BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Officials with Florida Power and Light said the utility company would save its customers millions of dollars after eight new solar plants will open early next year.
FPL’s president and CEO Eric Silagy said the future solar plants, including the Barefoot Bay Solar Energy Center, will generate a “net lifetime savings of more than $100 million for our customers,” which is more than the anticipated construction costs for the facilities.
At the Brevard Zoo’s Australian exhibit, FPL has already installed solar trees that deliver energy to the new Komodo dragon exhibit.
The green metal curving poles are topped with panels that provide shade for the reptiles as well as energy to the Komodo dragon exhibit.
Brevard Zoo executive director Keith Winsten told News 6 that the panels have been generating power since the exhibit opened in May.
Although he did not have an exact cost estimate of the savings for the exhibit, Wintsen said it makes a difference.
“Those are animals that come from a very warm part of the world,” Winsten told News 6. “They need to have heat in the winter and they’ll (solar trees) take care of that.”
FPL said it is the largest generator of solar energy in Florida with six major solar power plants and numerous other universal solar installations that include Space Coast Next Generation Solar Energy Center in Brevard County and Solar Circuit at Daytona International Speedway in Volusia County.
FPL has also installed small-scale solar arrays at more than 100 Florida schools and other educational facilities. For more information, visit www.FPL.com/solar.