Solar Energy in Florida

[Jackie22]

[h=1]FPL announces completion of three new universal solar energy centers and plans for substantially ...[/h]http://newsroom.fpl.com/2017-01-13-...-substantially-more-new-Florida-solar-in-2017FPL announces completion of three new universal solar energy centers and plans for substantially more new Florida solar in 2017

-- Completed on time and under budget, the three new 74.5-MW universal solar power plants officially began generating power for all FPL customers on Dec. 31, 2016
-- In 2017, FPL plans to build four more universal solar plants that cost-effectively deliver clean power to the energy grid that serves millions of Floridians
-- FPL is also continuing to bring more solar to local communities with innovative installations and partnerships

Jan 13, 2017

JUNO BEACH, Fla., Jan. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Power & Light Company, the largest generator of solar energy in Florida, today announced that it plans to build on the successful completion of its latest solar energy centers with even more solar in 2017.

…

The newly completed solar plants – the FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center, the FPL Citrus Solar Energy Center and the FPL Manatee Solar Energy Center – were all built on time, under budget and cost-effectively, meaning there will be no net cost to customers after savings from fuel and other generation-related expenses.

FPL has been working for many years in order to be prepared to add substantial solar capacity affordably for its customers, developing plans and securing sites for cost-effective installations. In 2017, FPL plans to build four more 74.5-megawatt solar energy centers across the state, including sites in Alachua, Putnam and DeSoto counties that have received local approvals. Construction is expected to begin as early as the first quarter of 2017. Additional large-scale solar facilities are also in development and may be announced in the coming months.

…

For more information, visit www.FPL.com/solar.

 

[Debby]

That's excellent that they are thinking ahead and working on alternative forms of energy! Good thinking Florida!

 

[WhatInThe]

I hope it works. Some say more tropical areas with frequent cloud cover aren't necessarily the most ideal conditions for solar regardless of how strong the sun gets. I guess it's better to the power company do solar than residences especially with hurricane threats. They have enough trouble keeping a roof on a building.

 

[StillADreamer]

Work with the earth, not against it, yes!
This is positive news.
thanks for the post!

 

[tnthomas]

As part of the whole story, it should be mentioned that:

Solar supporters in Florida scored a major victory in November by defeating utility-backed Amendment 1. The ballot initiative would have paved the way for Florida utilities to dismantle net metering for solar customers. This would have severely stunted the state’s distributed roof top solar market.

From the article

 

[Debby]

So let me get this straight, your Florida electric utilities company tried to shut down a solar co-op run by private citizens? Is that what was going on? And the citizens rallied the troops and got that possibility shut down? If that's the case, then good for the people.

 

[Ruthanne]

Great news! We need alternative energies!