A closer look at Clay County’s first large-scale solar farm

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — FPL wants to bring more projects like this one across the state to help keep your power bill low.

We’re getting a closer look at a large-scale solar farm in Clay County that’s helping keep your power bills low.

Our Action News Jax Sky Vision drone shows us how Florida Power and Light is harnessing the sun’s energy back on the ground.

These solar panels make up FPL’s large-scale solar farm in Green Cove Springs.

It became operational in late March.

“It’s the first site in Clay County,” said Jim Bush, the External Affairs Manager with FPL.

Named the Magnolia Springs Energy Center, it will help FPL reach its goal of installing 30 million solar panels across the state by 2030.

The solar farm has 280,000 solar panels that can produce enough clean energy to power 15,000 homes.

Currently, solar energy generates 5% of FPL’s electricity.

It wants to boost that number to 20% by 2030.

“It ties directly into the grid and provides power for FPL customers throughout the state,” Bush said.

Customers like Martin Berry, who’s been with FPL since 2015.

“I think it’s great that FPL is using solar energy,” Berry said. “It’s obviously the future or one of the ways to conserve and use less of the fossil fuels.”

There are 20 other sites like this one, including one in St. Johns County and Nassau County, with more on the way.

“We’re in the midst of a rapid expansion for solar energy,” Bush added.

Clay Electric has also installed solar systems at four of its district offices to offset energy consumption.

With these changes underway, Berry says he looks forward to the bright future ahead.

“Saving energy, given by God - it’s free,” he said.

Cox Media Group