The Department of Defense (DoD) announced its participation in Florida Power & Light Company's (FPL) SolarTogether program. DoD will be subscribing for approximately 75 megawatts of emissions-free solar energy as part of its Carbon Free Electricity (CFE) goal to help build a robust, clean, and domestically based electricity supply chain by 2030.
In addition to advancing the buildout of clean energy infrastructure, the DoD estimates its subscription to FPL SolarTogether will achieve an estimated savings of around $2 million over the next ten years. The department will enroll military installations within FPL's service area, including Eglin AFB, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Hurlburt Field, Tyndall AFB, Naval Support Activity Panama City, and Naval Air Station Whiting Field.
"Utility customers like the DoD are benefiting from clean power market innovation in Florida," said Michael McGhee, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for energy resilience and optimization. "It helps transition the power grid to cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy through a fixed subscription cost and projected bill savings over time."
As the nation's largest community solar program, FPL SolarTogether is designed to give all FPL customers an opportunity to directly participate in the environmental and financial benefits of homegrown large-scale solar energy, without having to put panels on their roof and with no upfront costs. Program participants pay a fixed monthly subscription charge and receive escalating monthly bill credits based on the solar energy generated from FPL's large-scale community solar energy centers throughout the state of Florida. Their subscription cost remains fixed, while their credit increases every year, helping to lower customers' bills over time.
"We're always looking for ways to help our customers meet their energy goals and are excited to offer the DoD the ability to participate in our FPL SolarTogether program," said J.T. Young, vice president and general manager of FPL Northwest Florida. "Their facilities are important to the fabric of our community and the defense of our nation – we are honored to help offer a program that will allow the DoD to support the continued growth of more diverse energy sources produced right here in Northwest Florida and across the state."
The DoD will continue to seek partnership opportunities that enable its Carbon Free Electricity (CFE) goal to help build a robust, clean, and domestically based electricity supply chain by 2030.
