Third solar center for the county is in the works near Prat Whitney Road and Bee Line Highway

Mike Diamond, Palm Beach Post
·3 min read
6

Another solar-energy center may soon be coming to Palm Beach County.

Florida Power & Light Co. wants to build the county's third solar center on a 761-acre tract adjacent to the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area near the intersection of Pratt Whitney Road and Bee Line Highway.

Construction of the facility, in an unincorporated area of the county, is expected to begin in 2024. It should open during the first quarter of 2025 and, according to FPL, would be in operation for 35 years.

The site is currently used as pastureland and for the harvesting of sugar cane. FPL still needs to obtain approvals from the state Department of Environmental Protection, and the county needs to change the zoning to allow a solar facility in an agricultural zone.

“We are excited to advance solar energy in Palm Beach County,” said Rachel Jackson, a spokesperson for FPL.

“Once complete, this proposed 74.5-megawatt site (the Hopolaw Solar Center) would be capable of powering approximately 15,000 customer homes with low-cost, reliable electricity free of carbon emissions. That is equivalent to taking 14,000 combustion-engine cars off the road each year.”

FPL already operates 63 solar-energy centers throughout Florida, including two in Palm Beach County, the Hibiscus Solar Energy Center and Sabal Palm Solar Energy Center. Said Jackson: “We value our crucial partners in the Palm Beach County community as we continue to bring low-cost, reliable energy to our customers while moving Florida closer to energy independence.”

How does a solar center produce energy?

Crates of solar panels manufactured in Ohio are in place and later installed at FPL's Hibiscus Solar Energy Center that sits on 400 acres of land on Westlake's west side October 23, 2019.
Crates of solar panels manufactured in Ohio are in place and later installed at FPL's Hibiscus Solar Energy Center that sits on 400 acres of land on Westlake's west side October 23, 2019.

FPL places rows of panels facing south in each of its solar centers. The sunlight captured by the panels generates a flow of direct current to an onsite inverter in a large white metal container, where it is converted into alternating current for the grid.

Five solar-energy centers are currently under construction in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. They include:

  • The Turnpike Solar Energy Center in Indian River County.

  • The White Tail Solar Energy Center in Martin County.

  • The Silver Palm Solar Energy Center in Palm Beach County.

  • The Pineapple Solar Energy Center in St. Lucie County.

  • The Orchard Solar Energy Center in St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

FPL says it is on track to meet its "30-by-30" plan to install more than 30 million panels by 2030. Each solar plant creates about 200 construction jobs, according to the utility.

FPL graphic shows how a solar energy center operates. Plans call for one in the western part of the county near the intersection of Pratt Whitney Road and Bee Line Highway.
FPL graphic shows how a solar energy center operates. Plans call for one in the western part of the county near the intersection of Pratt Whitney Road and Bee Line Highway.

More: First Palm Beach County solar plant gets site plan approval

“Our solar energy centers generate electricity without the need for water or fuel, and without emitting any pollution or odors,” Jackson said.

“Additionally, since they are remotely monitored, they place little to no demand on public services. They are also a source of hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue that stays in the county for the services it provides this community.”

While FPL has significantly increased its reliance on solar energy, the megawatt output is a relatively small number when compared to FPL's fossil fuel plants. That is expected to change in the future.

Florida Power & Light's Sabal Palm Solar Energy Center at 19655 Antoinette Rd, in unincorporated Palm Beach County, Fla
Florida Power & Light's Sabal Palm Solar Energy Center at 19655 Antoinette Rd, in unincorporated Palm Beach County, Fla

Almost all of its solar centers, including the one proposed for western Palm Beach County, generate 74.5 megawatts. It all goes onto the grid. By 2030, FPL expects solar to amount to 20% of the utility's total electric generation mix.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County may be getting its third FPL solar-energy center