SARASOTA, Fla (WWSB) -- Florida Power and Light CEO Eric Silagy is wasting no time as the company celebrated one million new solar panels that it recently installed.
Silagy made a commitment to add even more.
"I'm here to announce that we are going to double down," said Silagy. "We're going to actually do 600 mega watts in the next two years."
The announcement came as hundreds of people came out to celebrate the opening of FPL's three most recent solar plants, which are in Manatee, Desoto,and Charlotte counties.
The three new solar centers have the capability to generate electricity to power about 45-thousand homes, and Silagy said this is just the beginning.
"This year we're going to build four more of these and announced today, we are actually going to double down and we're going to build four more of these. So approximately eight new sites in about the next 18 months," added Silagy.
Each of the eight new solar plants will be 74.5 mega watts in capacity, which is enough power to generate 120,000 homes.
FPL has not yet announced the location of the new plants, they say construction is expected to commence this spring. Until then, officials say they are focused on the benefits of solar plants in Manatee, Desoto and Charlotte counties and what they currently bring customers.
"We're producing power today with no emissions from these panels... we're using no water and it's going right into the grid," added Silagy.
And FPL officials say not only are the new solar plants good for the environment but they are also economical.
"The solar energy centers that we're building around the state are cost effective, which means for customers around the state there would be no net cost because they will pay for themselves in fuel savings," added Alys Daily.
From the cost saving to the cleaners energy, FPL says they are committed to doing what's right and Silagy says their goal is to make a difference.
"Having clean energy is not only the right thing to do but it's also a smart thing to do for business. Florida is a state that relies on people coming here to visit. Tourist don't want to come to a state where the air is foul and the beaches aren't clean."
As part of the celebration, FPL held not only an opening ceremony but also sponsored a student competition where kids from all over the state showcased their cooking skills using solar energy.
