Florida

The new capacity would add to the 600 MW that the company expects to have online by early 2018 and the 335 MW already operational.

After languishing behind other sunny states like California and Arizona for almost a decade, Florida Power & Light apparently wants to catch up, with its third announcement of major solar plants in as many months.

In what solar advocates are hailing as a victory for consumers throughout the Sunshine State, the Pensacola-based utility has settled on a new rate plan. The compromise now must be approved by the state’s Public Service Commission.

Utility Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has chosen construction contractors Blattner and Black & Veatch to build its eight new utility-scale solar projects. This announcement comes as Florida’s solar market is experiencing rapid growth.

Senate Bill 456, introduced by Senator José Javier Rodríguez, would allow solar-energy producers to sell electricity to users on the same property as the array without being labeled as public utilities.

Swinerton has contracts for 165 MW of solar ground-mounted plants on three Department of Defense projects in Florida, and SunLink will provide the resting place for all the panels involved.

After being part of a coalition that tried to slow third-party solar growth in the Sunshine State as recently as October, the state’s biggest utility announced plans to add eight new solar power plants by early next year.

Two initiatives concerning co-ops and PACE will expand solar’s reach in the Sunshine State.

The project is the first in partnership with the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) and the largest floating solar photovoltaic system in Florida to date.

Coronal Energy and Gulf Power joined forces to break ground on a combined 120 MW at Eglin Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Pensacola.