FPL solar sites in step with Audubon goals

On a sunny Florida day in South Florida, I watched the American flag rise and fly over hundreds of acres of black solar cells. It was an amazing experience to think that the million panels I was looking at were replacing energy from conventional fuel combustion plants. Yet this solar field feeding directly into the power grid was not using any water nor emitting pollution.

In recent years, Florida has increasingly lived up to its name as the Sunshine State, with more and more solar panels dotting our landscape. Solar energy makes so much sense for Florida’s natural environment because every watt of solar electricity reduces energy produced by traditional generation.

Growth in Florida’s solar capacity is accelerating largely as a result of large solar power plants like the one I saw being built in February. On that day alone, three solar plants opened and, combined, generated 335 megawatts of electricity — the same capacity as a coal-fired power plant.

Along with saving water and reducing air pollution, solar plants have an additional benefit. The land used to build fields of solar panels can also be used to enhance habitat for birds and other wildlife. Fallow land repurposed for solar can also recharge groundwater by allowing rainfall to soak into the earth.

With so much of natural Florida being gobbled up by development and agricultural, I’m for using every acre we can to restore some lost wildlife habitat.

Audubon Florida has long been a proponent of solar power. We were there nearly a decade ago promoting the policy that allowed Florida Power & Light to build the state’s first solar plant in DeSoto County, the largest in the country at that time.

On the day that I watched our flag fly over the new solar plant, Florida Power & Light Co. announced one of the largest expansions of solar power ever in the southeastern United States — eight new solar power plants with 2.5 million solar panels that will generate enough electricity to power 120,000 homes by early 2018. Shortly thereafter, FPL furthered its commitment with plans for an additional 1,500 megawatts of new solar under development across its Florida service area.

Each will feed electricity directly into the grid to serve all FPL customers at no net cost while generating tax revenue for local schools and services.

In support of our clean energy and water conservation goals, and in keeping with Audubon Florida’s commitment to community-based conservation, we are partnering with FPL to advance solar energy in Florida while improving the environmental values of the land where the solar plants are located.

By recommending birdand pollinator-friendly vegetation for the solar plants, Audubon and its local chapters will make these facilities useful to wildlife and nature. Audubon has already provided recommendations of native trees, shrubs, grasses and vines.

FPL’s solar energy advancement already aligns with Audubon’s goals. But it is the potential of partnership with local communities to protect and enhance wildlife that says more about FPL’s motivation. They could just put fences around the plants and mow the buffers. But they are investing in making these sites friendly for butterflies, bees and birds.