Progress Energy tilts at windmills

Progress Energy Florida will make its first tilt at windmills, with a $1.3-million project. The utility won $123,868 last week from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to promote wind energy.

“We believe small-scale wind generation could play an important role in meeting Florida’s renewable-energy needs,” said John Masiello, director of alternative energy strategy for the St. Petersburg utility.

Progress Energy and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise have pledged land for the project, and the Florida Institute of Technology will provide its expertise. The demonstration project will provide 15,000 kilowatt hours of wind energy every year, about enough to run a single household for a year. The utility hasn’t yet decided where in their 35-county service area it will put the wind turbines. The state listed the location as Citrus, Lake, Levy, Pinellas, Orange or Sumter County. It’s unclear when the project will get under way.

- Asjylyn Loder, Times staff writer