US Utility Proposes 1.49 GW Community Solar Plan

In what could be the largest US community solar program, Florida Power and Light (FPL) plans to build 20 solar power plants with 1.49 GW cumulative capacity. Each project will have 74.5 MW capacity, out of which the first 6 plants will come online in early 2020 and the other 14 by 2021.

The utility has submitted a proposal for the FPL SolarTogether program with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to seek approval for this project pointing out that its customers will be able to directly participate in it by subscribing to a portion of new solar power capacity. In return they would receive credits to reduce their monthly bills over time, which will help them save a total of around $139 million primarily from avoided fuels and other system savings.

Customers won’t have to bother about the location or proximity of the plants. They will be at liberty to cancel their subscription at any time. FPL says it has got committed from municipalities, large national retail chains, universities, banks, restaurants and schools to participate in such a program.

Green light from the commission will make it the ‘largest community solar program’ in the US, says FPL. A total of 1,298 MW community solar capacity was installed in the country till Q3/2018, said FPL, referring to the US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

“This program will more than double the amount of community solar currently in the US,” said FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy. FPL has secured land to build all of this capacity, and plans to announce project locations in the future.

This project will be part of FPL’s 30 by 30 strategy under which it aims to install 30 million more solar panels by 2030. In 2019, it plans to develop 4 solar power plants of 74.5 MW each (see Florida Utility To Develop 300 MW Solar In 2019).