Gulfport’s Clean Energy Connection Thomas Lawery, manager of Wholesale and Renewable Energy, and Stacy Phillips, CEC Program Manger with Duke Energy, provided an overview of the Clean Energy Connection Program at the virtual Gulfport City Council meeting on Tuesday, July, 7. The presentation provided a brief summary of Duke Energy’s community solar power program they expect to launch in 2022. The idea is to eventually have the City of Gulfport running on clean, renewable energy, such as solar power, without the extra cost of solar panels for individual locations. The program is not currently being offered to individual residents and businesses, but is estimated to be available in December 2021. To implement the program, Duke Energy is looking for land to build community solar energy plants that will push out 750 kilowatts of energy from each solar station, explained Phillips. For reference, “your house probably uses about five kilowatts,” stated Phillips. Initially there will be a flat fee for the subscription, based on the expected energy use and agreed upon during sign up. A few financial perks per the presentation include: Payback within five to seven years; the program is expected to last 32 years.; no upfront costs of solar panels, whether leased or purchased; subscriptions move with the
US MILITARY/PUBLIC DOMAIN
By Laura Mulrooney
customer unlike installed solar panels; subscriptions can be canceled after the first month with no cancellation fees. According to Lawrey, the Clean Energy Connection Program is not meant to fulfill all energy needs, but to be more of a supplement to other city programs. Local governments like Gulfport have until August 31, 2020 to enroll in the program. The full presentation can be seen at mygulfport.us.
Gulfport Reviews Ordinance on Bullying By Laura Mulrooney
CATHY SALUSTRI
Ward 3 Councilmember Paul Ray put forth an anti-bullying ordinance.
theGabber.com | July 16 - July 22, 2020
In order to keep the people of Gulfport accountable for their words and actions, council unanimously agreed on the first reading to add the definitions of Bullying and Cyberbullying to Chapter 26 of the Gulfport Charter and Code of Ordinances under the Civil Rights definitions section. Ordinances are laws that are enforced on a local level. The anti-bullying ordinance was introduced by Councilmember Paul Ray, who has not been shy about his history of being bullied as a youth. “There was no specific catalyst for the introduction of this,” said Councilmember Ray. “But, as someone who has been bullied during my youth and someone who witnessed bullying in so many aspects of life here in Gulfport, I felt (Gulfport’s Human Rights Ordinance) had a glaring lack of recourse for the people in Gulfport when it comes to anti-bullying. “I think this would be a good way to address bullying for those leasing one of our properties that we’re in agreement with, or somebody who owns a business in town, or someone mistreats our staff or our staff mistreats other people.” “This ordinance really shows where Gulfport stands on bullying,” stated Mayor Sam Henderson. Council will vote on the ordinance on August 4.
11
