Florida Power & Light opens new Rodeo Solar Energy Center

Published on May 17, 2021 by Dave Kovaleski

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Florida Power & Lightʻs new FPL Rodeo Solar Energy Center has opened for business.

The 74.5-megawatt (MW) FPL Rodeo Solar Energy Center is made up of approximately 300,000 solar panels. This is FPL’s fifth solar energy center in DeSoto County and making DeSoto the county with the most FPL solar energy centers in Florida. Additionally, DeSoto served as a launchpad for FPL’s solar investments in 2009.

“For more than a decade, FPL has been on a mission to turn the Sunshine State into a leader in clean energy and sustainability, and so much of it has been anchored in DeSoto County,” FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy said. “But DeSoto County isn’t just home to millions of solar panels – it’s also a hub for clean energy innovation. Every time FPL has decided to disrupt the status quo, push the limits, or test new ideas, DeSoto County has shown up as an eager partner. The FPL Rodeo Solar Energy Center may be the last solar center on this site, but we hope it’s just the beginning of many more innovative projects to come.”

Throughout the partnership with FPL, DeSoto County has served as an innovative hub for FPL’s clean energy ideas and investments – remaining at the forefront of universal solar, community solar, and even energy storage. It is all part of FPL’s SolarTogether program, the largest community solar program in the nation.

“FPL has been a wonderful friend to this community, and it’s been a thrill to watch their clean energy transformation unfold right before our eyes in DeSoto County,” DeSoto County Commissioner J.C. Deriso said. “When our journey began in 2009, we couldn’t have dreamed our legacy would kick off such a rapid solar expansion across the state or that this county would be home to five solar energy centers and more than a million solar panels. I don’t know what the future holds, but I hope DeSoto County continues to be at the center of clean energy innovation.”