Item L2BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: April 18, 2007 Division: County Administrator
Bulk Item: Yes _ No x Department: County Administrator
Staff Contact Person: Connie Cyr
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Request to speak to the Board of County Commissioners on building
a green complex — Donald Kirk Raper.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
N/A
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
N/A
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
N/A
TOTAL COST: -0- BUDGETED: Yes No
COST TO COUNTY: -0- SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included Not Required
DISPOSITION:
Revised 8/06
AGENDA ITEM #
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i am building a green complex, a home, that incorporates water, wind,
solar and tidal power:
I any also putting together an alternative enemy education program
together using the same alternative ideas.
t would appreciate any assistance with implementing these programs.
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EKO NATION, INC.
BEST STEP FORWARD, INC.
(A FLORIDA NOT -FOR -PROFIT CORPORATION
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
PROPOSAL FOR THE KEYS
TO THE MONROE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AND THE
CONCERNED CITIZENS OF MONROE COUNTY
MAY 165 2007
PRESENTED BY
DONALD KIRK RAPER, PRESIDENT
EKO NATION, INC. _
305-896-3285 CELL 3/��/��
L •Z
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
PROPOSAL FOR THE KEYS
PURPOSE OF PROPOSAL
EKO Nation, Inc. and its affiliated not -for -profit corporation, Best Foot Forward, Inc., have a
strong desire to bring alternative energy solutions to the Florida Keys and help make the Keys a
showplace for forward -looking, environmentally conscious, non -fossil fuel alternative energy
solutions, commonly referred to as "green energy" applications.
Green energy includes non -fossil fuel solutions such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal,
tidal, bio-fuel, temperature inversion, and other "clean" energy sources. The weather patterns in the
Florida Keys make this a natural and logical location to implement and prove various forms of solar,
wind, and tidal energy applications.
This proposal is the fast step in getting Monroe County, its government officials, and concerned
citizens to take a pro -active stance to the possibilities green energy solutions can bring to our island
communities throughout the Keys (such as cheaper, cleaner power), as well as set future standards
for environmentally friendly power generation and innovative green energy design, testing, and
implementation.
STAGE ONE: FORM A STUDY GROUP
The "Greening of America" is well underway. Tremendous interest in alternative energy
solutions is evident throughout college campuses, corporate boardrooms, and government agencies
as the prospects of global warming, deteriorating air and water quality, and ever increasing fossil fuel
prices make a move in this direction both timely and economical. Embracing green energy solutions
also provides a certain level of satisfaction and prestige to the providers and users that could provide
significant promotional value.
In order to sort through the hundreds of alternative energy applications in various stages of use
and development and to hone in on the most suitable of these for use throughout the Florida Keys,
we propose that the Commission authorize a Keys Green Energy Study Group, whereby interested
citizens and government officials can review and recommend specific applications for
implementation in the next stage, a pilot program.
The Commission, or some other appointed county government official, would have oversight of
the Study Group's progress. In addition, the Commission would announce the formation of the Keys
Green Energy Study Group in order to solicit participation from local citizens, businesses, and
academics.
STAGE TWO: PILOT PROGRAMS
Once the Keys Green Energy Study Group has identified appropriate alternative energy needs
and solutions for our area, a Pilot Program would be implemented to test specific applications. The
beneficiaries of such applications would be responsible for the cost of materials. Labor for
installation would be volunteered or provided by students in exchange for learning experience and
class credits.
The scale of the initial pilot programs would be small and encompass provisions for monitoring
energy output, evaluating the applications' durability, safety, and cost vs. return attributes, as well as
gathering comments from the public on the aesthetic and overall contributions such applications
bring to our community.
As additional applications are tested, there is the potential that the publicity and notoriety created
by these various Pilot Programs will generate significant interest from commercial, academic,
research, and government entities, which will provide funding and a wide range of alternative energy
products and equipment for installation, testing, and widespread use throughout the Florida Keys.
STAGE THREE: TAX INCENTIVES, GRANTS & REBATES
The potential momentum created by the Pilot Programs can be leveraged into incentives, which
could dramatically expand green energy applications throughout the Keys. Utility providers already
offer energy saving incentives for better insdillation, more efficient air conditioning units, etc., and
these could be expanded to include additional rebates and credits for businesses and homeowners
that install green energy devices.
The State and Federal government will be lobbied for tax incentives and grants to help defray the
costs of installing and changing over to green energy solutions by businesses and on facilities
controlled by the local governments.
With the support of the Monroe County Commission and other Florida Keys government and
business leaders, it will be possible to submit grant proposals to various environmentally conscious
and energy conservation oriented foundations, charities, businesses, and government departments to
provide financial assistance in expanding the roll of the Florida Keys as leaders in the Greening of
America.
GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The key to getting such an ambitious proposal started is the support of the local government and
community leaders. Although, the active participation of the Board of County Commissioners is not
required at the outset, we do request that you give your blessing and support to various ideas set
forth in this proposal. Publication and support of the formation of the "Keys Green Energy Study
Group" is an imperative first step in accomplishing the gradual conversion of the Florida Keys to
more environmentally friendly and non -fossil fuel energy sources in the future.
Local government support will also lead to community involvement by businesses and
concerned citizens. Eventually, we hope to bring the schools into a significant educational roll
regarding clean alternative energy sources for the benefit of the students as well as their families and
the surrounding communities. Green energy pilot programs will provide the opportunity for students
to obtain hands on learning experience about alternative energy solutions and the environment.
School credit or extra -curricular programs could be established to help in these efforts.
We, therefore, respectfully request that the Commission act upon this proposal by announcing
the formation of a Keys Green Energy Study Group in subsequent notices and meetings. We would
like the initial meeting of the study group to commence within the next 90-days.
EKO NATION, INC.
EKO Nation, Inc. was formed for the express purpose of researching, developing, and
acquiring alternative energy solutions and marketing them in a commercially viable basis.
The wind, sun and water current patterns around the Florida Keys makes this a promising
area to do initial research, development and testing of various alternative energy
technologies and applications. The President is Donald "Kirk" Raper, a long time resident
of the Keys with experience in building and construction.
EKO Nation, Inc. has partnered with Best Foot Forward, Inc., a not -for -profit Florida
corporation in the process of obtaining 503-C charitable status. Best Foot Forward will solicit
donations and support for the development of alternative energy solutions and then license the
marketing rights back to EKO Nation for commercial development.
EKO Nation has also reached an agreement with A Natures Sanctuary, Inc. whereby non -cash
donations may be accepted and used for the support of green energy and related environmental
causes. ( See www.n_aturessanctuary.o ere )
CONTACT INFORMATION
Donald K. Raper, President
EKO Nation, Inc.
300 Atlantic Drive, Suite 1
Key Largo, FL 33037
Cell Phone: 305-896-3285
Email to: A min a tt S nctuarV.o erg
[Websites are under development]
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