Juno Beach, Fla.: Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) announced March 3 having received approval from the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) to launch the largest community solar program in the United States – FPL SolarTogetherSM.
The program will more than double the amount of community solar currently available in the U.S. and provide FPL customers the opportunity to cost-effectively support the growth of solar in Florida. Additionally, the proponents say the program will benefit all FPL customers by reducing the company’s fuel costs and adding more emissions-free solar generation to FPL’s energy mix. FPL already has approximately 1,250 megawatts of solar capacity.
The utility says the program will remove traditional barriers such as high upfront costs, long-term commitment, and penalties for load reduction. In addition, the program can move with the customer, providing a cost-effective, hassle-free way to go solar. The program is expected to generate $249 million in net cost savings for both participants and the general body of customers. FPL’s customer base is expected to save about US$112 million over the life of the solar plants.
Designed to provide everyone with an opportunity to participate, FPL SolarTogether also includes an allocated portion of its solar capacity to low-income customers. The component represents the largest low-income solar offering in the country, FPL says, and is also expected to launch later this year.
And in perhaps a further sign of the trend, the Tennessee Valley Authority announced February 11 the addition of 484 MW of new contracted solar capacity since December, close to doubling its present reliance on solar.
According to Wood Mackenzie, the seven-state federal power agency has typically relied on conventional resources – nuclear, gas, coal and hydro, but this also is changing, with its long-range integrated resource plan calling for adding between 1,500 and 8,000 megawatts of solar by 2028, along with up to 2,400 megawatts of energy storage.
Issued in April 2019, the RFP called on the nation’s top developers to submit proposals to develop 200 megawatts of renewable energy that could be brought online by the end of 2022. A total of 3,700 MW of offers were received, and 484 MW were selected based on current demand. In a first for the agency, TVA has contracted for 200 MW of solar for its REC programs available to Valley consumers, both large and small. That project, awarded to Origis Energy, also includes 200 MWh (or 50 MW for 4 hours) of battery energy storage.
“Large-scale solar projects, which cost 75% less than residential rooftop solar, deliver the best value for renewables in the Valley,” said Chris Hansen, TVA director of Origination and Renewables.
Also, a recently-passed bill in Virginia set out the technical and policy conditions by which the state can reach Governor Ralph Northam’s proposed goal of 100% renewables by 2050. PV Tech describes the core element of the bill as replacing existing voluntary renewable portfolio standards (RPS) for utilities with mandatory ownership or power purchase arrangements. In addition to compliance with energy efficiency programmes, the bill orders utilities to procure between 5,000MW and 16,100 MW of solar PV generation, ranging from commercial rooftop systems from 50kW capacity and up to 100MW. Utilities are also ordered to own or operate up to 5,000MW of offshore wind generation.
As of March 9 the bill only awaited signature from the Governor.