Project overview
Florida Power & Light has committed to installing 30 million solar panels. This is the world’s largest investment in solar energy by a regulated utility, but mostly out of view in rural areas. Customers have expressed enthusiasm for solar, and a desire to see it in their communities. So, FPL complemented their large-scale solar projects with a program called SolarNow, which enables people to contribute voluntarily to smaller solar projects located where they can see them. This effort has brought 150 (great looking) solar structures to parks, zoos, science centers, schools, city hall, water parks, stadiums, an airport, and more... where millions of people can see and interact with it.
Spotlight Solar exists to make solar more visible, so more people will embrace it. We are thrilled by what the 55,000 members of FPL's SolarNow program are accomplishing.
As one SolarNow particpant said, "This is a way to help the environment... donating a small amount of money, benefiting the community by installing great things like this which we can use and see on a daily basis."
Here is an amazing e-book that FPL published to profile this effort and its success.
Click on pictures below to see larger ones
Specifications
Energy stewardship -- FPL will have 30 million solar panels by 2030, 10.5 gigawatts
Visible solar -- 150 Spotlight Solar Lift and Curve structures
Locations - many locations in Florida
Exposure -- 50 million people per year
Certified Integrators -- SEM Power, Hannah Solar, AGT
Press, impact
TV News - kangaroos, 10 million solar panels, and solar trees
Miami Herald - solar ring and trees coming for the Super Bowl
Video of 100th solar tree event, hosted at Brightline (now Virgin Trains)
"The legacy of these solar trees... is a lasting impression to the guests that come to Zoo Miami... to develop awareness about solar power and what it means to the sustainability of our community." - Carol Kruse, Director, Zoo Miami
“These solar arrays are designed to fuel curiosity in renewable energy by installing solar in places where people can see it, engage with it, and learn about it, all while generating clean, zero emissions energy.”
- Jill Dvareckas, Director of Development, FPL
