Florida Power and Light (FPL) to Bring Large Scale Solar Energy to the Sunshine State

June 26, 2008 – Vol.13 No.14

Florida Power and Light (FPL) to Bring Large Scale Solar Energy to the Sunshine State.

The 110 megawatts of solar capacity will make Florida number 2 in the US in solar generated electricity. The plans include the world’s largest photovoltaic solar project and the first solar thermal ‘hybrid’ energy center.

Along with a previously announced photovoltaic solar installation at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center 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 megawatts 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 megawatts 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 megawatts 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 megawatt trial followed by the construction of 300 megawatts of solar power in Florida and 500 megawatts nationwide over seven years. With today’s announcement, FPL is meeting more than one-third of its Florida target in under a year.

The 110 megawatts of photovoltaic solar and solar thermal power is in addition to 250 megawatts of solar thermal power announced by FPL Energy on March 26. Together, the projects will dramatically extend FPL Group’s lead as the world’s No. 1 producer of solar energy. FPL Group is also the nation’s No. 1 producer of wind power.

FPL Energy operates the world’s largest solar thermal field in California’s Mojave Desert and is the nation’s largest wind power company, with 5,410 megawatts of installed capacity at 56 sites in 16 states. Overall, FPL Group’s generation fleet, with a capacity of 38,105 megawatts, has one of the lowest carbon dioxide emission rates in the country.

In addition, FPL Group is one of the electric power industry’s strongest advocates for a mandatory, nationwide policy to place a price on carbon dioxide emissions. (6/26/08)

Links:

Florida Power & Light Company
http://www.fpl.com

FPL and NASA To Explore Renewable Energy Projects In Florida.

Disclaimer, Forward-Looking or Safe Harbor Statement on original press release: Yes