Florida Constructs Largest Solar Power Plant In U.S.
Posted on: Sunday, 25 October 2009, 06:50 CDT
The largest power plant utilizing solar panels to generate renewable energy in the nation is set to begin production in southwest Florida, according to the Associated Press.
The Desoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center will begin powering thousands of homes and businesses by month's end.
It is one of three Florida Power & Light solar energy projects currently under construction and will produce 25 megawatts of power.
Despite its nickname as the Sunshine State, Florida has trailed other areas of the country in installing photovoltaic technology systems. The three projects under way will generate 110 megawatts of power, boosting the state closer to the top.
The White House said President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit the facility Tuesday, when it officially goes online and begins producing power for the electric grid.
To date, less than 4 percent of Florida's energy has come from renewable sources. And unlike California and many other states, Florida lawmakers haven't agreed to setting clean energy quotas for electric companies to reach in the years ahead.
The Desoto project cost $150 million to build and the power it supplies to some 3,000 homes and businesses will represent just a sliver of the 4 million-plus accounts served by the state's largest electric utility. So the investment isn't looking cheap.
However, it created 400 jobs for draftsmen, carpenters and others whose work dried up as the southwest Florida housing boom came to a closure and the recession set in, so there are some economic benefits.
There are two means of producing electricity from the sun: photovoltaic cells that directly convert sunlight; and thermal power, which uses mirrors to heat fluid and produce steam to run a turbine power generator.
Mike Taylor, director of research and education at the nonprofit Solar Power Association in Washington, said a one- or two-megawatt project was considered large not long ago. The size has slowly increased each year.
Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said, "If we don't get our market right and send the right market signals and really support growing this technology, we will be buying solar panels from other countries."
In April, Arizona-based manufacturer First Solar Inc. announced plans to build a 48-megawatt plant in Nevada, producing power for about 30,000 homes. Even that pales compared to recently announced plans for a 2 gigawatt facility in China. First Solar has initial approval to build it.
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Source: RedOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
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