A POSITIVE update in Palmetto Bay. A 2 day snap shot. The Merwitzer family produced more power than they used on Jan. 7 & 8, 2020, thanks to their solar panels.

Finally, a positively charged blog post! I want to shed some light to ongoing Solar energy happenings here in Palmetto Bay. Thanks to their solar panels, the Merwitzer family produced more energy than they used on both January 7 & 8, 2020.  Though these dates are highlighted here, it is far from unusual. Producing more power than used is far from unusual. The savings are present year around. I offer this post as a snap shot of what occurs when you can take the plunge and go solar.

This update relates back to a PRIOR POST of January 5, 2017, Merwitzer family ends 2016 on a solar note. Go GREEN in Palmetto Bay. 

Over the past two days, The Merwitzer family have produced 35kWh more than they have used. This will only get better through June.

The Merwitzer's solar panels have produced 115.4kWh of power over the last two days (January 7 & 8, 2020).  To give you an idea of what that means, it is enough power to run their refrigerator for 25 days or run a 100w light bulb for 96 nights.  The gray bars in demonstrated in their FPL Energy Dashboard show that the Merwitzers have created and  have sent FPL excess power. 

FPL has to give them back this power at no charge (no pun intended). 

Each day, solar production is a bit different because of clouds and other factors.  Cutler Bay Solar Solutions installed their system three years ago, and it has worked flawlessly.  

NEXT STEPS: The Merwitzers are looking forward to having batteries installed and also the ability to use their solar panels even when FPL is offline such as during a power outage or after a hurricane.  People have asked them about the durability of their solar panels after a hurricane.  They even had neighbors come to their house after Hurricane Irma and were surprised to see that the solar panels were unscathed. The new plan is for using batteries to be able to have electricity from solar panels post next storm regardless of FPL's "hardened system" being offline.  

THOUGHTS FROM THE MERWITZERS: Why don't more people, who live in one of the sunniest places in the U.S., take advantage of solar panels? "This is a 'no brainer'".  

For reference, the Merwitzer's electric bill went from about $500 a month before the solar panels, to between $50-$100 a month after having solar panels installed.  The projected bill for January, 2020, is $53.  This is just under a 90% savings from before going with solar!

Once again, I congratulate Craig and Roseann Merwitzer - the entire Merwitzer family for taking this bold step in making use of renewable energy. It is paying off in savings, both to their ongoing electric bill as well as to our environment.

Posted here are some screen shots from the FPL website documenting the power production and savings created for the Merwitzers on Tuesday, January 7, 2019:

The Merwitzer family FPL bill for the day was a minus figure (but for the franchise fee assessed by the current mayor and village council - through they escape much of this tax burden as it is assessed as a percentage of the overall bill, so those who rely solely upon FPL for their electric needs at home and business pay substantially more in this Franchise Fee - tax).

I remain committed sustainability. Thank you Merwitzer family for stepping forward and setting such a great example for our community.

Thank you for keeping it positive Merwitzers!

Great response to our solar initiatives. Thank you to all who have participated.

I am posting some of the outstanding responses to our Solar Initiatives.  I am working hard to bring Solar to Palmetto Bay, including as a "Green Corridor Advisor".  

Spoiler alert - you don't have to read all the way down to see the success to date:

The final numbers for the entire year (for the entire Co-op, not exclusive to Palmetto Bay) are: 

968 leads

604 sign-ups to participate in co-ops

94 contracts and counting 

$2,129,613 spent on installs and counting

40,108,500 pounds of carbon offset over the lifetime of these systems

I have sponsored many green initiatives. Under my leadership, Palmetto Bay is currently one of ten (10) Miami-Dade County municipalities that have waived all or at least 75% of permitting fees for solar panels: Town of Cutler Bay, Coral Gables, Surfside, Miami Beach, City of Miami, Miami Shores, Miami Springs, Doral, Palmetto Bay and South Miami.

Thank you Jody for your hard work and the sunshine that you spread.  Click the link to view the prior article of April 12, 2018, Solar United Neighbors - time remains to join and save -

Jody's report is below.

Jody Finver

Miami-Dade Co-op Coordinator 

Solar United Neighbors of Florida

From: Jody Finver [mailto:jody@solarunitedneighbors.org] 

Sent: Friday, May 4, 2018 10:36 AM
To: Cindy Lerner; Philip K. Stoddard; Vince Lago; Sean Brady; Eugene Flinn; Peggy Bell; Fsuarez@miamigov.com
Subject: Thank you Green Corridor for spreading the sunshine 
Importance: High

Good morning Green Corridor Advisors, 

Our final of the six co-ops closed on Monday with 170 homes signed up! The first installation is complete and a second scheduled with 12 additional signed contracts and counting!

I cannot thank you enough for the support, encouragement and funding to spread the sunshine across Miami-Dade County.  

The final numbers for the entire year are: 

968 leads

604 sign-ups to participate in co-ops

94 contracts and counting 

$2,129,613 spent on installs and counting

40,108,500 pounds of carbon offset over the lifetime of these systems

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Outstanding.  Thank you to those who are working for alternative energy!

Your Mayor (and environmental advocate)

Eugene Flinn

My e-blast update was released Tuesday, 3/27/2018. Important updates.

Please CLICK HERE to review all the information and updates provided on March 27, 2018.

IN THIS ISSUE:  

• It takes a Village! I'm stepping in to bring our Palmetto Bay strategic plan to conclusion - "Engage Palmetto Bay",
• Interested in "going solar"? Don't miss: Solar United Neighbors of Florida, Wed., April 11 at 7:00 PM,
• World Tai Chi day to be celebrated at Coral Reef Park, April 28,
• Supporting transparency by holding additional public hearings on the proceedings, 
• Engage Palmetto Bay! Palmetto Bay Visioning Session, Park Drive Community Center - April 5, beginning at 7:00 PM, 
• Palmetto Bay Earth Week Events - "Participate Palmetto Bay!"
• Palmetto Bay Ordinance 2018-03 - related to the reduction of housing units has been posted to the Village website as per my special request to our clerk.

Again, please CLICK HERE to review all the information and updates provided in the e-mail blast released on March 27, 2018.

Going Solar in Palmetto Bay - Miami-Dade Solar Co-Op Info Session - Wed., April 11, 2018 @ 7:00 PM

I am proud to be hosting the April 11, 2018, Solar Co-Op meeting to be held in Palmetto Bay.  This is a tri-city event that will also include Daniella Levine Cava, as co-host for this meeting. This is a must attend meeting for those considering going solar.  Palmetto Bay is currently one of ten (10) Miami-Dade County municipalities that have waived all or at least 75% of permitting fees for solar panels: Town of Cutler Bay, Coral Gables, Surfside, Miami Beach, City of Miami, Miami Shores, Miami Springs, Doral, Palmetto Bay and South Miami. 

Waiving these fees can save homeowners hundreds of dollars on their installation.

Palmetto Bay has eliminated building permit fees for installation of Solar panels for a one year period. Learn how you can save money through participating in a Solar Co-Op.  


Solar United Neighbors presents
Miami-Dade Solar Co-op Info Session

Wednesday, April 11, 2018 @ 7:00 PM

Village of Palmetto Bay Municipal Center
9705 E Hibiscus St 
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157

This event is Co-Hosted by: 
Eugene Flinn, Mayor, Village of Palmetto Bay
Daniella Levine Cava, Commissioner, Dist.8, and
Town of Cutler Bay
Village of Pinecrest, and
League of Women Voters of Florida

CLICK HERE to view and use the RSVP link. 

CLICK HERE to view the official Facebook event page

More information regarding Solar United Neighbors of Florida can be found online - (CLICK HERE)

New solar co-op information session coming up for Southern Miami-Dade on December 4th - organized by Palmer Trinity and the CLEO Institute.

Is it time for you to go solar?  Not sure?  Here is a source of information to make your decision:

Neighbors across the county have formed the Southern Miami-Dade Solar Co-op with the help of Solar United Neighbors of Florida to make it easier to save money on the purchase of solar panels, while building a community of local solar supporters. The co-op is serving Miami-Dade residents in Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Homestead, Florida City, Naranja, Goulds, Redland and unincorporated neighborhoods west of US1 and south from SW 136th Street south to the Miami-Dade County Line. Join us for an information session to learn about solar energy, as well as how the Southern Miami-Dade Solar Co-op simplifies the process of going solar while providing a discount through its bulk purchasing power.

Southern Miami-Dade Solar Co-op Info Session at Palmer Trinity

Monday, December 4 

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Palmer Trinity School

8001 SW 184th St, Miami, FL 33157

Main Dining Room

RSVP HERE

Facebook Event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2004715786464656/

Merwitzer family ends 2016 on a solar note. Go GREEN in Palmetto Bay

I am taking this opportunity to publicly congratulate Craig and Roseann Merwitzer - the entire Merwitzer family for taking this bold step in making use of renewable energy. 

The Merwitzer family ended 2016 on a green note; going live with their solar panels. I was there to witness the switches being thrown as they put the solar energy to work on powering their Palmetto Bay home.  (Note that the Merwitzers also own and operate an electric automobile).

Also note that son Mark is a founding member of our Palmetto Bay Youth Community Involvement Board. 

CLICK HERE to view a drone video of the Solar Panels installed on the Merwitzer home. 

Note that the Solar panels were installed through Raul Vergara, CEO of Cutler Bay Solar Solutions, a member of Ygrene.  Please note that Palmetto Bay is a Charter Member of the Green Corridor P.A.C.E. District.  It was my honor to work with Paul Vrooman, then Mayor of Cutler Bay who worked hard to bring the green energy PACE district to Florida.

See: Ygrene works - Home Improvement Financing For Energy Efficiency Upgrades.

See a prior post on Palmetto Bay's participation in alternative energy: Update on how voting No on Amendment 1 is actually PRO SOLAR - involving Palmetto Bay resident/ Eco-artist, Xavier Cortada and Raul Vergara, CEO of Cutler Bay Solar Solutions - This event was held in collaboration of three sister cities - Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay - all members of the Green Corridor P.A.C.E. District - event at Pinecrest Gardens on Wednesday, October 26, 2016.

I remain committed sustainability and in assisting our residents who want to go green. Thank you Merwitzer family for stepping forward and setting such a great example for our community. 

Very truly yours,

Eugene Flinn, Mayor