Not satisfied to just dabble in solar power, the Florida Power & Light Company received approval from the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to begin construction of three solar energy centers that will make Florida the second largest supplier of utility-generated solar power in the nation.

“This decision by the PSC represents a major step forward in making Florida a leader in solar power generation. At a time of record-setting fossil fuel prices and concern over global climate change, solar power helps to meet the goals of protecting the environment and enhancing Florida’s energy security. Governor Crist and the state legislature set a goal of increasing renewable energy in Florida, and as a clean energy company we are committed to playing a meaningful role in this endeavor,” said FPL President Armando J. Olivera.

Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature approved and the Governor signed into law a comprehensive energy bill which provided for the development of renewable energy, subject to PSC approval. FPL presented a proposal to the PSC for three solar energy centers that includes the world’s largest photovoltaic solar array and the first “hybrid” energy center that will couple solar thermal technology with an existing natural gas combined-cycle generation unit. The first solar center is expected to be operational by 2009. 

The Florida solar facilities will prevent the release of nearly 3.5 million tons of greenhouses gases over the life of the projects, which is the equivalent of removing 25,000 cars from the road per year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, photovoltaic solar systems, which convert sunlight directly to electricity, consume no fuel, use no water, and produce no waste. FPL’s unique solar thermal design, which uses the power of the sun to produce electricity from steam, uses no fossil fuel, no additional cooling water and produces zero greenhouse gas emissions.

“Our Florida projects will benefit FPL’s customers by increasing the amount of clean, renewable energy while decreasing greenhouse emissions and displacing the use of oil and natural gas,” Olivera said.

The Florida solar projects will help extend FPL Group’s lead as the world’s No. 1 producer of solar energy. FPL Energy is the nation’s No. 1 producer of wind power 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. FPL is the nation’s No. 1 utility for energy conservation, according to U.S. Department of Energy data. FPL’s conservation programs have helped the company avoid the need to build 12 medium-sized power plants since 1980, more than any other utility.

Luckily, there are some corporations in this country that do behave responsibly...and FPL is one of them trying to make a difference for the better.

For more information on the FPL next generation solar energy centers, go to www.fpl.com/solar.

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Misty   |2008-07-16 22:09:17 So there is some good news! I was excited to see the headline. Hopefully more states will follow. Reply 1   0

Anis   |2008-07-16 22:33:05 We need more great plans like this for sure! Reply 0   0

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."