FPL Starts Construction On 10 More Solar Energy Centers Across Florida

The FPL Hibiscus Solar Energy Center.

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) recently announced the start of construction on its 10 newest solar power plants that are expected to begin powering customers by early 2020. Among them are the FPL Hibiscus Solar Energy Center in central Palm Beach County.

“FPL is well on its way to making Florida a world leader in solar energy,” said Eric Silagy, president and CEO of FPL. “This year alone we’re building enough solar to increase our solar capacity by 60 percent, and we are just getting started as we count down to the installation of 30 million panels by 2030. With 18 solar plants in operation and 10 more on the way, we’re adding even more emissions-free power to one of the cleanest systems in the nation while consistently keeping our customers’ bills among the lowest in the nation.”

Today, the company operates approximately 1,250 megawatts of solar capacity across 18 existing solar plants and other smaller installations. Each of the new solar plants will have a capacity of 74.5 megawatts. When the new solar power plants begin serving customers early next year, FPL’s total solar capacity will reach nearly 2,000 megawatts — enough to power approximately 400,000 homes.

The new solar plants are another example of FPL’s strategy of advancing affordable clean energy that has resulted in customer bills that are 30 percent below the national average. Purchasing solar panels in bulk and capturing other economies of scale helps FPL build its solar plants cost-effectively. These new solar plants are expected to save customers millions of dollars in avoided fuel and other costs over the long term.

Of the new FPL solar power plants, six will support FPL SolarTogether, the company’s new community solar program that will be the largest in the country if approved by the Florida Public Service Commission.

FPL’s ongoing investments in solar play a significant role in the positive impact Florida’s solar expansion is having on job creation in the state. Florida ranked second in the nation in 2018 in solar employment, behind California, according to the Solar Foundation. Each of the 10 new solar plants FPL is building this year is expected to create approximately 200 jobs during peak construction.

Florida’s largest generator of solar energy, FPL currently operates 18 solar power plants, two that feature innovative energy storage, and hundreds of smaller solar installations. Florida’s largest generator of solar power, FPL has approximately 1,250 megawatts of universal solar capacity. Learn more at www.fpl.com.