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Construction At Halfway Point On New FPL Solar Farm In McDavid. It’s The Second Of Three In North Escambia.
October 24, 2022
Construction has reached about the halfway point at the second of three Florida Power & Light solar farms in North Escambia.
The First City Solar Energy Center, located along Holland, Cox and Roach roads in McDavid, is on track to go into operation in early 2023, Kimberly Blair, FPL spokesperson, told NorthEscambia.com. The site will have more than 223,000 photovoltaic panels with a planned output of 75 megawatts.
For more photos, click or tap here.
The 300,000 solar panels at the Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center on Bogia Road near McDavid have been in operation since early 2022 and were officially dedicated in March. It produces. enough electricity to power about 15,000 homes.
The Sparkleberry Solar Energy Center is planned for 553 acres south of the end of Pilgrim Trail. According to FPL, over 200,000 solar panels will generate nearly 75 megawatts — enough energy to also power 15,000 homes.
“Sparkleberry Solar Energy Center is fully permitted, and construction is expected to begin in early summer of 2023,” Blair said. “It is expected to go into operation in early 2024.”
Pictured: Construction is at about the halfway point for the First City Solar Energy Center in McDavid. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
23 Responses to “Construction At Halfway Point On New FPL Solar Farm In McDavid. It’s The Second Of Three In North Escambia.”
CONSIDERING:
“The road is damaged, speed limits to and from the site ignored, and the noise pollution is extreme.”
Solar panels seldom drive, and have little to say.
Construction workers are still people and more apt to do both when around.
When finished, they tend to go elsewhere.
Maybe things will quiet down for a while then.
David for good neighbors.
@Dola. I would suggest that you and your neighbors meet with your county commissioner. However, we’re talking about the north end of the county, so good luck.
This has been horrific for our neighborhood. The road is damaged, speed limits to and from the site ignored, and the noise pollution is extreme. We didn’t want it, but we have no choice but to deal with it. #noSolar
REGARDING
“China who is our enemy.”
China is not our friend but also not our enemy. We don’t like their form of government and oppression of the people, but we trade with many worse nations — especially in the Middle East. China is a trading partner.
Biden is working to get us less dependent on both sets of tyrants. In the meantime, each solar panel represents decades of energy rather than buy a barrel, burn it up, buy another, burn it up, buy another,….
Eventually, the Communist Party will collapse and a real powerhouse will emerge.
We live in interesting times. No reason to go out of our way to make enemies.
David for a better world
@brianh. That argument doesn’t hold water if you own any electronics. Even products that are “made in America” likely were assembled in China or rely on components partially manufactured there. Blame companies who rely on China for cheaper labor. Blame U S consumers who want to pay the least possible price. Can’t have it both ways. The economy is a worldwide issue and that won’t change.
Look at all of those lovely solar panels that are helping to fund China who is our enemy.
REGARDING:
“Governor Gavin Newsome did indeed tell California citizens to not charge their electric vehicles because it is causing too big of a strain on their grid which was sorely lacking the ability to keep up with the high demand.”
Yup, it was him. You were right. I was wrong.
“California Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking all Californians to not charge their electric vehicles between the hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. while California grapples with an energy shortage as a heat wave bears down on the state.”
Back in September:
“But now state officials are telling drivers not to charge their electric cars during the upcoming Labor Day weekend, when temperatures are expected to hit triple digits for millions of residents, putting a strain on the power grid.
“This week, the California Independent System Operator, which oversees the state’s flow of electricity, urged residents to avoid charging their electric vehicles over the long weekend, particularly from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.”
They definitely need more nuclear power. Or just more power. Don’t want things to get so bad that they have to come here and tell us how much better life was in California. (I’ve already met a few of those.)
David for avoiding an exodus if it heads our way
@Molino Resident. Yes, climate change is driving population migration. Climate change is driven by pollution, including the negative impact of fossil fuels. That impact isn’t just in the air, but in our water and soil. Since fossil fuels are finite in their availability, what is your suggestion for viable replacements?
@ David. Governor Gavin Newsome did indeed tell California citizens to not charge their electric vehicles because it is causing too big of a strain on their grid which was sorely lacking the ability to keep up with the high demand. He told them all this while standing in a 78 degree room with a jacket on telling people that they shouldn’t set their thermostats any lower than 78 degrees to help curb the demand on their grid all while they were going through one of the worst heat waves in recent memory. There’s a reason that Californians are leaving the state in record numbers.
Such SUNNY Outlooks.
REGARDING:
“California Governor said to not do that.”
I don’t think it was the governor but whoever it was requested people not charge between something like 4 pm and 8 or 9 pm, heavy demand period.. After that they wouldn’t overload California’s power supply.
“solar farms (mass production of metal, plastic and many other components)”
Mass production is more efficient than piecemeal. No reason to be prejudiced against metal.
“via use of fossil fuels along with maintenance, repair and transportation of the solar panels/equipment”
Actually, not inherently carbon based fuel, that is the entire idea, switching to noncarbon based power supply.
“all for only 15 to 18% efficiency?”
Conversion of sunlight to electricity. That is far better than zero percent conversion efficiency. It would mean one kilowatt of sunlight would produce 150 to 180 watts of electricity. 30% would be better but doubling conversion over early rates means twice as much for basically the same input.
David for a better future
REGARDING:
“These plant allegedly generate up to 75 megawatts which equates to 75,000 kilowatts — not the 750,000 kilowatts you calculated.”
Maybe I went too fast for some. 75,000 kilowatts multiplied by ten hours per day is 750,000kilowatt hours per day, like I said.
I went with twelve cents per kilowatt hour because Florida Power and Light said:
“Pricing structure based on amount of energy use: Starting Jan. 1, 2022, residential customer bills will be calculated using a tiered rate structure of different kWh rates: $0.10775 per kWh used during the billing period up to 1,000 kWh and $0.11775 per kWh for usage above 1,000 kWh.”
Or nearly 11 cents for first thousand, nearly 12 cents after that.
I’ll throw away that penny and drop it to 11 cents, though since I’m so agreeable. That drops the over $32 million down to around 29.33 million dollars per year.
The franchise fee method was based on the idea that the fee is one twentieth of the FPL income , hence assuming two million dollars per hundred thousand franchise fee. Going the other way yields nearly $1.5 million franchise fee to the county for the $29.33 income to FPL in electricity sales.
(You weren’t off much, just didn’t distinguish between kilowatt, power, and kilowatt hour, energy.)
David for powers of ten and unit comprehension
@James Dennis
…yes. In a perfect world, we would all have magical perpetual motion machines that generate infinite, clean energy with no negatives.
All forms of energy production currently produce SOME level of carbon emissions, either during construction, maintenance, or just as a byproduct of their energy production.
However, the carbon emissions produced by solar panel production is multiple orders of magnitude less per megawatt than burning petroleum for energy.
Electric cars are awesome, but most of their benefit comes from when the electric company decides to sources their power from a renewable resources, like tidal, hydroelectric, solar, or wind. I’m not sure what your comment about California has to do with anything since, you know, this is Florida, but w/e.
@ David Huie … Your math is wrong. These plant allegedly generate up to 75 megawatts which equates to 75,000 kilowatts — not the 750,000 kilowatts you calculated.
You can always “Google” —- how many kilowatts in a megawatt — and it will perform the calculations for you, should you wish to verify the calculations.
At 75,000 kilowatts at an estimated 11 cents per kilowatt hour, the revenue is $8,250 per day – and that would be on the high side of revenue – or about $3 million per year in revenue.
Lastly, the franchise fee they collect isnt retained by the power company. That money is remitted to the County Commission which uses the proceeds to fund County operations. As such, it has nothing to do with FPL and their ROI.
Bob:
So you are justifying massive solar farms (mass production of metal, plastic and many other components) via use of fossil fuels along with maintenance, repair and transportation of the solar panels/equipment all for only 15 to 18% efficiency?
Let me guess, you charge your electric car for 28 hours at home by plugging it into the wall charger? California Governor said to not do that.
Would love to hear your explanation….
Contemplating the claim:
“for all those solar panels that cost more than the electricity they will ever produce.”
Let’s see. Each project costs about $90 million. They expect to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes per year, franchise fee is 5 percent, assuming just $100,000 would be two million dollars per year but they say most solar farms pay off within five to ten years, so at least $9 million per year, possibly $18 million. Regardless, most break even in five to ten years.
“The average return on investment, ROI, for a traditional solar farm is between 10 to 20%. Most solar farms pay off their system within five to ten years, and then have at least 30 years of free electricity after that. These are just general estimates.”
https://leverage.com › financing › solar-farm-return-on-investment
Let’s check it some other way, 12 cents per kilowatt hour. Out of laziness, assume ten hours per day putting out 75 megawatts or 750,000 kilowatt hours per day, $90,000 per day, over $32 million dollars per year. Way above first wild guess. Yeah, they should get their money back fairly soon.
David for payback
There needs to be more accountability when it comes down to the costs of these projects. I noticed in the article that the cost of the solar project was not mentioned, which seems like a red flag to me. The energy company picks the highest cost projects because they know they can pass the cost to consumers. In fact, We are still paying for the coal “scrubbing unit” at plant Crist although they stopped burning coal right after they built it. That scrubbing unit cost roughly 650 million. I wonder how much this is going to cost?
Water is free, they charge to distribute it. If someone crashes into a fire hydrant, they are not charged for the water that comes out, they are charged for the replacement of the hydrant.
@James Dennis
Cars aren’t natural. Indoor plumbing isn’t natural. Television and call phones aren’t natural.
Yes, solar panels do absorb ultraviolet radiation and reflect some of that energy as heat. However, the heat they reflect is incredibly insignificant compared to the heat trapped by carbon emissions from petroleum and natural gas.
This is absolutely a step in the right direction toward a renewable, energy independent future.
They don’t last forever so I guess they will go in the landfill, right ?
Hey Dale B, looks at it this way. At least they are around 15~18% efficient. They were about 5% efficient 50 years ago. Just remember also, you can have the nostalgia of your great grandmother’s oil lamp when we have those rolling blackouts. Just remember to get the right lamp oil so as not to soot up your walls.
Yeah more unnatural metal pieces reflecting sunlight (heat) back into the atmosphere on a massive scale in a very unnatural manner. Just brilliant
Yaaaay! More “free” electricity! Well…, except for all those solar panels that cost more than the electricity they will ever produce. But it’s freeeee!!! Time to start cutting back somewhere to help pay for the increased FP&L bill. But don’t forget…, it’s free!