The Sunshine State Projected to Take Over as Top-Ranked Residential Solar State in 2028

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Florida, the Sunshine State, has wide-open skies and loads of gentle — all over the place. Unsurprisingly, Florida companies and other people proceed to vote with their {dollars} in assist of solar energy. Florida has put in the second most solar energy capability within the nation in 2024, solely trailing Texas.

In accordance with new analysis, about 30,000 Floridians put in solar energy this yr, elevating the overall to greater than 253,000 within the state. The Sunshine State as an entire put in 3.1 gigawatts (GW) of solar-generation capability within the first three quarters of this yr, nearly matching final yr’s record-breaking 3.2 GW. This info is predicated on the newest report from the Photo voltaic Vitality Industries Affiliation (SEIA) and Wooden Mackenzie, U.S. Photo voltaic Market Perception This autumn 2024. All of this progress is boosted by the truth that photo voltaic panel costs have dropped considerably — over 37% — within the final decade.

Stephen Smith, govt director of the Southern Alliance for Clear Vitality (SACE), emphasised two years in the past to Florida Phoenix that the price of solar energy in Florida has decreased by 43% over the past ten years. Smith additionally recommended NextEra Vitality’s Florida Energy & Gentle, the most important regulated utility within the state with over 12 million prospects. FPL’s photo voltaic power enlargement is a part of its “Real Zero” objective of eliminating carbon emissions from its energy plant fleet — a plan that Smith calls certainly one of “the most ambitious solar goals in the country.”

In accordance with Florida PhoenixNextEra’s decarbonization plan “completely changes the paradigm” of local weather safety measures. Quick ahead to immediately’s information and that helps to elucidate Florida’s progress. “The Real Zero decarbonization plan, unveiled in June, pledges to cut NextEra’s own carbon emissions in the regions it serves by 70 percent by 2025, compared with its 2005 baseline; 82 percent by 2030; 87 percent by 2035; 94 percent by 2040; and 100 percent by 2045. NextEra says it would do so, in large part, by substantially expanding solar-power generation to 90,000 megawatts, adding 50,000 megawatts of battery storage, maintaining its nuclear power generation, and converting 16,000 megawatts of natural gas units to run on green hydrogen.”

This week’s Florida Phoenix conveys the logic of Environmental Protection Fund Florida Director Daybreak Shirreffs. “The cost of producing electricity from new solar is around $60/MWh compared to $70MWh for new natural gas. As a result, we see NextEra/FPL is now very focused on solar and storage to diversify their portfolio and lower costs in Florida, but other utilities continue to propose new natural gas plants.” It doesn’t make sense, and wouldn’t proceed apart from political tricks. The Florida Phoenix continues that the state depends on pure fuel for 75% of its power wants (a bigger proportion than in another state).

It’s good to know that the brand new era of 25,000 prospects who made photo voltaic set up investments final yr will now expertise steady energy payments. Saving cash and being environmentally pleasant is simply widespread financial sense, very similar to with EVs.

The Florida Phoenix continues, “Florida receives 8% of its existing electricity portfolio from solar, according to the SEIA. That figure is expected to increase over the next decade, with the total proportion of renewable energy in Florida expected to reach 28% by 2032, primarily from the addition of new solar generation, according to a report published earlier this year by the Florida Public Service Commission.”

Screenshot 2024 12 09 095458 — Picture from report by Florida Public Service Commission.

With 34,925 megawatts (MW) of manufacturing capability and roughly 5.9 million buyer accounts, or over 12 million peopleunfold throughout practically half of the state, FPL is the most important vertically built-in regulated utility in Florida.

The Florida Phoenix stays optimistic and relates that Susan Glickman, vice chairman for coverage and partnerships with The CLEO Institute, a local weather nonprofit, affirms: “The growth of solar in Florida and across the nation is no surprise. Fossil fuel prices are climbing while the cost of solar has declined 43% in the last 10 years. Plus, using solar power reduces the climate pollution warming causing expensive unnatural disasters and extreme weather.”