JUNO BEACH, Fla. -- Florida Power & Light Company was recognized by the Southeastern Electric Exchange with its highest honor today for outstanding performance in constructing the largest solar photovoltaic power plant in the United States -- the 25-megawatt DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center. The special Chairman's Award is given annually by the Exchange to the project it deems "best of the best" among all entrants in its 11 award categories. "I'm extremely pleased that our development and construction teams have been recognized for their dedication to making the nation's largest solar photovoltaic plant a reality," said FPL Senior Director of Project Development Buck Martinez. "This plant is bringing significant economic and environmental benefits to Florida and making the Sunshine State a national leader in solar power."
The DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center was completed months ahead of schedule and more than $22 million under budget. The facility uses more than 90,000 photovoltaic panels that turn the sun's rays into electricity to power more than 3,000 homes. Over the course of its life, the solar array will avoid 575,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is the equivalent of removing 4,500 cars from the road every year. The project created hundreds of well-paying construction jobs and will generate more than $2 million in property tax revenue for DeSoto County in its first full year of operation.
Founded in 1933, the Southeastern Electric Exchange is a non-profit, non-political trade association of investor-owned electric utility companies.
FPL's parent company, NextEra Energy, Inc., is the nation's No. 1 producer of renewable energy from the wind and sun. NextEra Energy is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and has been named one of the "100 Most Sustainable Companies in the World" five times by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors Inc. and Corporate Knights.
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