Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has announced its "30-by-30" plan to install more than 30 million solar panels by 2030 and make the state of Florida a world leader in the production of solar energy.
FPL has secured solar sites throughout the state, which will enable the company to continue to cost-effectively build solar energy centers across Florida. This plan will capture economies of scale and promote the construction of efficient and cost-effective solar generation. The end result will be the largest installation of solar panels by a regulated utility in the world and a 67% fleet-wide reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions rate by 2030 as compared to the national average.
When this plan is completed, FPL expects to be the largest utility owner and operator of solar in America. FPL also will be making investments in advanced and innovative battery storage technology that will extend the use of clean, affordable solar energy even after the sun has gone down.
"I am supportive of programs that will provide Floridians with greater access to affordable, clean energy which will help propel the State to a healthier future," said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. "We live in the Sunshine State and solar energy is a natural resource that should be seriously considered.”
FPL already has begun pairing battery storage technology at its solar power plants. Future technology is planned to increase the capacity and cost-effectiveness of batteries, making them a vital part of FPL's future. As a result, the company projects to deploy a significant amount of battery storage throughout Florida by 2030.
FPL's planned renewable energy generation and storage, combined with its nuclear power plants in St. Lucie and Miami-Dade counties, is projected to generate more than 40% of its electricity emissions-free by 2030, even as the state's population – the third highest in the nation – continues to grow. In fact, the company's 2030 CO2 emissions rate target represents a 67% reduction versus the 2005 U.S. electric industry average.
