St. Petersburg Parks Showcase New Solar Charging Stations

In a testament to the increasing political interest in clean energy, the City of St. Petersburg, Fl has installed five new solar-powered charging stations in parks throughout the city. Even on a cloudy day, these stations are due to pump out enough energy to keep phones and tablets charging all day, by utilizing an integrated battery.

In Florida, solar potential has been high for a long time, but only recently has the state begun to take advantage of that potential. Massive solar implementations are in the works and may be up for a vote in coming elections, while only a few months ago Duke Energy announced plans to build a 500 megawatt solar energy plant. Although there is a big difference between power plants and solar charging stations, there is no denying St. Petersburg has taken the initiative in clean energy.

Vinoy Park is home to two of the five charging stations, offering solar-powered charging to one of St. Pete’s most popular event venues. The other three stations are located at dog parks throughout the city, Lake Vista, Crescent Lake, and Walter Fuller, and while the dogs play fetch, their owners can play or work on phones and tablets, enjoying the luxury of fully solar powered devices.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Mayor Rick Kriseman hopes the charging stations will not only further convince the public of the benefits of solar, but he hopes it will also bring the community together, even if it is to charge phones. Other city officials have further emphasized the point that the initiative of St. Petersburg gives a substantial look at what could be achieved if state laws turned in favor of solar and other clean energies. Nonetheless, it’s certainly a prominent step toward bringing solar to the forefront of Florida’s cities and communities.