Lamar Advertising Co., which operates more than 150 outdoor advertising companies in more than 40 states and Puerto Rico, plans to convert about 1,370 billboards throughout Florida to use renewable energy. The $12.5-million project will place solar or wind power on billboards throughout the state.
The project, set for completion by April 2012, will install a total of
one megawatt (MW) of renewable energy generation in
eight markets from Pensacola to Daytona and Tallahassee to Fort Myers.
The installations will be on billboards along interstates and major
thoroughfares, giving the project the widest public exposure.
The U.S.
Department of Energy is providing a $2.5-million grant to the project
through the Florida Energy and Climate Commission and the Governor’s
Energy Office, while Lamar is funding the remaining $10 million.
The company said the project is the largest deployment of distributed renewable energy devices in Florida history.
"Over the 20- to 25-year life span of the billboards converted to
renewable energy, we will return an untold amount of renewable,
emission-free energy to the power grid while demonstrating in a very
graphic manner to the public the payoff that comes with renewable
energy," said Robert B. Switzer, vice president of operations of Lamar Advertising. "In the long run, this will mean significant
savings for Lamar. The lifespan of these systems allows them to be
amortized, giving us a very logical business rationale for incorporating
systems such as these on a widespread basis."
As part of the initiative, Lamar is sponsoring Renewable Florida, a Web-based clearinghouse to help Floridians find the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to maximize renewable energy. More information is available at the link below.
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