Sustainability and Resiliency - Energy

Pinellas County is committed to reducing its carbon footprint to work toward a more sustainable future. The programs below help us reduce our energy consumption and transition to cleaner energy sources.

 

Ready for 100 Clean Energy Commitment

In November 2021, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution setting clean energy targets as a part of Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign. The resolution sets goals to transition to renewable, zero-emission, clean energy use as follows:

• 50% of electricity for County government operations by 2030
• 100% of electricity for County government operations by 2040
• 100% countywide by 2050

 

The resolution directs all County departments to incorporate the clean energy targets into their policies and planning processes. The goals will also be incorporated into the County’s Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan.

 

Downtown Central Energy Plant

Pinellas County’s Downtown Central Energy Plant generates and delivers chilled water through an underground distribution piping network to provide energy efficient air conditioning to several County buildings throughout downtown Clearwater. The plant is currently saving the County over $1.5 million in operating annual costs — primarily from reduced energy and water use — and will reduce the County’s carbon dioxide footprint equivalent by 35,000 tons over the life of the plant. To further save costs, the County recently installed rooftop solar panels at the facility.

 

 

LED Street Light Replacement Program

This program was established to replace all the County-maintained arterial street lights, which reduces energy bills and overall maintenance. Transportation Operations staff recently converted the lighting during their routine maintenance on the system.

 

Energy Management Initiative

The Facilities and Real Property Division has launched a pilot program to collect HVAC building data for analysis. At the end of the pilot program, the County will develop a scope of work for retrofits and ongoing commissioning of buildings’ mechanical and electrical systems to manage and reduce energy consumption.

 

Clean Energy Connection Program

By entering Duke Energy Florida’s Clean Energy Connection Program in 2022, Pinellas County will offset 40% of its energy consumption through solar power generation.

 

Electric Vehicles

The County has installed eight publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations, and we are currently evaluating electric and other green vehicle options for our fleet of County vehicles.

 

 

 

 

 

Pinellas County Energy and Water Management Directive

Pinellas County promotes and incentivizes energy and water conservation throughout all County-owned and operated facilities, as well as leased facilities where the Board of County Commissioners is responsible for utilities costs. The Pinellas County Energy and Water Management Directive is ongoing and has resulted in energy and water conservation in the near- and long-term. These conservation measures include electric, natural gas, water, sewer and non-vehicular fuel oil.