Florida is finally realizing its potential as a solar energy pioneer
3 min read

For Floridians, the promise of price-helpful and responsible solar electricity from the grid begun like a smaller ray of gentle peeking out of the clouds.
Florida Electrical power & Light-weight started checking out solar technology in South Florida in the mid-1980s, believing in an enjoyable, new vitality future.
Soon after decades of study and preparing, Floridians got their 1st taste of that long term in 2009, when President Barack Obama assisted usher in the future era of clean energy with a massive-scale solar web site in DeSoto County – the biggest of its variety in the U.S. at the time.
That exciting get started has only led to much more innovation and decreased costs for substantial-scale photo voltaic, creating financial savings for customers and an prospect for our state to glow.
Today, in excess of 3.6 million kilowatts of thoroughly clean, zero-emissions photo voltaic vitality are created for shoppers by FPL’s solar energy facilities. They are each and every 3 times as massive as the historic web page from 2009 and expense considerably less to function – developing the most significant amount of solar for the least expensive doable expense.
We lately extra 8 new photo voltaic electricity centers all through Florida, bringing the all round full to 50 photo voltaic electrical power centers in procedure. For perspective: the clean up solar strength created from these 50 solar electrical power centers can energy close to 750,000 homes. In terms of carbon emissions, that is equal to taking more than 650,000 gasoline-driven autos off the road each and every year. This isn’t just an essential milestone for people getting that electricity, it is also a exceptional accomplishment for the condition of Florida.
We are happy to aid Florida pursue a cleaner energy long run, and we are on track to shatter our initial, bold photo voltaic plans.
The company expects to complete its “30-by-30” system to set up 30 million photo voltaic panels throughout Florida by the conclude of 2025 – five several years ahead of timetable. The positive aspects of this 30 million photo voltaic panel network prolong much outside of supplying cleaner electrical power. They will create about $2.5 billion in gas savings for citizens. The photo voltaic panel network will produce extra than 20,000 building careers and it is anticipated to lead additional than $700 million in assets taxes above a life span for counties throughout the condition.
Florida is on the frontlines of local climate transform and commonly severe temperature. As the nation’s premier utility, FPL has a obligation to keep on investing in the technological innovation and infrastructure important to guarantee all buyers reward from thoroughly clean electrical power – now and in the long run.
Over the future four a long time, we approach to add a different 16 million solar panels throughout an added 50 photo voltaic electricity facilities for prospects all over the point out. We will also carry on to integrate battery storage engineering to assistance provide solar electrical power onto the grid even when the solar isn’t shining. And, we’re researching and tests new clear electrical power fuels, like green hydrogen, which has the likely to sometime unlock a 100 percent carbon-no cost energy upcoming.
In addition to investing in clean up technology, we’re also investing in schooling. The just lately unveiled microgrid at Florida Worldwide College provides backup electricity from a solar array in the party of a critical climate outage. Also, the College of Central Florida’s new microgrid command lab is offering engineering students with priceless practical experience simulating and tests authentic-lifetime grid management operations.
Florida has occur a very long way in its cleanse electrical power journey, and we consider the very best portion of this journey is still to arrive. By remaining focused on ongoing enhancement, and inspiring far more to be a part of this effort and hard work, with each other we can attain a absolutely decarbonized economic climate in which all homes and organizations are powered by renewable, dependable, and inexpensive strength.
Matt Valle is vice president of enhancement at Florida Energy & Gentle Co.