FPL Breaks Company Record with 16 New Solar Energy Centers Under Construction Simultaneously
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) today announced it currently has a company record 16 new solar energy centers simultaneously under construction across the Sunshine State, passing the previous peak of 14 solar energy centers simultaneously under construction in fall of 2020.
“We are cementing Florida as a national leader in solar energy as we continue the largest solar buildout in the country – providing our customers with clean, reliable and affordable energy,” said FPL Chairman and CEO Eric Silagy. “This is an important milestone for our communities, the economy and the environment. Generating cost-effective solar energy is an integral piece of our Real Zero goal – to eliminate carbon emissions and create an even more resilient and sustainable energy future for our customers.”
The new solar energy centers will add approximately 3.1 million solar panels to the state, with several supporting FPL SolarTogether – the company’s popular community solar program and the largest of its kind in the country – which received approval for expansion last year by state regulators.
The following solar sites are currently under construction:
- Saw Palmetto Solar Energy Center – Bay County
- Anhinga Solar Energy Center – Clay County
- Chipola River Solar Energy Center – Calhoun County
- Flowers Creek Solar Energy Center – Calhoun County
- Shirer Branch Solar Energy Center – Calhoun County
- First City Solar Energy Center – Escambia County
- Wild Azalea Solar Energy Center – Gadsden County
- Apalachee Solar Energy Center – Jackson County
- Everglades Solar Energy Center – Miami-Dade County
- Cavendish Solar Energy Center – Okeechobee County
- Etonia Creek Solar Energy Center – Putnam County
- Blackwater River Solar Energy Center – Santa Rosa County
- Bluefield Preserve Solar Energy Center – St. Lucie County
- Pink Trail Solar Energy Center – St. Lucie County
- Chautauqua Solar Energy Center – Walton County
- Cypress Pond Solar Energy Center – Washington County
The construction of these 16 new solar energy centers is expected to create up to 4,000 solar jobs across Florida, as each individual site will have 200 to 250 workers at peak construction. In addition to this influx of workers infusing dollars into local economies with the purchase of goods and services, each solar energy center will generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in local tax revenues each year.
In June, FPL’s parent company, NextEra Energy, announced its Real Zero™ goal, an industry-leading commitment to eliminate carbon emissions from its power plant fleet by no later than 2045. As part of its Zero Carbon Blueprint™, FPL will install 90,000 MW of solar energy in Florida, which in combination with the massive expansion of battery storage, the continued use of zero-emissions nuclear power generation and converting its highly efficient natural gas plants to run on green hydrogen, will provide zero-emissions, reliable and affordable electricity to customers. Economic studies indicate that reaching the Real Zero goal could create up to 150,000 jobs and add $15 billion in annual gross domestic product (GDP) in Florida through 2045.
