Last week I was invited to attend a celebration of the new FPL Miami-Dade Solar Energy Center, the largest solar power installation ever to be built (featuring over 300,000 solar panels) in South Florida.
Inspired by the solar center’s location within Miami-Dade County’s farming community, the event featured a farmer’s market complete with local vendors. So, I made my rounds and picked up a few goodies for the family to enjoy.
They even had sheep there and I couldn’t resist holding the baby lamb.
Of course, I made it a point to take a picture with the solar panels.
Fun Fact: These 300,000 solar panels can power 15,000 homes.
The Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez was in attendance along with Eric Silagy, president and CEO of FPL, and other partners.
I understand the importance of clean reusable energy and appreciate that FPL is hard at work trying to make that happen. I had no idea they had already done so much and given all that they have planned for the future, I am excited to see it all unfold.
More about the FPL Miami-Dade Solar Energy Center…
- Situated on 465 acres, this location was also made to be useful for wildlife and nature with the use of specific plants. They referred to it as a solar sanctuary.
Fun Fact: Florida’s energy profile is 30 % cleaner than the national average.
- This solar energy center can produce 75 megawatts of electricity (75,000 kilowatts) which is the equivalent of taking 12,000 cars off the road.
Fun Fact: FPL built their first solar facility in 1984. It only produced 10 kilowatts but it was considered cutting edge at the time.
- Because there is always new technology in the works, they made it so that when they are done with it, there is no damage to the land.
Fun Fact: It is expected that 6 million people will move to Florida within the next 5 years
FPL is leading the way in renewable energy. In fact, they recently announced their plan to bring 30 million solar panels to Florida by 2030.
Fun Fact: Laid end-to-end, 30 million solar panels would wrap around the Earth one and a half times.
FPL now has a total of 18 universal solar power plants, producing clean reusable energy, in operation across the state. Making that over 1 million solar panels throughout the state of Florida.
Want to know more? Be sure to check out their website for more information.
This is so nice that money is finally being invested in solar. I am seeing more and more of them abou. Here we have wind turbines more than solar. I bet this was interesting to see and learn about.
This sounds so nice! A fun experience and really great they have this!