a 20-year Consumptive Use Permit that ensures customers will receive high- quality, affordable water from the Lower Floridan Aquifer until 2024, along with alternative water supplies and aggressive conservation measures.
• Combined Energy, Potable Water and Chilled Water Production under one business unit; and merged Electric and Water Delivery under a separate business unit in 2012 to create organizational efficiencies and streamline processes for customers and developers.
• Created a 2005 Strategic Plan outlining the vision, mission and strategic initiatives that continue to serve as OUC’s mainstay roadmap.

Posts/articles below may also be of interest to you:

1. Many Ways For Floridians To Go Solar
2. Florida Climate Summit at Orlando in August, 2017
3. Duke Energy Is Shifting From Nuclear To Solar!
4. What Should We Do About This “New Normal”
5. Florida Solar
6. Solar & Wind, No Longer The Smallest Kids On The Energy Block
7. Solar Powered Flying Pods of Transit X Are Coming
8. Climate March of Orlando on April 29, 2017
9. Tesla’s Solar City Is In Florida Looking For Ambassadors!
10. Central Florida Solar Tour Sites
11. What To Ask Your Potential Solar Installer
12. Sharing Clean Disruption NOW-Why Current Energy & Transportation System Will Be Obsolete By 2030
13. Take Control Of Your Energy Use & Save Money
14. Will Orlando International Airport Be Ready To Drum To The Solar Beat?
15. Sharing Elon Musk’s Sustainable Future Roadmap
16. Florida’s Sunshine To Be Caught By Mickey’s Solar Farm & Floridians For Solar Choice
17. Start A Community Solar Farm/Garden
18. What To Do For Floridians To Go Solar
19. Elon Musk Looking Into The Future
20. Updates on Floridians For Solar Choice/NFIB Free Webinars For Small Business
21. Solar For Oil: Miracle On Pennsylvania Avenue
22. Central Florida Solar Advocates Meet The Solar Installers
23. People Have Spoken-Keep The Oil In The Ground & Let The SunShine In
24. 100% Electric Transportation & 100% Solar By 2030
25. Here Comes The Sun
26. Time To Unshackle Ourselves From Fossil Fuels & Be Ready For A Cleaner, Healthier, and Brighter Solar Energy Future!
27. Solar Energy & Art Via Bike Paths
28. Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
29. Hurray For Solar Landfills!
30. The Amazing EGSC (Exposed Geomembrane Solar Cover) Technology of Solar Landfills
31. Landfills + Community Solar=Great Opportunities & Savings
32. For Solar Landfills-More Help With Landfill Closure Requirements in Florida
33. Nuance Energy Group Realizing Potential For Sun Power at California Landfills/Brownfields !

Gathered, written, and posted by Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker
More about the community at www.WindermereSun.com

Any comments, suggestions, concerns regarding this post will be welcomed at [email protected]

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