BREVARD COUNTY, Fla., Oct. 25, 2017 - Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has installed more than 1.25 million solar panels so far this year, marking the halfway point to a goal of 2.5 million panels by early 2018. The progress surpasses the company's achievement in 2016, when it built three solar power plants made up of 1 million solar panels.
“We’re investing nearly $1 billion to grow solar in Florida this year alone,” said FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy. “Our continued commitment to rapidly expand solar energy while keeping customer bills low demonstrates that it is, in fact, possible to be both clean and affordable.”
The panels have been installed as part of the construction of eight new plants to come on line early next year. The new plants are projected to generate an estimated net lifetime consumer savings of more than $100 million.
“FPL’s clean energy infrastructure investments continue to pay off for Floridians and give our state's economy a competitive advantage,” said Vicki Northrup, an economic development consultant in Brevard County, where FPL’s Barefoot Bay Solar Energy Center is slated for completion by March 1, 2018. “Residents and businesses served by FPL are enjoying cleaner and cleaner energy while continuing to pay significantly less for power than the national average.”
By 2023, FPL plans to have installed a total of more than 10 million solar panels. The state ranks ninth in solar resources.
Each of the eight new solar plants will be capable of generating 74.5 megawatts of zero-emissions energy when the sun is shining for a combined total of nearly 600 MW. The utility currently generates more than 335 MW from its six solar power plants.
