“We continue to advance affordable clean energy strategically – making substantial improvements year after year while keeping overall electric rates lower than they were 10 years ago,” said Eric Silagy, FPL president and CEO. “We’re currently building some of the lowest-cost solar ever seen in America, and our investments in more efficient natural gas technology are delivering enormous savings and environmental benefits for our customers and our state.”
FPL plans to add an average of nearly 300 MW of new solar annually from 2017 through at least 2023, for a total of nearly 2,100 MW of new universal solar under development across its Florida service area – enough to power more than 420,000 homes. This includes approximately 600 MW FPL is building at eight sites that are expected to begin operating less than a year from now.
For the approximately 1,500 MW of solar anticipated for 2019 through 2023, FPL is working to develop plans and evaluate potential locations. No projects have been finalized yet, but notably, FPL has determined that an undeveloped, company-owned property in western Miami-Dade County could make a promising location for a universal solar facility.
FPL expects to build all of this proposed new solar capacity cost-effectively – meaning that these investments will result in net savings for FPL customers. The eight new solar plants expected by early 2018 alone will generate estimated net lifetime savings of $39 million for FPL customers.
FPL has been working for several years to find ways to reduce costs in order to bring more solar to its customers cost-effectively. Lower costs that come with nearby transmission and substation infrastructure continue to be a driving force behind the selection of FPL’s universal solar sites, as does the company’s ability to buy solar panels in large quantities.
More about FPL’s solar investments
Currently, FPL operates more than 335 MW of solar generating capacity with nearly 600 MW expected to come online by early 2018. Major announced and completed installations include:
- FPL Barefoot Bay Solar Energy Center, Brevard County (expected by March 1, 2018)
- FPL Blue Cypress Solar Energy Center, Indian River County (expected by March 1, 2018)
- FPL Hammock Solar Energy Center, Hendry County (expected by March 1, 2018)
- FPL Loggerhead Solar Energy Center, St. Lucie County (expected by March 1, 2018)
- FPL Coral Farms Solar Energy Center, Putnam County (expected by Dec. 31, 2017)
- FPL Horizon Solar Energy Center, Alachua and Putnam Counties (expected by Dec. 31, 2017)
- FPL Indian River Solar Energy Center, Indian River County (expected by Dec. 31, 2017)
- FPL Wildflower Solar Energy Center, DeSoto County (expected by Dec. 31, 2017)
- FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center, Charlotte County
- FPL Citrus Solar Energy Center, DeSoto County
- FPL Manatee Solar Energy Center, Manatee County
- FPL Martin Next Generation Clean Energy Center (hybrid solar/natural gas), Martin County
- FPL DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, DeSoto County
- FPL Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center, Brevard County
- FPL Solar Circuit at Daytona International Speedway, Volusia County
- Solar research installation at Florida International University, Miami-Dade County
- FPL SolarNow array at the Broward Young At Art Museum & Library, Broward County
- FPL SolarNow array at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, Palm Beach County
- FPL SolarNow array at the Palmetto Estuary Nature Preserve, Manatee County
In addition, FPL has installed small-scale solar arrays for more than 100 Florida schools and other educational facilities.
News item from FPL