Florida Power & Light Company, a subsidiary of clean energy leader FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE:FPL), announced new solar energy projects that include what would be the world’s largest photovoltaic solar plant and the first "hybrid" energy center, coupling solar thermal technology with an existing combined-cycle generation unit.
"Pending regulatory approval, FPL will build 110 megawatts (MW) of solar power right here in the Sunshine State, making Florida No. 2 in the nation for solar energy," FPL Group Chairman and CEO Lewis Hay, III announced today at the 2008 Florida Summit on Global Climate Change in Miami. "This is made possible in part by the strong support and determined leadership of Governor Crist and the Florida legislature, who crafted a progressive energy bill that put a supportive policy framework in place for solar power."
Along with a previously announced photovoltaic solar installation at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the projects will generate 110 MW of emissions-free electricity. The projects are:
- The DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center. Planned for construction to commence by year-end 2008 on FPL-owned property in DeSoto County, Fla., the DeSoto project will provide 25 MW of photovoltaic solar capacity, making it the world’s largest photovoltaic solar facility.
- The Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center. Planned for construction to commence by the beginning of 2009 at FPL’s existing Martin Plant site, the Martin project will provide up to 75 MW of solar thermal capacity in an innovative "hybrid" design that will connect to an existing combined-cycle power plant. When the power of the sun is producing electricity from steam, less fossil fuel is required.
- The Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center. Planned for construction to commence by the beginning of 2009 at the Kennedy Space Center, the Space Coast project will provide 10 MW of photovoltaic solar capacity in an innovative public-private partnership.
These projects represent an accelerated implementation schedule of the commitments the company made at the Clinton Global Initiative in September 2007, which called for an initial 10 MW trial followed by the construction of 300 MW of solar power in Florida and 500 MW nationwide over seven years. With today’s announcement, FPL is meeting more than one-third of its Florida target in under a year.
About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is a subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc.. With annual revenues of over $15 billion and a growing presence in 27 states and Canada, FPL Group is widely recognized as one of the country’s premier power companies. Florida Power & Light Company serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida. FPL Energy, LLC, FPL Group’s competitive energy subsidiary is the nation’s leader in producing electricity from clean and renewable sources such as solar and wind.
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