A Brilliant Idea
On our islands, we love to complain about the electric company because of inexplicable or unexpected, but generally brief, power outages. But complain as we do, we are actually fortunate to have the electric company that we do, because we, the consumers, own it: the Lee County Electric Cooperative, or LCEC. A large utility pole recently installed by LCEC near Blind Pass. The neighbors call it the "Santiva Obelisk." Some people have to buy their electricity from a big corporation, and some have to buy it from their local government. We buy from ourselves, essentially. It is true that LCEC buys almost all of its power from Florida Power and Light (FPL). But there is a tiny percentage generated by solar panels on homes and businesses within the 5-county LCEC service area. That’s right – five counties. LCEC started in 1940 when a citrus grower in North Fort Myers sold his power plant to the first co-op members in the North Fort ...