ST. PETERSBURG — The solar-powered charging stand at Crescent Lake Dog Park was getting plenty of energy Friday morning under a sun already hot enough that Mayor Rick Kriseman's brief remarks were accompanied by thirsty dogs slurping at a nearby water fountain.

Five stations, capable of charging cellphones and tablets even on cloudy days, thanks to a battery, are now available, including at Vinoy Park (which has two) as well as Lake Vista and Walter Fuller dog parks.

Kriseman said he hoped the stations would recharge more than electronics.

"It's really an opportunity for people to recharge, not only using solar power … but now they can come together as a community and charge their phones," Kriseman said.

Council member Darden Rice, who often brings her dog to Crescent Lake, said the solar charging stations show a glimpse of what the city could do if state laws governing solar power were made more friendly to consumers and municipalities.

Earlier this month, Duke announced it would build 500 megawatts of solar power after years of arguing that Florida was too cloudy and had too little battery storage.

The utility acted amid a statewide initiative that would allow those who generate solar power to sell that electricity directly to other customers. Until that option and better financing exists, equipping city buildings with solar power isn't in the cards, Kriseman said.

"We're looking for the state to put more favorable policies in place that not only benefit cities but private homeowners and businesses," he said.

Solar power isn't the only roadblock the city is facing as it tries to get greener.

Kriseman said the city is still negotiating with Duke to switch the city's street lights to LED power, saving energy and money. Council member Karl Nurse, a vocal critic of Duke, has long argued that the utility refuses to equitably share savings with the city, but the mayor stopped short of criticizing the company.

"It's not a matter of us dragging our feet on that," Kriseman said. "The discussions are continuing. We just haven't gotten to an agreement with them on what's a reasonable amount we should be paying."

Duke is aggressively working with cities across the state to switch their street lights to LED, said Suzanne Grant, a Duke spokeswoman. Clearwater, Gulfport and New Port Richey have all made the switch, she said. She didn't immediately know the status of negotiations between St. Petersburg and the company.

As it waits for bigger payoffs, the city will look for small victories, the mayor said.

The charging stations cost about $2,500 and were built by city workers from a design by St. Petersburg's Sunsure, a company owned by real estate and solar developer Hudson Harr.

Dog park regular Larry Hooker, 66, hadn't tried to charge his phone yet, but his dog Blue, a 4-year-old Lab-husky mix with piercing blue eyes had already "baptized" the metal stand of the charging station.

And Blue was hardly alone.

"It's almost as popular as a fire hydrant," Hooker said.

Contact Charlie Frago at cfrago@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8459. Follow @CharlieFrago.