St. John’s Housing Partnership uses solar to reduce costs at their headquarters and three of their apartment units for homeless and at-risk veterans. The rooftop solar arrays provide reliable power that’s cheaper than other electricity sources in the area, which helps the veterans save money.
SolarEdge has begun production of Power Optimizers at a factory in Seminole. The new factory will produce 2 million power optimizers per quarter, demonstrating the growth of American solar manufacturing.
Florida’s Natural growers built a solar array that will provided 30% of the power for their visitors center. Walt Lincer, the VP of Sales and Marketing, said, “Florida’s Natural Growers is committed to producing the finest All Florida juice to our consumers using the least energy possible… We use [solar] to grow our oranges so it just makes sense to use it to power our Visitor’s Center.”
William R. Gaines Jr. Veterans Memorial Park offers clean energy accessible to those who visit the park with two solar flowers and two solar canopies. The local tourism director said she hopes that the structures are a fitting tribute to the military because it's making an investment in our nation's future.
A new fire station in Sarasota included a rooftop solar array that will provide the emergency responders a reliable source of backup power. The solar array is designed to withstand hurricane winds, meaning the fire department can operate in any emergency situation.
The Clearwater Police Department inaugurated its new District 3 Emergency Operations and Training Center. The center is using solar panels that can withstand a category 5 hurricane and will serve as the city’s headquarters during an emergency.
The Hunters Point community, the first net-zero single-family home development, used excess energy from solar panels to keep lights on through several days after the passage of Hurricane Helene and Milton. By investing in climate resilience and storm protection, this community is demonstrating the benefits of solar power during natural disasters.
A new fire station in Sarasota included a rooftop solar array that will provide the emergency responders a reliable source of backup power. The solar array is designed to withstand hurricane winds, meaning the fire department can operate in any emergency situation.
MAST@FIU, a magnet high school that’s part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, installed a 34.2 kW solar array. Energy is the second highest cost for the school district, and the solar array will save MAST@FIU $5,500 per year.
Lipman Family Farms is using solar powered irrigation to grow oranges and tomatoes. The solar powered irrigation is monitored for efficiency, helping the farm save water and electricity, both of which lead to lower bills for the farm.
Temple Emmanu-El in Sarasota installed a 24.9 kW solar array that will work with another rooftop array to supply 70% of the synagogue's electricity supply. This will be one of the largest arrays in the area and lead to significant annual savings for the temple.
Costex Tractor Parts, based in Doral, installed a 1.6 MW rooftop solar array. This will meet over 90% of the manufacturer's electricity needs, leading to an annual savings of over $207,000.
The new Sarasota County Mosquito Management Facilitity will add a 133.6 kW solar carport. This will generate 195,000 kWh of energy to the organization as they aim to properly manage the mosquito population in Sarasota County.
The Ringling College of Art and Design earned LEED certification from the US Green Building Council, thanks in part to 150 rooftop solar panels. These panels reduce energy usage, leading to savings for the college.
The Sarasota County Planning and Development is adding a 300 kW rooftop solar array. This will generate 435,000 kWh of electricity, helping the county save on electricity costs.
A farmer in Homestead installed a solar-powered irrigation system on his farm, helping increase the efficiency of the system. This had led to substantial water savings as well as helping him reduce labor costs.
American based Powin selected manufacturing firm Jabil to produce batteries at their St. Petersburg facility. These facility will start with an annual manufacturing capacity of 2 GWh, helping provide American made batteries to pair with solar.
Florida has been a national leader in solar project development, helping lower electricity costs for Floridians. In 2023, 60 solar energy centers in Florida saved customers an estimated $375 million in fuel costs.
Advent Health in Orlando added 1,800 solar panels on top of their parking garage to supply 86% of the hospital’s electricity needs. This will save the hospital more than $4.6 million over the project’s lifetime.
Deseret Farms grows cattle, oranges, tangerines, and now solar. “It’s a really good working relationship” said Don Whyte, the ranch’s vice president of planning, adding that the he is looking for ways to capture value, including clean, reliable power from the sun.”
The Naval Air Station in Jacksonville is using a solar installation to help reduce energy bills associated with wastewater treatment. This will save up to $50,000 to $150,000 per year for the base
The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in downtown Sarasota added a new rooftop solar array. This will save the gardens $100,000 annually and include the world's first 100% solar powered restaurant.
St. Augustine Distillery installed a solar canopy at their facility. This has generated 12.7 MWh, powering over 10,000 homes in the area with low cost energy.
Dimmitt Chevrolet took advantage of federal tax incentives to add a 730 kW rooftop solar array. The array has over 2,000 panels and will provide the dealership with 100% of its electricity needs. The array will pay for itself in less than five years and the owner of the dealership, Lawrence Dimmitt III said, “Our electricity use will continue go up. It just makes sense to invest in clean energy.”
Clearwater Marine Aquarium installed a 250 kW solar canopy that can provide shade for cars parked underneath it, as well as provide much of the power required for aquarium operations.
The Trinity Presbyterian Church in Clearwater added a rooftop solar array that will provide 100% of the facility’s power needs. This will save them $28,000 per year and the church will get a full return on investment in less than 10 years.
Badia Spices, a family-owned Hispanic food company, built Florida’s largest rooftop solar project to power their spice manufacturing facility. The 3,240 kW project will be able to provide the nearly 60-year-old company with 80% of their electricity needs, greatly reducing costs for the manufacturer.
The SunCoast Blood Centers rolled out a new solar powered bus where Floridians can donate blood. These are the first solar powered blood donation buses in the country and will make for a more peaceful, safer experience for donors.
The new Southern Recreation center in Palm Coast has 200 solar panels which provide 75% of the building’s energy needs. The solar panels are part of the building’s initiative to promote efficiency and reduce costs for citizens of Palm Coast.
The Tallahassee Community College installed solar canopies over walkways between classrooms. This will help the sunny campus generate electricity for classrooms while also shading students as they walk to and from class.