Florida Power & Light’s (FPL’s) recent completion of the FPL Discovery Solar Energy Center at Kennedy Space Center marks a major milestone for the company – it has surpassed 40 percent completion of its “30-by-30” plan to install 30 million solar panels by 2030, one of the largest solar expansions in the United States.

NASA and state and local officials joined FPL in commissioning the solar energy center, which is located just off NASA Parkway. The Pink Team – a Space Coast high school robotic team – cut the ceremonial ribbon with its 2021 competition robot as a demonstration of FPL and NASA’s shared commitment to science, technology, engineering, and math education. This event commemorated the official start of the center’s operations.

The “30-by-30” initiative will bring 11,700 megawatts (MW) of cost-effective solar capacity to FPL by 2030, enough energy to power more than 2 million homes and making Florida one of the largest and most affordable solar states in America.

Nearly every FPL solar center installed this year also will support FPL’s SolarTogether program, the nation’s largest community solar program.

"Reaching this milestone is an important step in our commitment to increase zero-emissions energy as FPL builds a more resilient and sustainable energy future all of us can depend on, including future generations," said Eric Silagy, president and CEO of FPL. "Despite the pandemic, our team has stayed laser-focused on executing our '30-by-30' plan. Eight new solar energy centers have begun powering customers with clean energy so far this year, and three more are scheduled to come online before the end of this year,” he added.

"Nobody in the country is building more solar than FPL," Silagy continued. "We're dedicated to providing our customers with clean, affordable, and reliable energy, while keeping bills among the nation's lowest – and our rapid solar expansion helps us consistently deliver on this promise. In total, FPL customers are expected to save approximately $421 million from the cost-effective solar investments the company has made to this point."

FPL anticipates installing more than 15 million panels by early 2022, which will mark the project being 50 percent completed. To support its solar buildout, the company recently began installing the first components of the world's largest integrated solar-powered battery system, the 409 MW FPL Manatee Energy Storage Center.

Also this month, FPL demolished it’s last coal plant, which had not been operating for the last two years. Just before the implosion of the coal plant’s chute and 495-foot stack, Silagy announced to a small gathering of attendees that FPL will construct a 74.5 MW solar farm with 300,000 panels on 500 acres nearby. FPL is another example of how EEI’s member companies are leading on clean energy.

To learn more about member companies’ commitments to reduce carbon and provide clean energy to customers, visit EEI’s #Committed2Clean webpage.

Tags : The Energy Grid, Clean Energy, All