Al, Congratulations and commendations to you for your excellent work, tireless efforts, persistence, and perseverance in promoting EVs in Polk County, despite the occasional disappointment of such an important message, cause, and solution sometimes falling on deaf ears of some of the more intellectually-challenged, closed-minded members of the media who don't seem to be able to connect a few pretty simple dots and see some mighty compelling logic, seemingly ignoring the glaring problem of $4 gasoline (and rising by the day) staring them and their irate, desperate readers in the face every day. Some of us who have also dealt with such frustrations from time to time know what it's like and therefore empathize with you in your and all of our common struggle in that regard.
It sounds to me like you could benefit from a few key allies in Polk County in spreaheading the cause there, as you are doing so valiantly. One you might consider is the municipally owned and operated utility, Lakeland Electric, which, according to my understanding, has long been considered the most progressive utility in the entire state. I believe that Lakeland Electric was the first utility to adopt net-metering for residential PV systems, while FPL has still not done so, now waiting for full implementation of the PSC's provisional decision on adopting net-metering for the entire state, which was then followed up with some sort of net-metering provision (which I had a hard time understanding its exact meaning, despite reading it a few times) in the big omnibus energy bill passed by the legislature in Tallahassee several weeks ago, and has been signed, or soon will be, by the governor, I gather. I'm not sure what steps remain for full implementation of fully mandated net-metering statewide, but Lakeland Electric was there and did it long before everyone else, as much as a decade or more ago, I believe. There is one person I know of there at Lakeland Electric who has a strong interest in EVs and PHEVs. His name is James Stanfield. Here is his contact info: James Stanfield Lakeland Electric 501 E. Lemon Street Lakeland, FL 33801 tel: 863-834-9535 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Maybe you and Fran could contact him and get him and Lakeland Electric involved in organizing an EV awareness and promotional event (of the many types you yourself have been doing there in the last year) when Fran stops there on her EV/PHEV tour. Good luck and best regards, Charles Whalen Florida EAA Delray Beach, FL [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Al Lococo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "FLEAA Mailing List" <listserv@floridaeaa.org> Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 11:32 AM Subject: Re: [FLEAA] Central Florida, Winter Haven News Olks, FWIW, I have presented some EV ideas to the Polk Board of Count Commissioners on June 4. Although the sesion was cordial, no immediate action was taken, no motion made. I believe this governing bboard is, however, better informed concerning the EV as a result. http://www.evprogress.org/Polk%20County%20Board%20of%20Commissioners%20Notes.htm The Lakeland Ledger although they made a brief reference to the presentation online made no reference in print. http://environment.theledger.com/default.asp?item=2209537&mode= This publication has shown no interest in interviewing the presenter, seeing or learning about, what I believe, may be the only BEV on the road in Polk County. Certainly if their are others, the Ledger has not given them any more attention than they have given mine. Cheers, Al Lococo ----- Original Message ----- From: "Al Lococo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "FLEAA Mailing List" <listserv@floridaeaa.org> Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 2:26 PM Subject: Re: [FLEAA] Central Florida, Winter Haven News > Folks, > > Just so you know. Especially if you live in Polk County. > > I will be addressing the Polk County Board of Commissioners on June 4 in > Bartow. The meeting starts at (9AM but I won't get to speak befor noon, > and > then only for three minutes. I will present my ideas for initiatives, > taxes > and incentives related to Hybrids and Plug-In cars. > > On June 5th, I will participate in a discussion at the Lakeland Democratic > Club. I will present my views on what can be done to solve what I call > the > "Five Problems": Economy (rising food and fuel prices), Reliance on > Foreign > Oil, National security, Pollution and Global Warming. I'll let you guess > what the solution is. > > I'll let you know what happens. > > Cheers, > Al Lococo > > > _______________________________________________ > Florida EAA mailing list > listserv@floridaeaa.org > http://www.floridaeaa.org > > _______________________________________________ Florida EAA mailing list listserv@floridaeaa.org http://www.floridaeaa.org -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.24.6/1485 - Release Date: 6/5/2008 10:07 AM _______________________________________________ Florida EAA mailing list listserv@floridaeaa.org http://www.floridaeaa.org
